Detroit is a small town. In fact, it is so small, that the Big Three automakers have really learned to coexist without resorting to much corporate trash talk or any mud-slinging in commercials through the past decade or so. More or less, everyone was a good sport. But it seems the times are changing once again.
While GM’s Dan Akerson has not been known to have the kindest things to say to his company’s competitors, including Ford’s Lincoln brand, FoMoCo’s marketing director Jim Farley has taken it to a whole new level by letting his sharp opinions of The General known in the new book “Once Upon A Car” by New York Times writer Bill Vlasic, which will be out in October.
“We’re going to beat on them, and it’s going to be fun,” said Farley. “F— GM. I hate them and their company and what
they stand for. And I hate the way they’re succeeding.”
Following the bombshell, GM spokesman Jay Cooney told Jalopnik that GM would not have expected “such crass words” coming from The Blue Oval.
So, what does everybody make of Farley’s statements? At least proper grammar was involved…
Source: Jalopnik
Comments
Wow, seriously… GM is moving in the right direction. It is and has been for years even before the bail out… Overall product planning, being able to tap into its global recources is improving.
Fard should be concerned, their Mazda based platforms have been carrying them, we know where that relationship went… Fard is going to find itself in trouble, down to 2 brands, and Lincoln what’s that. Don’t want to bag on Fard, I wish them well, but let’s face it, Fard is not in as good of shape as people make them out to be…
I’m channeling my late father here, he and my uncle K were huge Ford guy’s in the 50’s with hot roded 49 Tudor for uncle K and My dads 57 Crown Vic.
Ford took the bitter pill all on it’s own, closed plants, killed a brand, did’nt take bankrupcy. GM’s management let the clock run down, let the President give Wagoner early retirement, and took federal loans. Anyone who is just slightly Ford leaning is going to be sore, and just a bit confused as to how this resulted in GM’s curant resergance.
As confused as I am about the whole thing, I am a GM fan and a believer in second chances, so I am happy that Cadillacs are begining to regain the reverance they had from the 20’s to the 60’s and that Chevrolett can build and make a profit on small and midsized cars built in the USA.
I wish no ill on Ford either, though someday it would be nice if Chevrolet and GMC combiined could equal or better F series sales, being as in my opinion the GM truck has been the better machine for decades now.
As a fan of both GM and Ford I can usually provide an unbiased analysis of them, simply because I am biased toward both of them equally.
Anyway, It’s sad to see such a high level executive at Ford to go so far above the limit. If I were Mullaly and Bill I would sharply curtail such talk and punish any offender.
Competition is good. I root for both GM and Ford. But when a high level executive lowers themselves to this in a public forum it just makes him and the company he represents look idiotic.
if ford want pass gm ,,they better to improve the quality,,build thought is complete different what they advertise …….