Ford Restructures Ahead of Schedule

Ford Motor Co.'s CEO Alan Mulally told analysts of Wall Street that the company is restructuring ahead of schedule. The restructuring move is anchored on its goal to consolidate global design and engineering operations.

It can be reckoned that the company has started the restructure plan by requiring the heads of Ford divisions to report directly to Mulally. The latter intends to marshal the assets of the company by producing better vehicles faster and for much lesser costs. "There's such an opportunity for us to leverage our resources and capabilities around the world, and leverage them for the good of the greater Ford," Mulally said. "It's probably our biggest single opportunity."

Mulally has outlined a plan to merge various regional Ford divisions around the globe into a one global Blue Oval brand. Ford exec hinted that there are actually six or seven different brands scattered around the world - each of them has their own product lineup.

Mulally also pointed out its new Mondeo sedan, which was featured in "Casino Royale," a James Bond movie. "Why aren't we driving that here?" he asked. "Hello! It's a great car." Ford Mondeo is a new design sharing few features of Sierra. It uses an all-new platform and features new manual and automatic transmissions and a sophisticated suspension design. The vehicle shares some advanced auto parts from its Ford siblings like the Volvo struts, electronic control, switchable overdrive and more. The interiors of the car feature velour trim, an arm rest with CD and tape storage, central locking, power windows and mirrors and flat-folding rear seats. Higher specification models also offer leather seats, trip computers, electric sunroof, CD changer and alloy wheels.

Another point of concentration is on the Ford Focus. It is built off a different platform than the one manufactured in Europe. The idea behind the restructuring plan is to make the company evolve by entertaining design strategies aimed at boosting the efficiency of the automaker in general.

The Ford Focus is radically styled to feature more curves and sweeping lines. It is influenced by the Ford Ka with an exotic interior design language more akin to those of American cars like the Mk 1 Mondeo.

Mulally also announced the company’s plan to merge design themes. The automaker is focused on producing more vehicles that show off bold, American designs for the domestic market while maintaining the kinetic design language for the European market. Going forward, the automaker hopes to merge the designs toward a common point that will resonate with customers’ desires wherever they may be. However, the iconic vehicles of the automaker like the Ford Mustang and Ford F-Series will remain truly American.

"If you were to get off a plane anywhere in the world, you'd be able to say, 'Look, there goes a Ford,'" Ford's chief creative officer, J Mays, said in a recent interview. Mays also noted that this does not mean building so-called "world cars" that appeal to the lowest common denominator. Rather, it means creating designs that are so compelling that they transcend regional divides.

David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, said Ford's Blue Oval brand is known all over the world and Ford needs to take advantage of it. "Ford has a global brand. GM doesn't," Cole said.