Ford's Position and Outlook

" That now from the Ford Motor Co. executive VP and president of the Americas mark fields joining us live on fox -- this morning. Mark great to have you let me start with those numbers just because there are fresh they're on this idea that people would not be so. Anti car buying if big auto maker was in bankruptcy protection does not make the argument against. A bail out here. Well there's lots of different -- polls going on right now I think from Ford's perspective. We're -- a different place than than our competitors we've been working are planned for the last couple years we are not asking for a short term bridge loan. And so we're a little bit different different position than some of our competitors around that issue let's talk about that position that -- and supposedly nineteen billion in cash another eleven billion an untapped credit. First of all those numbers right then and second off if they are what's your position then on the on the bailout that. Chrysler General Motors seem to want so badly. Those numbers you mentioned are generally right we are supportive. The government looking to address the near term liquidity issues around GM and Chrysler and the reason we're supportive of that as we are very interdependent. Industry particularly around the supply base so for us it's very important that our supply base remains. Functioning and healthy and clearly having Chrysler and GM functioning as an important part of that you're CEO Alan Mulally and ask for nine billion dollars of a credit lines and may -- wouldn't happen to have been wanted that money. Last time you -- up on Capitol Hill what about this 1415 billion dollars whatever it ends up being -- so what's the role Fannie Ford would play and that. Follow actually none because we're not asking for any short term short term financing but we are asking for down the road. Up to nine billion dollars of a line of credit and that's really to safeguard against two things one is the economy. -- from. Going deeper into recession garner -- beyond her assumptions. And potentially one of our competitors -- well -- at the same time market worth pointing out that even though the case for Ford. And you've made it this morning is that -- better off on a relative basis than your competitors you still. Losing money not making it expected to do so at least in the near future and is looking at the numbers for example put out. Yesterday byte by one of by Johnson Controls one of the parts makers that were not encouraging and on and they're talking about. Nine point three million cars and light trucks next year being sold weighed down from the last few years and still below a lot of other people's estimation what your own estimation for. How many cars and trucks -- going to be sold next year and how -- can survive on that level. Well we we do expect the car industry to be down next year. We did make money in the first quarter this year and then the economy went into a deep tailspin so. We do expect next -- the car industry to be down we have been working our plan the last couple years getting our structure right focusing on the Ford brand. Lining up for financing before him. And most importantly coming -- new products we have -- pipeline full of new products that are behind me that we're launching over the next eight want to talk about a few of those here just a second let me let me ask you -- about that number nine point three million. I'll like cars and trucks what's the number you have to get two or that the industry has to get to afford to be able to execute that plan. That hasn't making money again 2011. What's an average attendance of eleven -- you have to be about not point three don't you as an industry. Yeah idea hadn't seen that nine point three number that's probably one of the lowest I've seen in a long time we do expect next year the industry to be lower. In our submission to congress. Next year we expect the industry to be about twelve to twelve and a half million. We do expect some uptick in 2010 and 2011 through levels a bit about that but if a company like Johnson control is right. If the nine or ten is is that they're not twelve than Ford just happened that money you need the nine billion dollars to -- that credit line if that happened right. I'm not necessarily will look continue to work our plan which is you know size our capacity to the demand. We'll continue to make the the -- that take the actions. To get -- business profitable over that time heard. So we're gonna have to see how this plays out we're gonna continue to work our plan. And there will continue to be flexible take the appropriate actions to cedars profitability when he talked about argue talked about product marketed seems like a lot of those cars behind you correct me if I'm wrong mark. Our focused on fuel efficiency right and mean and why is the emphasis so much on that at a time when with gas prices we've talked about a come down. Dollar sixty gallon whatever it is and higher margin vehicles on the but he SUVs and the trucks but we're showing some. Vehicles on the screen right now that are much much smaller by moving that direction so aggressively. Well mainly because we're listening to customers and customers even though prices are coming down on gas and customers' minds. Fuel economy is a very big purchase criteria and we think it will continue to be so going forward. So we have a very clear strategy to be either the best or among the lead of the best in each segment that we compete in and the vehicle behind needed -- fusion. Hybrid is gets -- 39 will get about 39 miles per gallon it will be the most fuel efficient. Midsize sedan on the marketplace and we have a number of vehicles they either lead their segment. War are actually better than they're they're facing Toyota and Honda. Entries marked fields thank you very much for joining us this morning really appreciate it."