Archive for the ‘ford’ tag
Why America Hates Detroit #
There’s no doubt in my mind that this doesn’t capture everyone, but this seems like a reasonable explanation of most of the opposition to the auto industry bailout:
Most Americans simply no longer identify with the domestic auto industry (or with the states of Michigan and Ohio). To the Southerners who now make up the core constituency of the Republican Party, it’s a bunch of coddled, unionized workers trying to get handouts that the South’s auto industry (Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan, Mercedes, BMW …) doesn’t need. To the coastal urbanites and suburbanites who now make up the core constituency of the Democratic Party, it’s an industry that makes crappy big cars and fights against higher fuel efficiency standards. And to the business press it’s the worst thing of all: a trio of companies that are neither exciting nor financially successful.
(via Passport)
Jaguar, Land Rover to Change Hands #
Tomorrow Ford is supposed to announce the sale of its high-end Jaguar and Land Rover brands to India’s Tata Motors — the company that recently announced a $2500 car. We truly live in a changing world.
Tata is likely to pay about $2bn (£1bn) in the deal, although analysts will be keen to see the exact price and terms.
The agreement will bring to an end a lengthy sale process which started last June when Ford announced its intention to sell the companies as a package.
The Evolution of Car Companies’ Logos #
No doubt encouraged by the success of their technology post of a few weeks ago, Neatorama has compiled logos from many major car companies. The thing I found notable: distinct presences of a swastika behind the Volkswagen’s logo from the war years.
Ford Claims Right to Pictures of its Cars #
I’ll just give you Slashdot’s summary:
“In a move that can only be described as ‘Copyright Insanity’, Ford Motor Company now claims that they hold the rights to any image of a Ford vehicle, even if it’s a picture you took of your own car. The Black Mustang Club wanted to put together a calendar featuring member’s cars and print it through CafePress, but an attorney from Ford nixed the project, stating that the calendar pics and ‘anything with one of (member’s) cars in it infringes on Ford’s trademarks which include the use of images of their vehicles.’