Oil Addicted Ford CEO Steps Down
Ford’s economically devastating downward spiral of oil addiction has had us all watching to see how this auto giant will chart its Way Forward. As we’ve seen Bill Ford Jr break environmental promise after environmental promise, we’ve wondered if he was really the right leader to illustrate the the bottom-line merit of environmental values.
So we must admit that we weren’t too surprised today when Bill Ford Jr. announced that he was stepping down as the CEO of Ford Motor Company. He handed the reigns to Alan Mulally, a veteran executive at the Boeing Company. And the Jumpstart Ford campaign challenges this new CEO to deliver on his predecessor’s environmental promises. If Mr. Mulally is going to fix Ford’s problems he will only do so by increasing fuel efficiency in his fleet. Mr. Mulally could start by building the most efficient vehicles in America – plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
19 Responses to “Oil Addicted Ford CEO Steps Down”
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September 6th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I just wrote an article on global warming for Northwest Runner where I suggest that we take CEO’s out into the national parks of Washington state to show them what our path has wrought. I would love to start with the new CEO of Ford. John Muir took Teddy Roosevelt out hiking in 1908. the result was the national park system and the preservation of millions of acres of forest, forest that is now burning or dying as a result of global warming. If there is anyway to contact Bill of Ford and let him know that Keith Johnson will gladly take him hiking for several days–i am 51 and have been climbing in the mountains for 32 years–please let me know. I believe Ford could lead the way by building a fleet of small cars for the American citizens who are ready to change their consuming ways. If they would produce a car similar to the Ford Festiva that got 50 miles to the gallon, they would sell 10 million of them–or more. We are waiting.
Keith Mark Johnson
September 6th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
Good deal….I just hope the Boeing guy is able to think small in some ways…like smaller amts of energy used, maybe even beginning small enough to attract middle class,low income users. I bought a Toyota Prius (05)in about Feb.and absolutely love it.Live in Wyoming least populated state so not lotsof towns. 55-60 miles in town..500 miles on a tank of gas (11g.tank) and when going down even a slight slope one is getting 99.9 mpg…aawwesome and reasonably priced also.
September 6th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
I’m a Ford Focus owner and I want to see Ford get back to being a vibrant company by building more small, fuel efficient cars.
September 6th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Congratulations on becoming the new Ford CEO. I hope that you can help get the company back on track. Ford could be such a leader in the industry. I hope that you will strive to increase your cars fuel efficiency and also explore ideas like hydrogen powered cars further. I would certainly seriously consider buying a Ford next time but only if it’s a hybrid electric or hydrogen powered vehicle.
September 6th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
If Mr. Mulally is going to fix Ford’s problems he will only do so by stopping Ford’s policy of supporting Homosexual and Gay marriages. That’s one reason I won’t buy a Ford and it has nothing to do with oil. I will compliment them on their E-85 cars. There is also no room for a bunch of high priced hybird electric cars. All they will do is drive up the production of lead-acid batteries and we all know the pollution they cause.
September 6th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLES ARE THE ONLY WAY TO COMPETE WITH VEHICLES FROM FOREIGN AUTOMAKERS. IT’S GOOD FOR FORD; GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND GOOD FOR CONSUMERS.
September 6th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
Dear Mr Mulally we must stop our ADDICTED to oil . how about Hybrid Electric Vehicles how about gas made from corn or blade grass help the America need your help thank you.
September 6th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Why do they have to be hybrids? Plug in electric cars were made by GM years ago, and then destroyed, as they proved too successful. I say force GM to cough up the plans and have every automaker make only plug in full electric vehicles of all sorts of sizes and shapes. Trains that pull tons and tons can also be electric, there’s enough power there for any function. “Who Killed the Electric Car” is a great DVD, by the way. It can make you really mad at our automakers.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:08 am
Just imagine how cool a hybrid plug in AWD Ford Mustang GT with a turbo-charger would be! Imagine a 12 second quarter mile time and 69 miles to the gallon. I just can’t see a Mustang like that failing!!! Buile em’, and they will sell!
September 7th, 2006 at 5:35 am
Why would the fact Alan Mulally is stepping in at Ford make any difference? It’s only about profit! Ford manufactures lousy cars (my family made the mistake of buying them over the years!) and I’ve never heard they treat their employees particularly well, so why would the new Kahuna care about the fact the planet is in peril? I must assume our battle will have to be twice as hard now to get Ford to help with the environment.
Common sense dictates that Mulally will “cash in” on the fact SO MANY of us Americans care, but I’ve seen it ignored in the past. If Mulally thinks ignoring the environmental crisis will help boost shareholders’ dividends, he will do it! I need to buy a car soon and the only ones I’m considering are the hybrids. If Ford would build one that sells for less, I’d buy it. Unfortunately, I always struggle financially, so I’d choose a cheaper American-built hybrid over the Toyota. If there’s no choice, however, I’ll probably buy the Toyota. I doubt Mulally cares that there are consumers who think the way I do! BTW, when I bought my now-defunct 1997 Ford Escort Wagon, the low price was a huge factor, but, it had California emmissions standards, which was something other cars I looked at lacked. That’s why I did buy it!
Thanks for allowing me to emote!
Linda
September 7th, 2006 at 8:28 am
I drive a Ford Focus and I love this car! Any plans to turn it into a Hybrid?
I would like to see Ford open more plants in the Detoit/Troy, MI area. These plants could specialize in producing Hybrid cars. Every American could drive a Hybrid Ford! This would be great for Michigan’s economy! Get on it Mr. Mulally!
September 7th, 2006 at 8:42 am
build better cars, Ford has been associated with alot of bad news, going back to ww2- make this a new, earth, people friendly company
September 7th, 2006 at 8:44 am
It would be wonderful to see a real committment to change. Why do the people “in charge” continue down the same old tired paths of profit instead of creating and supporting innovation that could change our world, and our lives and everyone profits?
September 7th, 2006 at 10:28 am
I am happy to hear that there is new leadership within the Ford company. Now let’s see Ford make a difference and build environmentally responsible vehicles to aid in the fight against Global Warming and Oil Greed.
September 7th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chief sponsor of a measure to increase fuel economy standards in the House, released the following statement on the news that Ford Motor Corporation has hired Alan Mullaly to replace Bill Ford as Ford’s President and Chief Executive Officer:
“Ford has always acted like making a car more efficient was harder than rocket science. Now that the company has an actual rocket scientist at the helm, maybe the science of auto mechanics will not seem so difficult. The first thing Mr. Mulally should do is reverse Ford’s disastrous retreat on hybrid vehicles so that America can once again lead the world in auto technology.”
September 8th, 2006 at 5:10 am
The Promise are really, or intelligents only chance the future, The Next! The ReaLLY Next is the Clean Energy, Mr. Mullay are the innovations and these EXISTS, The Hybrids Cars are a Realty, With the Electrics Cars and More(Idrogen…) But If You living Under the lobbies to Petrols( is Truth!), Don’t chance nobody forever…again, again,again WU.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:29 am
The Next!Clean Energy, Clean Cars: Hybrid Electric Vehicles or Hidrogen,or…more, the Human Intelli gence is Infinite,now is the great opportunity, Stop at the Fossil-Fuel,Petrol, Now! It’ s Obsolete, Chance, take the next!The Future…..Yes, The Future Clean from oil,and new Disaster……WU.
September 8th, 2006 at 8:50 am
I know you can do it if you try. Be the company that rescues the country from oil dependence.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:27 am
Dear Mr. Mulally,
Please do the right thing ….with every decision that you make. A Nation of people are counting on you.
Thank you.
Kimberly Wyke
Camden, Maine