Ford Motor: Lack Of US Hybrid Parts Suppliers Poses Major Problem

[hatrack]

"A senior product development executive at Ford has warned that a dearth of US suppliers capable of producing key petrol-electric hybrid components places a big question mark over the future competitiveness of the country's automotive industry.

Phil Martens, Ford's executive vice-president of product development, said the car giant, which is preparing to ship a small hybrid sports-utility vehicle (SUV) later this year, had to turn to foreign suppliers for access to a majority of key components to build the company's first hybrid, the Escape Hybrid.

"What is it going to take for suppliers to invest in this type of R&D in the United States?" Mr Martens asked in a recent interview. "It's a burning issue. We need to think about how complicated a task to launch the technology in the United States," he said. "We don't have battery suppliers that can deliver , we don't have regenerative brake suppliers that can deliver what we need, and we do not have the level of software engineering that we need."

EDIT

Given that few automotive suppliers in Japan had practical expertise to help Toyota create a hybrid car, Toyota developed its own expertise internally in key areas, such as battery and regenerative brake technology, and a computer control system that helps the vehicle to switch seamlessly between the petrol engine and the electric propulsion system when driving the vehicle. Toyota then worked with suppliers to hone knowledge and skills to design and manufacture key hybrid components, the company said."

EDIT

http://afr.com/articles/2004/08/17/1092508470017.html

[Fovea]

1. But I thought globalization was supposed to be

helping the American economy?

[4morewars]

2. LMAO

Yes, and outsourcing of our jobs is also helping the economy ! LOL
Hey !! What was that sound ? Why, it's the shit hitting the fan !!

[billbuckhead]

3. What would Henry Ford think?

Can't Ford make it's own parts? Maybe Ford should get out of the car business and start making home equity loans like GM (Ditech.com) Ford and GM are truly pathetic and an example of American corporate ingenuity on it's deathbed.

[Webster Green]

4. Someone in the US could surely make them....

What has happened to good old American ingenuity?

Oh well, can't find the parts for hybrids, lets just build more Hummers.

[hatrack]

5. Hmmmmmmmm, let's see here . . .

" . . . Toyota developed its own expertise internally in key areas, such as battery and regenerative brake technology, and a computer control system that helps the vehicle to switch seamlessly between the petrol engine and the electric propulsion system when driving the vehicle. Toyota then worked with suppliers to hone knowledge and skills to design and manufacture key hybrid components, the company said."

Oh, you mean they did some long-term thinking and invested heavily in new technologies, engineering, and time spent working with their suppliers to make sure that the systems would run properly?

Meanwhile, Ford spent most of the late 1990s engaged in a dick-stretching contest with GM as to who could build the biggest SUV of them all.

Howdy, chickens! Here's your roost, and feel free to make yourselves at home!!

[phantom power]

6. They spent their R+D budget on lobbying against CAFE increases

If they had any personal integrity, the CEOs of the Big Three would all resign for their lack of leadership and vision.

But I'm sure they've all awarded themselves multi-million dollar bonuses and enormous severance packages.