Ford looks to 2008 lineup to hold share |
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Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:58
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DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Co.'s efforts to stabilize its shrinking share of the U.S. market will get a boost from a 2008 model-year lineup that includes the revived Taurus sedan and updated crossovers, a top executive said Monday.Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, said the automaker is making strides toward stabilizing its market share at about 14 to 15 percent -- one goal of its 'Way Forward' restructuring plan.Fields noted that Ford's U.S. market share so far this year is about 15.3 percent, but showing signs of stability after a decade of declines.'We really are starting to deliver products that people will want,' Fields said during an event at Ford's Dearborn vehicle testing facilities to showcase Ford, Lincoln and Mercury's 2008 offerings.In addition to the Taurus sedan, key in the 2008 lineup will be the Taurus X, a re-badged version of the Freestyle crossover and an updated version of the Edge crossover, which has been a recent highlight for Ford.Fields also said Ford essentially has met its goal of cutting 14,000 salaried jobs. Ford was seeking to reduce white-collar employment by 10,000 this year, in addition to about 4,000 who left last year.'We actually are done with that,' Fields said. 'We do have some folks that are staying with us a little bit longer, through the remainder of the year, in some critical positions.'About 27,000 U.S. hourly workers have left Dearborn-based Ford under buyout or early retirement offers as part of its effort to pare down its work force, and Fields reiterated that number on Friday.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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