M_TYPE_X
11-28-2004, 02:14 PM
GM and Ford still need to be national to drain the anti-Michigan haterade:
We promised you a look at the potential Wixom plant closing, and the movement of its Lincoln LS and Town Car lines to Atlanta. None have made more insightful comments than Autoline Detroit's John McElroy.
Thus we close with a political hedge.
"Automakers need to hold on to as much political clout as possible... any time an automaker has a plant in a state, it can usually count on the support of two senators, at least one congressman, and a governor," suggested McElroy recently.
With Michigan support generally reliable, Ford may well feel it can afford to move south and shore-up a base there.
To which we must suggest that Toyota (that name seems to come up awfully frequently) has quietly been building its own base in Michigan. Ford would be well-advised to place its political bets as carefully as it has its products'.
From Automobear (http://www.automobear.com/BetweenBoutsOfHonestyFordHedgesItsBetsFor2005.html )
We promised you a look at the potential Wixom plant closing, and the movement of its Lincoln LS and Town Car lines to Atlanta. None have made more insightful comments than Autoline Detroit's John McElroy.
Thus we close with a political hedge.
"Automakers need to hold on to as much political clout as possible... any time an automaker has a plant in a state, it can usually count on the support of two senators, at least one congressman, and a governor," suggested McElroy recently.
With Michigan support generally reliable, Ford may well feel it can afford to move south and shore-up a base there.
To which we must suggest that Toyota (that name seems to come up awfully frequently) has quietly been building its own base in Michigan. Ford would be well-advised to place its political bets as carefully as it has its products'.
From Automobear (http://www.automobear.com/BetweenBoutsOfHonestyFordHedgesItsBetsFor2005.html )