#automotive

The Kuga is coming back—but this time with Geely technology. Here's what to expect from the new model that will replace the Kuga. In a move that surprised many, the crossover will be built on a Geely platform. What does this mean for buyers, what changes could it bring to the European auto industry, and why might it affect pricing? Here's what you need to know.

News that Ford has chosen a Geely platform for its future crossover has become a major talking point among car enthusiasts. The decision could reshape the competitive landscape and influence how accessible modern technology becomes for buyers. As Western automakers look for new paths forward, partnerships like this are becoming increasingly important.

Ford has officially begun work on the successor to the popular Kuga. The biggest surprise is the use of a platform developed by China's Geely. According to the head of Ford's European division, the new model will feature a completely American design and will not resemble any existing vehicle. The interior is expected to offer generous space and comfort, particularly for families and drivers who value convenience on long trips.

A new piece from Bloomberg makes the case, comparing the Tesla vehicle to the misfortunes of Ford's Edsel, which was first introduced in 1957 and discontinued just two years later. After spending years building up hype for the car, Ford predicted selling 200,000 units in its first year, but ended up selling less than a third of that.

That's comparable to expectations versus reality of the Cybertruck. In fact, the Cybertruck is actually doing worse in key ways. Tesla's annual sales target was 250,000 units, but it didn't even crack 40,000 sales in its first year. And like the Edsel, it's sold less with each successive year, with barely 7,100 registered in the US in 2026 so far, according to S&P Global Mobility data — despite Musk juicing those figures by selling Cybertrucks to his own companies.

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/looking-cybertruck-biggest-flop-automotive-145559135.html

Now we know what is in the future for North America's workers.

https://www.timesgazette.com/2017/09/15/highland-county-chinchilla-ranch-not-like-anything-most-people-think/

https://fordauthority.com/2026/06/ford-f-150-king-ranch-platinum-lose-5-0l-v8-coyote-option/

https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/oreilly-automotive-bids-for-genuine-parts-auto-unit--bloomberg-93CH-4773945

O’Riley buying NAPA Auto.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/ford-recalls-741195-suvs-pickups-after-transmission-defect-raises-rollaway-risk-nhtsa

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/polestar-banned-from-us-market-under-rule-targeting-china-linked-connected-vehicles

Hmmm, nothing to be worried about, just another day... nothing to see here!

Over the past six months, China has launched 622 new car models. That is not innovation. That is an industry on life support.

Picture a car factory running at half capacity. Assembly lines built for thousands of vehicles a day are operating at less than 50%. The machines are paid for either way. Sitting idle costs more than building something.

That is the real reason behind the flood of new models. Lithium carbonate, the key battery material, crashed from nearly 600,000 RMB per ton to just 80,000. Launching a new car became dramatically cheaper. So factories that cannot sell enough of what they already make simply make something new instead.

But here is the real twist. It is not only about factories. Public car companies face their own pressure. Go six months without launching a new model, and rating agencies may downgrade the stock. So some of these new cars are not built for drivers at all. They are built to keep a stock price alive.

Faster R&D has made this even easier. Skateboard chassis platforms, combined with AI-assisted design, have cut development time from 63 months down to just 12 to 15 months. China did not just make cars cheaper to build. It made it cheap to keep building cars nobody asked for.

So here is the result. Roughly 80% of these 622 models are statistically doomed to disappear. So if you are buying, check who makes the core components, check the brand’s survival odds, and give yourself a three-month cooling-off period before you commit.

In this market, the newest electric car on the lot might be the first one to vanish.

I’m Ling, a tech analyst from China.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRwjAkjy/

Push the button and nothing happens (people die). Can’t recall Patriot systems deployed.

From Ford Authority:
Ford has a long history of supplying the U.S. military with various goods, beginning way back during World War I and extending to World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars. As Ford Authority recently reported, the Trump administration previously approached Ford and other automakers regarding the possibility of shifting some capacity to we-pons production, and Ford CEO Jim Farley later confirmed that the automaker was "in early discussions with the U.S. government on some defense-related projects" - as well as the European Union, too.

Now, those talks have seemingly progressed, as U.S. President Donald Trump recently revealed that both Ford and General Motors are in discussions with defense contractors that could result in the repurposing of certain plants for we-pons production, according to CBS News. Trump noted that those we-pons include things like the Patriot and the Tomahawk missile.

Automotive and transport sectors saw significant workforce reductions in 2026. Weak demand, corporate restructuring, and AI integration caused these cuts. UPS eliminated 30,000 positions due to an AI-driven transformation. Volkswagen Group cut 50,000 employees in two separate rounds. Numerous other companies also reduced staff to manage operational costs.

https://www.latestly.com/auto/layoffs-in-auto-sector-2026-check-list-of-auto-and-transport-companies-that-reduced-their-workforce-7487974.html/amp

It could get dicey since so few are left..

General Motors produces profitable pickup trucks at its Flint Assembly Plant. This plant relies on daily axle deliveries for production. A strike at an American Axle facility threatens these critical shipments. Union workers initiated the strike on May 31. This disruption could significantly jeopardize General Motors' profits.

Detroit, Michigan

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2026/06/08/american-axle-strike-could-put-gm-heavy-truck-output-in-jeopardy/90375511007/

https://www.theautopian.com/the-30000-ford-ev-pickup-is-way-smaller-thank-you-think-we-got-an-exclusive-look/

I am about to join Q's Automotive divison, i appreciate any insights about quality of work, teams, wlb. Thanks in advance.

Anyone remember how beneficial BCG' analysis was to Ford' meteoric rise to profitability in the past?
Not!
I just want to hear stories from the older crew.
On another note, does anyone remember their attempt at implementing a Matrix Management model?
Maybe if they understood the difference between producing a quality product and the stylish management trends of the month, Ford would be a great car company.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/04/trump-says-ford-gm-want-bill-to-restrict-owners-from-fixing-their-own-vehicles/90410359007/?tbref=hp

Ford just reported sales and it's down big time, even with Ford employees discount for all. People are finally realizing that Ford vehicles are junk. Other automotive companies sales are up. GM and Stellantis did not report.

Constellium Automotive USA announced job reductions. The manufacturing plant is located in White, Georgia. Fifty-seven of its ninety-nine employees are affected. This action is a permanent reduction in force. Employee separations begin on August 1st.

White, Georgia

https://www.wrganews.com/2026/06/04/constellium-automotive-usa-in-bartow-county-announces-layoffs/

No fix available. Keep making your payments while driving a rental. So sad.

Ford is telling 4,653 Bronco Sport and Maverick owners to stop driving their vehicles immediately. The truck and SUV might have front lower control arm ball joints that were not assembled correctly. If they fail while the vehicle is being driven, drivers could lose steering control. This significantly increases the risk of a crash.

The recall impacts 2021 to 2026 models and Ford is advising owners to check online to see if their vehicle is included in the campaign. If it is, the vehicle will be towed to a dealership for inspection and repair. Some customers will also have the option of having their vehicle inspected at home via mobile service technicians.

The recall hasn’t been posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration yet, so details are limited. However, the automaker said “dealers will visually inspect the front lower control arm ball joint assembly on both the left and right sides, and repair, as necessary at no cost to the customer.”

It sounds like the automaker doesn’t have a fix at the moment as they noted repairs will be made at a “future date.” Ford also said “rentals are available at no cost” to owners of vehicles that fail the inspection.

Ford is facing a growing nightmare as massive recalls, expensive repairs, and reliability complaints continue spreading across America. Thousands of owners are discovering that some vehicles they trusted are now turning into financial disasters filled with breakdowns, warning lights, and terrifying repair costs. Dealers are quietly struggling to calm angry customers while mechanics warn that certain models may only get worse as they age. Older drivers especially are starting to question whether Ford still builds vehicles tough enough to last long term. And according to insiders, the recall chaos surrounding some of these vehicles could become even more damaging before 2026 is over.

Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis reduced their American professional staff. More than twenty thousand individuals were affected by these cuts. General Motors made the deepest personnel cuts. Ford and Stellantis also decreased their employee totals. AI and other tech advancements contribute to these staff reductions.

Detroit, Michigan

https://www.bitget.com/amp/news/detail/12560605414080

I'd say he is, he's conditioned that way.

Windsor's jobless rate decreased to 8.1 percent in April. This drop occurred despite 3,700 people leaving the labor market. Overall employment in the region fell by 2,400 individuals. However, Windsor-Essex added 2,600 manufacturing jobs. The Stellantis Windsor Assembly Plant's third shift contributed to this growth.

Windsor, Ontario

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-jobless-numbers-april-2026-9.7193199

I read on teamblind reports that another former Apple Cobbler Senior Manager left the Skunk works. By the sound of it they were axed not voluntarily left on their own and no replacement announced sounds like corp. restructuring. DF was the first domino, wishing my CA colleagues the best. Polish your resumes!

https://layoffhedge.com/h1b#st=MI&county=HOUGHTON&cs=MI&tab=leaderboard

https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/ford-ev-electric-truck-7fdb0e0a?mod=RSSMSN&fbclid=IwY2xjawRm8j1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFVOEUwNVMzU1ZvUGVmYjltc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHurj8Q72uCnyj2qU_pbTBTThzpt4YnF71Rr8HvfnTZzsNdZT6a61B7P_wnsZ_aem_vdiIWp8B1pnJUn06hQWNiQ

I thought that was for Ford employees? Should Ford employees get a better deal than? I am not happy about this as a Ford employee. This is a benefit for us! What is everyone's thought s?

https://www.evshift.com/357031/top-6-biggest-chinese-suvs-coming-in-2026/

President Trump, please allow Chinese to sell cars in the US. We all want the Chinese vehicles, not the outdated US made vehicles.

https://x.com/Notwokenow/status/2048697287543538023?s=20

RESRG Automotive will begin layoffs. These job reductions are scheduled for this summer. The company plans to implement the layoffs soon. Employees will be affected starting this summer. RESRG Automotive is initiating these workforce changes.

https://www.14news.com/video/2026/04/22/layoffs-starting-this-summer-resrg-automotive-14-first-alert-streaming-230-pm-42226/?outputType=amp

I wish I had an electric car now.

https://hilinetoday.com/attorney-general-knudsen-launches-investigation-into-two-automotive-companies/

Iowa reported 83 total layoffs in March. Car dealerships Sky Chevrolet and Sky Auto Mall accounted for 76 job losses. These dealerships are located in Newhall and Center Point. They face lawsuits from Stellantis Financial Services and Ford Motor Credit Co. The lawsuits allege the dealerships took out multiple loans on the same vehicles.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2026/04/02/iowa-layoffs-march-83-workers/89421684007/

Junk cars with junk parts
Recalls everywhere
But the guys in coats and suits are happy making their bonuses blaming others..
Only a fool will buy the evs here

From the Detroit News:
Ford Motor Co. reported the value of CEO Jim Farley's 2025 compensation package as $27.5 million - up11% from 2024's $24.9 million.
The total package that Farley, 63, earned in 2025 included an unchanged base salary of $1.7 million and lower stock awards. The package value's increase was attributable to a higher bonus from meeting company objectives, primarily around quality and software revenues per vehicle, according to an annual proxy statement filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Dearborn automaker's adjusted operating profit of $6.8 billion, however, was lower than expected because of tariffs and an aluminum shortage stemming from fires at supplier Novelis Inc.
Farley's bonuses increased 2.5 times to almost $5.746 million after the automaker met performance targets, resulting in a 130% company-wide performance factor, which also is attributed as Farley's individual performance factor, according to the report. The CEO previously told employees the achievement would be reflected in white-collar bonuses.
Quality goals included metrics related to the vehicle when it is sold as well as after three months of ownership. Costs related to recalls and warranties have weighed on the automaker's balance sheets, but executives have emphasized the biggest burden is from older vehicles and that new vehicles coming off the line now are some of the company's best-quality products. Ford's executive compensation seeks to incentivize the work being done that year.
The automaker reported the value of Farley's stock awards had decreased at $18.9 million, though a fraction of that has vested so far. The total value could differ based on Ford's stock value when those awards vest after a certain amount of time or, for most, the performance metric is met.
In 2025, the company recorded a net loss of $8.2 billion because of one-time special charges related to redeploying assets for its electric vehicle business. It also distributed profit-sharing bonuses of approximately $6,780 to 56,300 eligible autoworkers and another 1,490 employees who retired last year.
Farley's total compensation amounted to 295 times the median annual total compensation of all Ford employees last year: $93,397. That was up from 253 times in 2024, when the median employee compensation was $98,273.
Farley's package also included almost $1.2 million in other compensation such as use of private aircraft and company vehicles, which was up year-over-year.
Executive Chair Bill Ford's total compensation was $20.3 million in 2025, down from $20.4 million in 2024. The package included an unchanged $1.7 million salary. His stock awards were lower at $14.7 million. Bonuses were up 2.5 times to more than $1.69 million.
The total compensation for Vice Chair John Lawler, who was chief financial officer until Feb. 5 in 2025, was about $11.8 million in 2024, up 26%. His salary was up to $1.3 million. The $7.6 million in stock awards as reported were up. Bonuses were up to $2.2 million.
Chief Financial Officer Sherry House's compensation was $8.4 million, which included a $920,250 base salary, $5.8 million in stock awards and a $1.4 million bonus.
Ford Pro President Alicia Boler Davis, who joined the company in October, had a package valued at almost $19 million. Her base salary was more than $309,000. She received a $3.25 million signing bonus, $14.7 million in stock awards and a $650,000 performance bonus.
Doug Field is Ford's chief EV, digital and design officer. His compensation of $15.3 million was down 1.7%. His base salary rose to almost $550,000. The value of his stock awards was reported lower at $13.9 million. Bonuses totaled almost almost $540,000, a decrease.
Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa received a compensation package of about $6.3 million last year after taking over as the top boss of the automaker in June. Stellantis' former CEO, Carlos Tavares, was paid about $14 million by the company in 2025 after leaving the automaker in December 2024.
General Motors Co. hasn't released its executive compensation numbers for 2023. Its proxy statement usually is filed in April. In 2024, GM CEO Mary Barra received a $29.5 million package.
Ford will host its annual meeting on May 14.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2026/03/27/ford-ceo-jim-farley-compensation-salary-2025/89345220007/?tbref=hp

How much billion$ was wasted again? I lost count.

Suppliers no longer expect market conditions to normalize. They are adapting operations for ongoing market instability. This follows tens of thousands of job cuts in 2025. Relentless regulatory uncertainty also prompted this change. This information comes from a recent S&P Global survey.

https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/suppliers/ane-suppliers-survey-0317/

Bentley Motors will cut 275 office roles. This represents about 6% of its total workforce. Declining China sales and low EV demand are factors. US tariffs also contributed to this decision. The company aims to maintain competitiveness.

https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/bentley-to-cut-275-jobs-amid-china-slowdown-weak-ev-demand-and-us-tariffs-ws-l-92511.htm

Contains zero subscription sales numbers. Why not?
Has “Integrated Services” been laid off? What has Mike Aragon been doing other than collecting a paycheck instead of unemployment?

BlueCruise was launched Jule 2021, why no accounting of paid subscriptions after almost five years?

“Ford Secure” was allegedly launched in 2023, why no accounting of the three years of subscription sales?

Could it be that Ford is NOT a software and subscription company?

Model e better get busy selling, because YTD sales of VEHICLES are down over 5% YOY.

Latest recall news

https://www.usatoday.com/story/cars/recalls/2026/02/26/ford-recalls-vehicles-lincoln-models/88883398007/