QRB 501
23 January 2013
The automobile industry is fragile, volatile, and competitive during normal economic conditions, and this intensifies significantly during economic downturns. The recession that began in 2008/2009 crippled the automobile industry on a global scale. The global economy, including the United States, has improved steadily starting late 2010 and continuing until present day. In fact, the output of United States motor vehicles manufacturing is forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of six percent between 2012 and 2016. The Interindustry Economic Research Find, Inc (IERF) funded this forecasting and research project. Data from the Automobile research provided the chart below - published September 2012
Automobile Manufacturing Growth Fluctuates
Table 1: Industry Forecast (Data Published September 2012)
Ford Motor began mass-producing manufactured automobiles on assembly lines in the early 20th century. Today, Ford is one of the world 's largest, and most recognizable, automakers. With the brands Ford and Lincoln, Mercury ceased production in 2010. Today, Ford Motor Company is a global powerhouse in the automotive industry, and despite a shaky global consumer confidence (figure 1), Ford maintains its promising forecast for profitability.
Fords financial stability is sound. In 2012, Ford was #9 the FORBES 500 and FORBES 100, on the S&P 500, and #151 in FT Global 500. Ford has a very popular vehicle line-up that includes the “Ford Mustang, F-Series pickup trucks, and the fuel-efficient Focus” (Company, Ford Motor Company Annual Reports, 2008 - 2011, 2008 - 2011). Popular and attractive models are only one factor leading to steadily increasing sales since the beginning of the 2008 recession as shown in tables 1 and 2. The official 2012 volume numbers are not available, therefore, the 2012 number listed below is an estimate calculated using the CPI (Consumer Price Index) methods.
Table 2: Worldwide wholesale
References: Nielson Consumer Confidence Index. (2011). Retrieved from http://nielsen.com: http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/reports-downloads/2011-Reports/GlobalConsumerConfidenceReport_Q42010.pdf?wwparam=1319752536 Company, F. M. (2008 - 2011). Ford Motor Company Annual Reports, 2008 - 2011. Dearborn: Ford Motor Company. Company, F. M. (2009). 2009 Ford Motor Company Annual Report. Dearborn: Ford Motor Company. Company, F. M. (2010). 2008 Ford Motor Company Annual Report. Dearborn: Ford Motor Company. Company, F. M. (2011). 2011 Ford Annual Report. Dearborn: Ford Motor Company. Company, F. M. (2011). 2011 Ford Annual Report, Pg 29. In F. M. Company, 2011 Annual Report (p. 29). Dearborn: Ford Motor Company. Company, F. M. (2011, Aug 31). Head’s Up. Retrieved from Media.Ford.com: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35137 INFORUM. (2012, September). First Search. Retrieved from INFORUM Forecasts: http://mergent.firstresearch-learn.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/industry.aspx?pid=276 Report, 2. F. (2010). Ford Motor Company Annual Report. Dearborn: Ford Motor Company.