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<title><![CDATA[RSS for Alan Mulally]]></title>
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<link><![CDATA[http://search.autonews.com/]]></link>
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<title><![CDATA[New wave of American design stokes Detroit 3 market share gains]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130525/OEM03/305259999/new-wave-of-american-design-stokes-detroit-3-market-share-gains]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130525/OEM03/305259999/new-wave-of-american-design-stokes-detroit-3-market-share-gains</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 25 May 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- In the dark winter months before General Motors filed for bankruptcy four years ago, its top designer, Ed Welburn, was growing increasingly frustrated with the negative news about the company. He gathered his 300-member design staff in the cavernous domed showroom at the ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford must switch gears, tout trucks, Mustang]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130513/RETAIL03/305139995/ford-must-switch-gears-tout-trucks-mustang]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130513/RETAIL03/305139995/ford-must-switch-gears-tout-trucks-mustang</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 13 May 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT -- Ford-brand marketers face an interesting challenge. After spending millions of dollars over the last several years promoting a lineup of fuel-efficient small- and mid-sized cars and crossovers, two historic launches loom on Ford's near-term horizon: the next-generation F-series pickup ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Diving Into Driverless Future (5/10/13)]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://search.autonews.com/v/74780926/diving-into-driverless-future-5-10-13.htm?]]></link>
<guid>http://search.autonews.com/v/74780926/diving-into-driverless-future-5-10-13.htm?</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 10 May 2013 15:41:26 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Technology pushes cars toward full autonomy, but not everybody's happy; Look, no wires either; Lapham: Ford's idle-stock talk.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[In boon for Japan's automakers, yen tumbles over milestone]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130509/GLOBAL/130509868/in-boon-for-japans-automakers-yen-tumbles-over-milestone]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130509/GLOBAL/130509868/in-boon-for-japans-automakers-yen-tumbles-over-milestone</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 09 May 2013 22:21:12 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[TOKYO (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s half-decade of fighting the yen is over, at least for now. The weakening yen breached 100 against the dollar in U.S. trading on Thursday, paving the way for Japan to emerge from an unprecedented and largely uninterrupted five-year stretch where the ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Bill Ford tells shareholders to be patient about stock price]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130509/OEM02/130509874/bill-ford-tells-shareholders-to-be-patient-about-stock-price]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130509/OEM02/130509874/bill-ford-tells-shareholders-to-be-patient-about-stock-price</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 09 May 2013 11:21:59 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[WILMINGTON, Del. -- Executive Chairman Bill Ford asked for patience from Ford Motor Co. investors who pressed him about the company's languishing stock price at the automaker's annual meeting here today. Despite 15 straight profitable quarters, Ford's share price has lagged the SandP 500's gains ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford sees Thai operations as export hub for southeast Asia]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130505/GLOBAL02/130509926/ford-sees-thai-operations-as-export-hub-for-southeast-asia]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130505/GLOBAL02/130509926/ford-sees-thai-operations-as-export-hub-for-southeast-asia</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 05 May 2013 18:34:15 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[MUMBAI (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co.'s factories in Thailand are capable of producing eight times more vehicles than it sells. With help from a Thai government program, the automaker plans to make sure the excess capacity doesn't become a liability like at its plants in Europe. While Thailand is ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford to pass its own hybrid sales record in five months on Fusion, C-Max]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130503/OEM05/130509937/ford-to-pass-its-own-hybrid-sales-record-in-five-months-on-fusion-c]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130503/OEM05/130509937/ford-to-pass-its-own-hybrid-sales-record-in-five-months-on-fusion-c</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 03 May 2013 15:41:06 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., seeking to challenge Toyota Motor Corp.'s dominance in gasoline-electric vehicles, said it will pass its own full-year record for U.S. hybrid sales this month on demand for its Fusion and C-Max models. Hybrid deliveries for Ford reached a monthly record 8,481 ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Alcoa plans to expand Tenn. plant to meet automotive demand]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130502/OEM10/305029928/alcoa-plans-to-expand-tenn-plant-to-meet-automotive-demand]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130502/OEM10/305029928/alcoa-plans-to-expand-tenn-plant-to-meet-automotive-demand</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 02 May 2013 10:04:21 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[(Bloomberg) -- Alcoa Inc., the largest U.S. aluminum producer, will expand a plant in Tennessee to meet increasing demand for the lightweight metal in cars and trucks. Alcoa plans to spend $275 million in the next three years at its rolling mill in Alcoa, Tenn., the company said today in a ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Suppliers follow automakers to inland cities]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130429/OEM10/304299960/suppliers-follow-automakers-to-inland-cities]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130429/OEM10/304299960/suppliers-follow-automakers-to-inland-cities</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[International suppliers are moving into western China because that's where their customers are. For components with high shipping costs -- say a seat, instrument panel or front-end module -- the supplier often puts a plant just a few miles down the road from its customer. Chongqing and Chengdu have ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[West is best for growth in China sales, output]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130429/GLOBAL03/304299959/west-is-best-for-growth-in-china-sales-output]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130429/GLOBAL03/304299959/west-is-best-for-growth-in-china-sales-output</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[HONGQING, China -- When Changan Ford Automobile Co. wanted to build an engine and a transmission plant next to each other, the local government here literally moved a small mountain to make it happen. This sprawling municipality is as hilly as San Francisco. So the Chongqing North Development ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[GM changes Akerson's pay mix, saying he may retire within 3 years]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130426/ANE/304269973/gm-changes-akersons-pay-mix-saying-he-may-retire-within-3-years]]></link>
<guid>http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130426/ANE/304269973/gm-changes-akersons-pay-mix-saying-he-may-retire-within-3-years</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson's compensation mix was changed in 2012 to accommodate the possibility he may retire before his long-term restricted stock vests in three years, the company said. "We certainly wouldn't speculate on what he will actually do -- that's up to ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[GM changes Akerson's pay mix, saying he may retire within 3 years]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130425/OEM02/130429928/gm-changes-akersons-pay-mix-saying-he-may-retire-within-3-years]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130425/OEM02/130429928/gm-changes-akersons-pay-mix-saying-he-may-retire-within-3-years</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:10:45 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson's compensation mix was changed in 2012 to accommodate the possibility he may retire before his long-term restricted stock vests in three years, the company said. "We certainly wouldn't speculate on what he will actually do -- that's up to ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford Nets $1.6B (4/24/13)]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://search.autonews.com/v/73925638/ford-nets-1-6b-4-24-13.htm?]]></link>
<guid>http://search.autonews.com/v/73925638/ford-nets-1-6b-4-24-13.htm?</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:45:18 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Rising U.S. sales boost N.A.; hybrid owners sue; Daimler, VW profits fall; Fisker in hot seat; Snyder: Sales party poopers.]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford profit rises despite $462 million Europe loss]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130424/ANE/304259997/ford-profit-rises-despite-462-million-europe-loss]]></link>
<guid>http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130424/ANE/304259997/ford-profit-rises-despite-462-million-europe-loss</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:02:27 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. said today first-quarter net income rose 15 percent from a year earlier to $1.61 billion despite its troubles in recession-hit Europe. Ford's pretax operating loss in Europe widened sharply to $462 million from $149 million in the first quarter of 2012. The worsening ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford may post record Q1 profits in North America, analysts say]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130423/OEM/130429976/ford-may-post-record-q1-profits-in-north-america-analysts-say]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130423/OEM/130429976/ford-may-post-record-q1-profits-in-north-america-analysts-say</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:15:21 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. may post its highest first quarter North American profit ever, the latest sign the automaker's comeback is gaining momentum. Ford probably earned a record $2.7 billion pretax profit in North America during the first three months of the year, according to ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[As retirement approaches, Publisher Peter Brown honors some of the best, and worst, automotive adventurers]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130422/OEM02/304229971/as-retirement-approaches-publisher-peter-brown-honors-some-of-the]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130422/OEM02/304229971/as-retirement-approaches-publisher-peter-brown-honors-some-of-the</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In five years, we will have fuel cell vehicles out of the lab and on the road, a big fleet of cars burning cheap compressed natural gas, and new cars with so many active-safety features that you can't crash them. Unless we don't. In this surprising and fluid industry, peopled by geniuses and ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Reuss: GM faces 'real threat' from yen's decline]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130422/OEM02/304229985/reuss-gm-faces-real-threat-from-yens-decline]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130422/OEM02/304229985/reuss-gm-faces-real-threat-from-yens-decline</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[DETROIT -- General Motors isn't facing pricing pressure from Japanese rivals yet, but the Japanese yen's falling value poses a "real threat" that could undercut GM's campaign to boost market share, a top executive said last week. For the past two years, GM has enjoyed strong pricing power. Yet Mark ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[It's hard to see where China's love affair with cars will lead]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130418/BLOG06/130419887/its-hard-to-see-where-chinas-love-affair-with-cars-will-lead]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130418/BLOG06/130419887/its-hard-to-see-where-chinas-love-affair-with-cars-will-lead</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:07:22 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[SHANGHAI -- If you hang around anyone connected with the Chinese auto industry for any length of time, you'll hear mind-boggling numbers about the industry's rosy future. Dave Schoch, the no-nonsense president of Ford's Asia-Pacific region, told journalists this week that analysts say by 2020 the ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[GM's Reuss: No price pressure yet, but falling yen is a 'threat']]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130416/OEM02/130419927/gms-reuss-no-price-pressure-yet-but-falling-yen-is-a-threat]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130416/OEM02/130419927/gms-reuss-no-price-pressure-yet-but-falling-yen-is-a-threat</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:04:11 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Editor's note: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized Toyota Motor Sales' first-quarter U.S. market share. DETROIT -- The falling value of the Japanese yen poses "a real threat" to General Motors as it seeks to gain U.S. market share this year amid a slate of new-vehicle launches, a top ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ford's top execs devote much more time to China]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130415/GLOBAL03/130419948/fords-top-execs-devote-much-more-time-to-china]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130415/GLOBAL03/130419948/fords-top-execs-devote-much-more-time-to-china</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:01:44 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[During a recent visit to China, Ford Motor Co. COO Mark Fields ran the company's global business-plan review meeting -- a weekly gathering that includes all of the company's senior leaders -- from Ford's China headquarters in Shanghai. The meeting ran until 1 p.m. Detroit time, or 1 in the morning ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Ghosn, Mulally revive touchy Japanese currency issue]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130402/ANE/304059998/ghosn-mulally-revive-touchy-japanese-currency-issue]]></link>
<guid>http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130402/ANE/304059998/ghosn-mulally-revive-touchy-japanese-currency-issue</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK -- A long-distance debate last week between two CEOs -- Ford's Alan Mulally and Renault-Nissan's Carlos Ghosn -- reignited a hot-button debate in the industry over the value of the Japanese yen. Is the weakening value of the yen giving the Japanese an unfair edge? In Thailand on Tuesday, Mulally said he was concerned that the depreciation of the yen this year has given an advantage to Japanese automakers. In an interview at the auto show here, Ghosn denied that, saying Japanese automakers are still suffering from an overvalued yen. And Ghosn said the controversy is becoming outdated because Japanese automakers are localizing production in markets in which they sell to insulate themselves from currency fluctuations. The post-2008 strengthening of the yen badly hurt Japanese automakers, who want to avoid currency shocks in the future, he said. If anything, local production is only going to accelerate for all Japanese brands. "That's the reality," Ghosn said in an interview. "The situation of the yen in the future will have less and less effect on the results and the competitiveness of Japanese carmakers because you are all going more local." The yen was valued at just over 94 to the dollar on Friday, considerably weaker than the past-year high of 77.65 on Sept. 14. A weaker yen gives an advantage to Japanese exporters because each dollar of revenue brings them more yen. U.S. automakers for years argued that the weaker yen allowed Japanese automakers to load more features into cars and spend more on new products. But Ghosn said that even with the recent weakening, the yen is still too strong. The average yen-to-dollar rate for the 10 years prior to the 2008 economic crisis was about 110 yen to a dollar, he said. "In my opinion, we're still in what I call handicap territory at 94 or 95 yen to the dollar," Ghosn said. "What I consider as a neutral exchange rate for the yen is something between 100 and 110. We're not there. "So if one thinks that today we are in the exchange situation which gives a kind of undue advantage to exporters, I don't share this sentiment." Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota's North America Region, said last week there has been "a lot of static" about the yen's value. "Regardless of that, we have to make decisions for North America," Lentz said. "That comes down to building where we sell." Toyota's investment is nearing $20 billion in North America, he said, "plus another $1.5 billion has been announced for Highlander and RX 350 expansion, and some engine and transmission plants that will account for another 3,500 jobs." The strengthening of the yen since the election in December of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a critic of the strong valuation of the yen, has rekindled criticism from U.S. automakers that Japan is reaping a currency advantage. The yen began dropping during the Japanese election season as Abe began "talking down" the yen. Since taking office he has pushed policies aimed at fueling the economy and fanning inflation -- steps that put downward pressure on the currency. Back in February at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention, American Honda Motor Co. boss John Mendel fired back at critics who claimed that an unfair advantage was again brewing. "No one was saying, 'Gee, I hope they are OK,' when the yen went from 115 to 75 and we were on our deathbed," Mendel said. "This is a relatively minor correction." Mulally's assertion last week is that markets alone should set currency values. "The most important thing that most countries around the world believe in is letting the markets determine the currency," Mulally said during an interview with Bloomberg Television. "That's just so important to all of us in the international trading system." Said Lentz: "It's not like we're rolling in the dough." Mark Rechtin and Bloomberg contributed to this report]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mulally, Ghosn revive touchy Japanese currency issue]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130401/OEM01/304019944/mulally-ghosn-revive-touchy-japanese-currency-issue]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130401/OEM01/304019944/mulally-ghosn-revive-touchy-japanese-currency-issue</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK -- A long-distance debate last week between two CEOs -- Ford's Alan Mulally and Nissan-Renault's Carlos Ghosn -- reignited a hot-button debate in the industry over the value of the Japanese yen. Is the weakening value of the yen giving the Japanese an unfair edge? In Thailand on Tuesday, Mulally said he was concerned that the depreciation of the yen this year has given an advantage to Japanese automakers. In an interview at the auto show here, Ghosn denied that, saying Japanese automakers are still suffering from an overvalued yen. And Ghosn said the controversy is becoming outdated because Japanese automakers are localizing production in markets in which they sell to insulate themselves from currency fluctuations. The post-2008 strengthening of the yen badly hurt Japanese automakers, who want to avoid currency shocks in the future, he said. If anything, local production is only going to accelerate for all Japanese brands. "That's the reality," Ghosn said in an interview. "The situation of the yen in the future will have less and less effect on the results and the competitiveness of Japanese carmakers because you are all going more local." The yen was valued at just over 94 to the dollar on Friday, considerably weaker than the past-year high of 77.65 on Sept. 14. A weaker yen gives an advantage to Japanese exporters because each dollar of revenue brings them more yen. U.S. automakers for years argued that the weaker yen allowed Japanese automakers to load more features into cars and spend more on new products. But Ghosn said that even with the recent weakening, the yen is still too strong. The average yen-to-dollar rate for the 10 years prior to the 2008 economic crisis was about 110 yen to a dollar, he said. "In my opinion, we're still in what I call handicap territory at 94 or 95 yen to the dollar," Ghosn said. "What I consider as a neutral exchange rate for the yen is something between 100 and 110. We're not there. "So if one thinks that today we are in the exchange situation which gives a kind of undue advantage to exporters, I don't share this sentiment." Jim Lentz, CEO of Toyota's North America Region, said last week there has been "a lot of static" about the yen's value. "Regardless of that, we have to make decisions for North America," Lentz said. "That comes down to building where we sell." Toyota's investment is nearing $20 billion in North America, he said, "plus another $1.5 billion has been announced for Highlander and RX 350 expansion, and some engine and transmission plants that will account for another 3,500 jobs." The strengthening of the yen since the election in December of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a critic of the strong valuation of the yen, has rekindled criticism from U.S. automakers that Japan is reaping a currency advantage. The yen began dropping during the Japanese election season as Abe began "talking down" the yen. Since taking office he has pushed policies aimed at fueling the economy and fanning inflation -- steps that put downward pressure on the currency. Back in February at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention, American Honda Motor Co. boss John Mendel fired back at critics who claimed that an unfair advantage was again brewing. "No one was saying, 'Gee, I hope they are OK,' when the yen went from 115 to 75 and we were on our deathbed," Mendel said. "This is a relatively minor correction." Mulally's assertion last week is that markets alone should set currency values. "The most important thing that most countries around the world believe in is letting the markets determine the currency," Mulally said during an interview with Bloomberg Television. "That's just so important to all of us in the international trading system." Said Lentz: "It's not like we're rolling in the dough." Mark Rechtin and Bloomberg contributed to this report]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[BMW needs to adapt its retirement policy to changing times]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130328/BLOG15/303289833/bmw-needs-to-adapt-its-retirement-policy-to-changing-times]]></link>
<guid>http://europe.autonews.com/article/20130328/BLOG15/303289833/bmw-needs-to-adapt-its-retirement-policy-to-changing-times</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:01:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[BMW plans to raise the mandatory retirement age for its top management to 62 from 60 but the company isn't going far enough if it wants to keep the expertise of long-serving executives. BMW is making the change because the company risks losing managers with crucial skills, CEO Norbert Reithofer ...]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mulally says he's concerned about effect of weaker yen]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://www.autonews.com/article/20130326/OEM02/130329921/mulally-says-he-s-concerned-about-effect-of-weaker-yen]]></link>
<guid>http://www.autonews.com/article/20130326/OEM02/130329921/mulally-says-he-s-concerned-about-effect-of-weaker-yen</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:59:44 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[BANGKOK (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally said he's concerned that the depreciation of the yen is bolstering the competitiveness of Japanese carmakers. "The most important thing that most countries around the world believe in is letting the markets determine the currency," Mulally said today from Bangkok in reference to the Japanese currency, during an interview on Bloomberg Television's "First Up with Susan Li." "That's just so important to all of us in the international trading system." The yen has fallen about 15 percent against the dollar since mid-November when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, then running for office, began a campaign to talk down the value of Japan's currency to revive the nation's export-led economy. That has bolstered shares of Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. The yen's slide increases profit for Japanese automakers when they sell vehicles outside their home market, helping them to cut prices, boost advertising and improve products. The American Automotive Policy Council, backed by Ford, General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, estimates that the currency advantage equates to about $5,700 per vehicle. In Europe, the company is scaling back production to meet "real demand" amid economic contraction in the region, Mulally said. Ford forecast in January that it will lose about $2 billion in Europe this year, up from $1.75 billion in 2011 and its previous estimate of about $1.5 billion. Ford is cutting jobs in Europe and adding plants in Asia to curb losses in both regions while relying on earnings in North America. The company earned a record $8.34 pretax profit and 10.4 percent operating margin in its North American operations last year on strong sales of its F-Series pickups. Calling China a "tremendous market," Mulally said Ford is among the fastest-growing brands in that nation, where it's focused on producing and selling its family of brands. Ford is listening to consumers to modify the Lincoln models it will introduce next year in China, the world's largest auto market, he said. Consumer input "We really used the consumer feedback in our design process," Mulally said. "We're going to continue to incorporate the consumer's input into the vehicle." Asia will probably generate about 40 percent of Ford's sales by the end of the decade, with the Americas and Europe accounting for the rest, he told reporters. Ford's wholesale deliveries in China surged 46 percent to 105,209 through the first two months of this year, according to the company's Web site. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers forecasts total vehicle sales this year will surpass 20 million units for the first time, driven by urbanization and rising incomes. Mulally said he was "really disappointed" after an advertising agency in India drew up mock ads for the Ford Figo, including one that depicted former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with three women who were tied up. Still, the CEO said the incident is unlikely to affect Ford sales in the country because the company didn't use or approve the ads. "This was done by our advertising agency in India for a completely separate advertising competition that they were having," he said. "We are going to review all our processes and make sure that this absolutely does not happen again because this is not consistent at all with our Ford values."]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Mulally on Yen, Ad Gaffe (3/26/13)]]></title>
<link><![CDATA[http://search.autonews.com/v/72454884/mulally-on-yen-ad-gaffe-3-26-13.htm?]]></link>
<guid>http://search.autonews.com/v/72454884/mulally-on-yen-ad-gaffe-3-26-13.htm?</guid>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:33:28 EDT]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Ford CEO affirms opposition to Japan trade-talks role, addresses ad gaffe; Jeep Russia update; Honda deemed most trusted.]]></description>
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