Industry Has Bottomed Out, Ford's Fields Says

The Upcoming Government-Sponsored “cash-for-clunkers” program should have a positive effect on the automotive industry, but likely won't lead to a dramatic spike in sales, a top Ford Motor Co. executive says.

“I don't think it will have as a significant effect as it had in Germany, because the program was constructed differently,” says Mark Fields, president-The Americas. “But it's sending a positive signal to consumers that, ‘Hey, maybe now is a good time to buy.'”

Fields says the industry has stabilized, and there are signs a recovery is coming.

“From our perspective, (auto sales declines) have bottomed out,” he says. “When you look at some of the health metrics of the economy, it's basically telling us things have stopped getting worse.

“A number of the leading indicators are pointing toward improved conditions. The question is at what slope will that improvement happen.”

As for July, Fields says it is too early to predict Ford's monthly sales results until the cash-for-clunkers rules are known. The official guidelines governing the program are expected to be revealed by Aug. 1.

So-called cash-for-clunkers rewards consumers for buying vehicles that are more fuel-efficient than their current cars and trucks.

The recent trend has seen sales either improve or weaken toward the end of the month, Fields says, adding he expects this pattern will be “exacerbated” by cash-for-clunkers. “So it's going to an exciting last 10 days of the month.”

Fields says Ford also is keeping a watchful eye on its supply base, which has been hard-hit hard by the global recession and recent bankruptcies of the former General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

“So far, we haven't seen any issues with our suppliers,” he says. “The big news is our plants are running normally, and at least right now we don't see anything on the horizon that would interrupt our production.”

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