FLASHBACK: GM's Rick Wagoner (1998) and FORD's Jac Nasser (1999)

Rick Wagoner, former General Motors Chairman, CEO, COO and CFO over his 32 years at GM until 2009, discusses his career, GM and the auto industry with Richard Saxton in a 1998 CarBiz interview.

Click to watch interview.

Jac Nasser, joined Ford Motor Company in 1968 as a financial analyst and on January 1st, 1999, became Ford's President, CEO and board member until 2001. In this 1999 interview, Richard Saxton and Nasser discuss Ford's acquisition of Volvo, industry consolidation, Ford's profits and strategy, his visit to Ford's new Southern California offices and the overall auto industry.

Click to watch interview.

Ford Flashback Video: J Mays, VP Design 1997-2013

J Mays, incoming Vice President of Design at Ford Motor Company in 1997, is interviewed by Richard Saxton about his background in Germany, including Audi, and his design ideas and methods at the introduction of the 1998 model Lincoln Continental and Town Car. During his tenure at Ford through 2013, Mays design oversight covered Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Aston Martin brands. 

Click here to watch interview.

Ford Flashback Video: Jack Telnack, VP of Design 1980-1997

Jack Telnack, Vice President of Design at Ford Motor Company from 1980 to 1997, in a 1997 interview with Richard Saxton, discusses his years at Ford, his design methods and the 1998 Lincoln Town Car. Telnack is best known for the 1979 Ford Mustang, 1983 Ford Thunderbird and the 1986 Ford Taurus.

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Jim Farley Becomes Ford President, CEO October 1st

Jim Farley, 58, has been named the Ford Motor Company’s new president and CEO and will join the board of directors, effective Oct. 1 when Jim Hackett, 65, who has led the company’s transformation since 2017, plans to retire from the company after continuing as a special advisor to Ford through March of 2021.

Farley joined Ford in 2007 as global head of Marketing and Sales and went on to lead Lincoln, Ford South America, Ford of Europe and all Ford global markets in successive roles. In April 2019, Farley was chosen to lead Ford’s New Businesses, Technology & Strategy team. Farley joined Toyota in 1990 in the strategic planning department and served in several product and marketing positions in the United States and Europe. One of Farley’s most noted accomplishments is his responsibility for the successful launch and rollout of Toyota’s new Scion brand. Farley attended Georgetown University and received an MBA from UCLA.

Former Ford President Phil Benton Passes Away

Philip Benton Jr., former President of Ford Motor Company, died at age 86 at his home in Massachusetts on June 14, according to Automotive News. Benton spent 40 years at Ford, retiring as President and COO in July 1992. The photo (above) was taken from a 1992 KWHY-TV Business Channel interview where Benton discussed the company, cars, challenges and the restructuring of First Nationwide Bank which Ford eventually sold in 1994.

Video: 2015 Ford Edge Starts At $28,995 Early Next Year

Cristina Aquino - Ford Edge

2015 Ford Edge, all-new from wheels to roof, is a two-row front-wheel-drive or all-wheel utility vehicle on the Ford Fusion platform, coming with a standard estimated 245 horsepower twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost® four-cylinder engine while the new Sport model will be powered by an estimated 300 horsepower 2.7-liter V6 EcoBoost engine. The premium-level Titanium series joins the Edge lineup. Available driver-assist technologies include adaptive steering system, enhanced active park assist, adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support, 180-degree front camera with washer, glove box-mounted airbag system, inflatable rear safety belts and hands-free liftgate. The 2015 Ford Edge will go on sale in North America early next year starting at $28,995 (including destination and delivery charges).

Ford Edge Product Marketing Manager Cristina Aquino discusses the new Ford Edge.

Ford's Mulally Retires July 1st, Fields Becomes Ford President, CEO

Alan Mulally (left), 68, is retiring after nearly eight years leading Ford Motor Company effective July 1st and Mark Fields (right), 53, Ford’s chief operating officer since December 2012, will be named Ford president and chief executive officer and elected as a member of the company’s board of directors. Before serving as COO, Fields served as executive vice president and president of the The Americas since October 2005.

“From the first day we discussed Ford’s transformation eight years ago, Alan and I agreed that developing the next generation of leaders and ensuring an orderly CEO succession were among our highest priorities,” Executive Chairman Bill Ford said. “Mark has transformed several of our operations around the world into much stronger businesses during his 25 years at Ford. Now, Mark is ready to lead our company into the future as CEO.”

Ford Super Bowl Commercial Preview - Fiat Chrysler Quiet

Ford Motor Company apparently will have Super Bowl commercials with actor James Franco and a tiger based on the teaser spot, Nearly Double.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, as the company is now called, will have three commercials but there hasn't been any pre-release like many of the other car companies. The first commercial will be in the first break in the first quarter, the second during halftime and another in the last break of the third quarter. One thing is for sure, animals dominate the car commercial content with cows, dogs, tigers and muppets. 

Ford's Sale Of Volvo Cars To Chinese Geely To Close In 3rd Quarter

Two Swedish car companies now have had their fate sealed, with ownership transferring from U.S. companies. General Motors recently sold Saab to Dutch company Spyker and today, after a long drawn out ordeal, the much anticipated Ford sale of Volvo to Chinese company Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Company Limited is vitually done after a definitive agreement was signed.



The purchase price for Volvo Cars and related assets (primarily intellectual property) is $1.8 billion (U.S.), which will be paid in the form of a note in the amount of $200 million (U.S.), and the remainder in cash. The cash portion of the purchase price will be adjusted at close for customary purchase price adjustments relating to pension deficits, debt, cash and working capital, the net effect of which could be a significant decrease in the cash proceeds to Ford. The sale is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Ford will continue to cooperate with Volvo Cars in several areas after the sale has been completed in order to ensure a smooth transition, but will not retain any ownership in the Volvo Cars business. Following completion of the sale, Ford will continue to supply Volvo Cars with, for differing periods, powertrains, stampings and other vehicle components. As part of the sale, Ford also has committed to provide engineering support, information technology, access to tooling for common components, and other selected services for a transition period to ensure a smooth separation process.

Stephen Odell, CEO of Volvo Cars, added, “The Volvo management team fully endorses Ford’s sale of Volvo Cars to Geely. We believe this is the right outcome for the business, and will provide Volvo Cars with the necessary resources, including the capital investment, to strengthen the business and to continue to move it forward in the future.