DETROIT – WWJ Newsradio 950 is reporting that Ford is going to cut one of the shifts at its assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, cutting nearly 900 jobs. That plant builds both the Ford Mustang and Mazda6. Ford says it is doing this to bring supply in line with demand. Interestingly, the Mustang has a 107 day supply in the field, compared to 81 days for the Mazda6. The Mustang seems to feeling the heat from the Camaro, which has a 64 day supply. The Mazda6 seems to be in line with its competitors, because the Honda Accord has the same level of supply.
Lots of news for Indian automaker Tata. First off, the company announced that Carl Peter-Forster will become its chief executive. He had been at Opel, but stomped off in a huff when GM reneged on its deal to sell Opel to Magna and Sperbank. The Wall Street Journal reports that Tata will also get $75 million from the Indian army to build 1,000 bullet-proof trucks. Tata?s global sales also jumped 93 percent last month, including a doubling of sales at Jaguar and a tripling at Land Rover.
Few advertising taglines are as well-known as BMW?s. ?The ultimate driving machine? is one of the auto industry?s longest-running slogans, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the company is parking its iconic catchphrase for a while as Americans tighten their belts. BMW has started a new campaign that focuses on safety, quality and the ?joy? owning its products. In a change of strategy, it uses photos on real owners and their vehicles. In the past its ads focused on just the cars. The advertising push is the most expensive one ever fielded in the U.S. by a German automaker.
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