Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A missed opportunity for Ford

Anyone who's first exposure to the Ford brand is in the back of a New York City taxi, probably doesn't have a high opinion of the blue oval. New York City's potholed streets are not the best place to show off your wares. Especially, as is the case with the Crown Vics that currently comprise most of the fleet, if the vehicle isn't purpose built for that application.

They had a chance to change that recently in the competition to create the Taxi of Tomorrow for New York City. Unfortunately that competition was won by Nissan.

Ford could have made a statement about their commitment to urban transit, energy efficiency and the environment. It has now ceded this messaging to Nissan.

Ford has momentum with a lot of great products and a lot of positive press right now. But momentum is a funny thing. Losing a high profile competition like this might be just a speed bump, but it could be something more.
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2 comments:

  1. Bob HootMay 10, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    No one will miss the Crowns Vics, but a Nissan? Their repair incidents are high and NYC taxi drivers are not known for their gentle treatment of vehicles. At least the city didn't select the Cube.

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  2. Harvey BriggsMay 10, 2011 at 12:39 PM

    Bob, I'm actually surprised they didn't select Ford. The Transit Connect is a proven platform for this type of vehicle, they already have an all electric version of it, and they've been a long-time partner with NYC. I'm not sure of the ins and outs of the process, but I am disappointed by this outcome.

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