Ford to possibly sell stake of Mazda

[Onslaught]

Holly shit. That's about all I know to say about that.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/27129513
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/10/ford_to_sell_ma.html

[2o6]

That makes no sense. Ford and Mazda are practically joined at the hip.

[giant_mtb]

Why would they sell off such a good, successful brand from which they can make money?

[TBR]

To raise capital to improve Ford products and marketing in order to make Ford profitable.

[giant_mtb]

I guess.

[the Teuton]

I don't get Ford at all.

[Onslaught]

Part of me wants Mazda to be done with Ford. I make it no secret that I'm not a Ford fan and that I've never liked the Ford/Mazda cars that come from their partnership.  But part of me is a little afraid of who would buy them and what could happen if they split up. I know what to expect from a Ford/Mazda relationship.

I just can't see Ford doing this unless they are way more fucked up then I thought.

[the Teuton]

Part of me wants Mazda to be done with Ford. I make it no secret that I'm not a Ford fan and that I've never liked the Ford/Mazda cars that come from their partnership.  But part of me is a little afraid of who would buy them and what could happen if they split up. I know what to expect from a Ford/Mazda relationship.

I just can't see Ford doing this unless they are way more fucked up then I thought.

They've been together for 30 years.  Their split might weaken both companies as a whole.

[TBR]

They've been together for 30 years.  Their split might weaken both companies as a whole.

While Ford might have had a stake in Mazda for that long and they worked on the occasional project together, Ford didn't own a majority stake until the late '90s.

[Onslaught]

They've been together for 30 years.  Their split might weaken both companies as a whole.

That's my fear.

[MX793]

...and that I've never liked the Ford/Mazda cars that come from their partnership. 

You don't like any of the C1 cars?

[Onslaught]

You don't like any of the C1 cars?

I should have said cars that are just Fords with a Mazda badge on them. Tribute and the B tucks would be an example. I'm very accustomed to working on Japanese cars. I understand how they think and how they make their cars. But the Mazda cars that are just Fords or half one and half the other are the ones I don't like working on much. I find that I'm not the only one like that. The Mazda mechanics I now who worked on Mazda's back in the 80's aren't as much of a fan of working the current motors and other shared parts.

I should point out that I don't hate Ford like I did back in the 80's and 90's. I don't find their cars as offensive! But I'm still not a fan of working on them compared to say a Nissan or Mazda.

[Galaxy]

Even Mazda specific cars like the RX-8 would most likely not have been possible without the Ford teamup.

[Laconian]

I think Ford has been a good owner. Sure they screwed over Mazda with the Navajo, but they've managed to give Mazda a LOT of autonomy compared to General Motors and Saab. I'd rather they remain with the devil they know.

[The Pirate]

I think Ford has been a good owner. Sure they screwed over Mazda with the Navajo, but they've managed to give Mazda a LOT of autonomy compared to General Motors and Saab. I'd rather they remain with the devil they know.

Mazda was actually pretty instrumental in developing the 1st gen Explorer/Navajo.

[Laconian]

What development was necessary for the Explorer? As far as I know it was just a Ranger with seats and a roof over the paylod.

[AltinD]

To raise capital to improve Ford products and marketing in order to make Ford profitable.

And what makes you think they (FORD) can achieve that?

[r0tor]

Even Mazda specific cars like the RX-8 would most likely not have been possible without the Ford teamup.

my car is made of 99% parts made in japan... so i doubt that

[MX793]

my car is made of 99% parts made in japan... so i doubt that

It might have been made with Japanese parts, but a good deal of the development money was spent with Ford's blessing.  Another parent company might not have let them pursue developing an RX car.

[TBR]

And what makes you think they (FORD) can achieve that?

I didn't say whether or not I thought they could do it, but it's their responsibility to the stockholders to at least try.

[Galaxy]

It might have been made with Japanese parts, but a good deal of the development money was spent with Ford's blessing.  Another parent company might not have let them pursue developing an RX car.

Exactly.

[Onslaught]

It might have been made with Japanese parts, but a good deal of the development money was spent with Ford's blessing.  Another parent company might not have let them pursue developing an RX car.

The good news is I've seen that Mazda is going to try and buy it's share back itself if Ford is going to do it. If that happens then they can make whatever the hell they want to.

[Raza]

Okay, so you're an insider.

Why isn't there a hot version the RX-8!? 

[the Teuton]

The better question:  Why doesn't a 400 hp turbo RX-7 exist yet?

[Onslaught]

Okay, so you're an insider.

Why isn't there a hot version the RX-8!? 

I wouldn't call me an insider! They don't know or give a fuck who I am other than I buy their cars.
Any reason I could give you would just be speculation on the RX-8. And all the stuff I've posted about Mazda is just
things I've seen on the internet. So it could all be BS for all I know.

[2o6]

The better question:  Why doesn't a 400 hp turbo RX-7 exist yet?

Emissions Standards. Even if it were to be made, it would not be sold here.

[4wheelsonline]

So it means... They will create as partners? Is that it? How come that Ford will combined with Mazda.. 

[r0tor]

It might have been made with Japanese parts, but a good deal of the development money was spent with Ford's blessing.  Another parent company might not have let them pursue developing an RX car.

not really... the RENESIS was a product of a skunkworks project that was under the radar.

[Galaxy]

not really... the RENESIS was a product of a skunkworks project that was under the radar.

If Mazda did not have Ford to help with on the more mundane projects there would most likely not have the resources to build a car like the RX-8.

[r0tor]

If Mazda did not have Ford to help with on the more mundane projects there would most likely not have the resources to build a car like the RX-8.

The renesis was done by a few engineers on their spare time.  The chassis was developed to be under the rx-8 and miata.  Their marketing is centered around sports car.  Ford has zilch to do with the RX-8.

Mazda has had the resources to build low volume rotary powered cars since the 60's...