Written by? /? Xiaolei Ma
Edited? /? Qian Yaguang
Designed? /? Zhao Haoran
Source? /?Autonews, by MICHAEL?MARTINEZ
Ford Chairman Bill? Ford (Bill?Ford) has been named Industry Leader of the Year by foreign media outlet Automotive News.
The man who united the Detroit Three
In mid-March, within days of the new crown epidemic spreading across the United States, the Detroit Three and the UAW (United Automobile Workers Union) made the bold decision to collectively shut down their North American manufacturing operations. The three automakers, all of whom have had very cold relations even in the best of times, held an unprecedented conference call to make a collective decision about the threat of the epidemic.
The talks, from the time they happened to the time they went off without a hitch, were thanks to Ford Motor Co. chairman Bill? Ford, which is one of the reasons he was chosen as Automotive News' 2020 Industry Leader of the Year.
Bill, who is descended from one of Michigan's most prominent automotive families, is well-connected, and in his 40 years with Ford, he has built relationships with government leaders and industry officials. By his own estimate, he has survived six major crises.
"The more you communicate, the more comprehensive the information you get." In an interview in October, Bill, 63, said, "Everybody was asking questions and nobody knew the answers. I think it was important for us to come to some ****ing understanding in that environment, especially since the UAW wouldn't have to go from Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler to Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler to discuss and answer one by one. I felt I was in a good position to help."
Ford picked up the phone and called GM CEO Mary? Mary?Barra, the chairman of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, John? John?Elkann, chairman of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and UAW President Rory? Gamble (Gretchen?Whitmer) made separate calls. He also spoke with Congresswoman Debbie? Debbie?Dingell (D-Mich.) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen?Whitmer (D-Mich.). Gretchen?Whitmer (D) for discussion. Ultimately, the parties agreed to a conference call.
"When you're trying to pull these three companies together, you have to be careful what you say because you can step on a mine if you're not careful." Ford said, "But I've been through this so many times, I feel like I'm ready to help lead these discussions. GM and FCA don't exactly agree on a lot of items. So I feel like I'm kind of like Switzerland (which was neutral in World War II) and can pull them together with each other."
Helping to coordinate the Detroit triumvirate's response to the new crown epidemic may have been Bill's greatest achievement in a tumultuous year that saw him name a new CEO, launch a series of key products, break with the Trump administration on regulatory policy and oversee the automaker's implementation of a global effort to build medical devices to fight the virus.
After the plant closed, employees were asked to work from home indefinitely. Bill, for his part, held weekly staff meetings via video from his home in Michigan.
These virtual gatherings quickly evolved into a way for employees to interact with the chairman in new ways. Many end with a casual question-and-answer session, in which employees ask about books or other gadgets that appear in the background of the video. Bill and other top executives continue to hold regular staff meetings for now, as employees continue to telecommute.
"I like doing this, even though it was a change that had to be made during the epidemic." Bill said, "I get energized when I'm with our staff. For me, the weekly staff meetings were a highlight during a very difficult time."
Ford builds masks
Bill rallied his employees to produce epidemic-prevention supplies, masks, suits and respirators, known internally as the "Apollo Project." Bill had personally inspected the factories that made the medical equipment.
"I remember one employee telling me that he always regretted not serving in the military and that this was his chance to give back to the community." He said. "There was another lady whose mom was Rosie?the?Riveter (Ruth the Riveter, a collective term for American women workers in World War II), and this was her way of giving back. Another woman told me that her daughter is a front-line nurse, and she felt like she was basically doing her part by trying to keep up with her daughter. It was really heartwarming."
The company's work came to a high point in May. Donald? President Donald?Trump's visit to its Rawsonville component plant in Ypsilanti, Mich. While most of the headlines focused on whether the president would wear a mask, Bill said it was a proud moment that he will remember fondly.
"One thing I reminded all of our employees that day is that no matter what political affiliation you support, it's an honor to have the president of the United States come and thank you for what you've done for our country." He said, "I felt really good about Ford that day."
Trump may have praised the automaker as a national treasure onstage that day, but his relationship with Ford behind the scenes isn't so rosy.
Ford, along with other automakers, broke with the Trump administration in 2019, siding with California to demand stricter emissions regulations. Trump and Beal have spoken several times in the past, but the president's visit was a chance to voice his displeasure in person.
"He's not very happy." Ford said of Trump, "Yes, he did mention it. I explained to him that it was the right business decision, and frankly, if we had to engineer things twice, product A for some states and product B for others, that's not a good position to be in. We want to do it once, we want to do it right, and if we do it the way we propose to do it, it's going to meet the requirements of all 50 states. It doesn't matter if he doesn't agree."
Driving the electric transition
Bill said supporting California's emissions standards makes business sense, especially as it ramps up its electric vehicle offerings. He also argued that despite the political ramifications, it was the right decision morally.
"I've always thought we should look at the long term." He said, "I feel like I'm working for my children and grandchildren. Because of that, you have to ask yourself, what kind of world are they going to come into and inherit?"
Jim? Farley
Ford has introduced a new energy model, the Mustang?Mach-E, which will arrive at dealerships in a few weeks. Bill was initially reluctant to use the Mustang name on a crossover, but he quickly came around after testing it himself.
"I think the Mach-E prototype is the best prototype I've driven in my entire career." He said he recently spent some time driving a pre-production model and noted that he was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it was.
One of the car's key designers convinced Bill that it lived up to its name. He's Jim?Farley, who became CEO on Oct. 1, and he's the man who's going to make it. Farley (Jim?Farley). Farley is the fifth CEO to work under Bill since he became chairman in 1999 (Ford himself was CEO from 2001 to 2006). Ford praised him for his intelligence, passion for the industry and ability to think ahead to future challenges.
"I'm confident he's going to do a very good job." He said of Farley, "I'm really excited to work with him. At 63, I have to wear running shoes to keep up with him. But it's great, and I love the challenge."
This article comes from the authors of the Motor Home Caravan and does not represent the views of the Motor Home Caravan.