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Closing Mercury will cost Ford nearly $500 million, CFO says

Old Jul 25, 2010 | 02:20 PM
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Closing Mercury will cost Ford nearly $500 million, CFO says

Closing Mercury will cost Ford nearly $500 million, CFO says

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. could spend nearly $500 million to shutter its Mercury brand, CFO Lewis Booth said.

In an interview today with Automotive News, Booth said Ford took special charges of $247 million in the first half of 2010 to cover the cost of ongoing dealer reductions and shuttering the Mercury brand. He estimates the total cost to close the brand will be twice that amount.

About 700 of the 1,700 franchised Mercury dealers in the United States have signed agreements to close their stores in return for cash compensation, Booth said.

“The plan is in place and we're having very fruitful discussions with our dealers,”

Booth said. No dealer lawsuits have been filed against Ford related to the shutdown of Mercury.

Ford announced in June that it would discontinue the 71-year-old brand by Dec. 31 and focus solely on the Ford and Lincoln brands. It expects to sell off all Mercury inventory before year end. Ford plans to end production of the Mercury lineup in early October.
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...#ixzz0uivEpRDQ
Old Jul 25, 2010 | 02:51 PM
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Money that will be easily recouped by not having to rebadge Ford products into Mercury derivatives.
Old Jul 25, 2010 | 09:02 PM
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Well, Ford just made 2.6 Billion, they can afford it!

It is a shame, but at the same time, Mercury has nothing unique to offer.

Last edited by Silverado C-10; Jul 25, 2010 at 09:04 PM.
Old Jul 26, 2010 | 12:24 AM
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Should have been done 10 years ago.
Old Jul 26, 2010 | 01:38 PM
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To give you some perspective on how much that 500 million actually is, it cost GM 250 million to reskin the 1998 Camaro.... 13 years ago.

Any modern all new car that comes in under 2 billion is considered an absolute steal.

Finally, a good automotive advertizing campaign costs in the $500 million range.

Ford is closing Mercury for essentially pennies.
Old Jul 27, 2010 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by guionM
To give you some perspective on how much that 500 million actually is, it cost GM 250 million to reskin the 1998 Camaro.... 13 years ago.

Any modern all new car that comes in under 2 billion is considered an absolute steal.

Finally, a good automotive advertizing campaign costs in the $500 million range.

Ford is closing Mercury for essentially pennies.
Craziness! Thanks for sharing that.
Old Jul 27, 2010 | 04:17 PM
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Didn't it cost GM more than twice that to close Olds, ten years ago, in 1990's dollars?

Are the dealers agreeing to it because Ford actually has decent products or what? I can't imagine Olds was much bigger than Mercury.
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