Will Ford revolutionize the vehicle industry??

[ebinmaine 72,987]

This looks VERY interesting....

If it happens.  

 

 

 

 

Ford Is Building A $30k Electric Truck With An Entirely New Production Method https://share.google/5UMAPSvd7VqWpnO3A

 

 

 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 28,589]

Interesting...

 

Here's another Michigan auto outfit doing unique things as well...

 

https://www.slate.auto/en

 

All things considered, fewer parts, components, etc. means fewer people needed putting them together... not sure the unions have figured that out yet... 

 

 

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,615]

56 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

This looks VERY interesting....

If it happens.  

 

 

 

 

Ford Is Building A $30k Electric Truck With An Entirely New Production Method https://share.google/5UMAPSvd7VqWpnO3A

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely, I hope it’s not just electric as that might be a problem in the more remote areas. Especially in Northern Maine. Not to mention the range and capability limitations. But on a positive note, you won’t have to mortgage your house to afford it.

[953 nut 60,348]

10 minutes ago, MainelyWheelhorse said:

But on a positive note, you won’t have to mortgage your house to afford it.

No auto manufacturer is going to shoot it self in the foot with a $ 30,000 vehicle that people would rather have than a real vehicle. There is an open market for a light duty commuter pick-up and that is probably what it will be. The electric Ford Maverick pick-up is already on the market for $ 30,000 but it hasn't done much to dampen sales of the F-150.

The parallel assembly lines were used by Ford when they built B-24 Liberator heavy bomber during World War Two at its Willow Run plant. Nothing new there.

[adsm08 3,338]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Ford Is Building

 

 

And it's already screwed up.

[JoeM 8,429]

Someone might be able to use it but I need at least an F150 size PU.

I have a little inside track on the Ford stuff and they are covered up with recalls. 

My guy says the new engineering personal are so confident they don't do much testing. He also said they have run off all the old timers that knew what really worked and what not to use. 

A lot of the recalls are due to design changes for some reason seem unnecessary. 

 

[squonk 43,939]

When Toyota and Honda even have problems, I have 0 confidence of any auto manufacturer building anything worth a hill of beans going forward. 

[ebinmaine 72,987]

18 minutes ago, squonk said:

When Toyota and Honda even have problems, I have 0 confidence of any auto manufacturer building anything worth a hill of beans going forward. 

 

Agreed. Sad but true.  

[JoeM 8,429]

I understand that many of the parts used today are shared between manufactures. 

Could we be witnessing the start of the MTD philosophy in the auto industry?

 

Just like the NASCAR guys, are those cars really Fords, Chevy, or Toyota's under the body or just branded as such. 

[Pullstart 67,042]

I’ll stick to racking up miles.  Some 314k, last I checked.

 

 

[Handy Don 14,129]

Auto makers are far less vertically integrated than in the past. Any one supplier often deals with most of  the major brands. Basic electronic components have converged but they are incorporated into brand-unique sub-assemblies. 3D printing and other processes make it quicker to transition a design into a finished part.

The supplier my niece is at started as a maker of parts for prototypes and limited production vehicles. Now they’ve multiplied their capacity to make regular production parts as well but just using more of the tool set. 

[WHX?? 51,909]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

Some 314k, last I checked.

Yah and when you come over why do I always lose the pool when we bet on where you are gonna break down.

It's like ... geez I hope we don't gotta go get him during cocktail hour ... 

[lynnmor 7,858]

1 hour ago, JoeM said:

I understand that many of the parts used today are shared between manufactures. 

Could we be witnessing the start of the MTD philosophy in the auto industry?

 

Just like the NASCAR guys, are those cars really Fords, Chevy, or Toyota's under the body or just branded as such. 

This nonsense started a half century ago.  For example; GM had 5 divisions each with their own engines and transmissions and more allowing customers to choose for their themselves a price point and features.   Then the downturn began where customers were buying cheap Chevy engines in expensive Oldsmobiles clueless on what they were getting.  GM did the MTD thing by slapping on different sheet metal and selling basically the same thing, with that, the demise of several product lines allowed competitors to sell against fewer brands.  Today transmissions and many parts are designed and used by all of the big three so at some point we may have the NASCAR example where all you need to do is specify the color.

[Andy N. 2,417]

21 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Interesting...

 

Here's another Michigan auto outfit doing unique things as well...

 

https://www.slate.auto/en

 

All things considered, fewer parts, components, etc. means fewer people needed putting them together... not sure the unions have figured that out yet... 

 

 

 

I put my $50 deposit in on a Slate 1 1/2 months ago. I figure if it comes to fruition, it will make a good commuter truck. If it doesn't, then I'm out $50. Their website has been fun to build and design what you want. I think you can build up to 9 different models now. The thing that I think makes the Slate unique as far as production is there won't be any paint facilities. The clean slate is gray composite and the colors and designs are done as wraps. You can change it as often as you want and it's very customizable (for a price I'm sure). It was pitched as the $20k truck with the EV rebates, but now will probably be close to $30k when all is said and done. 

 

 

[ebinmaine 72,987]

40 minutes ago, Andy N. said:

Slate

 

I've considered it too but a pure electric vehicle lacks practicality for me ... for now. 

Future?

Maybe. 

[Beap52 1,479]

10 hours ago, Pullstart said:

I’ll stick to racking up miles.  Some 314k, last I checked.

 

Based upon your posting in bumps and bruises this afternoon, I surely hope you keep this thing tuned up and enough fuel in the tank to get  you to the doctor's office!

10 hours ago, Pullstart said:

 

 

 

 

[Pullstart 67,042]

1 hour ago, Beap52 said:

 

Based upon your posting in bumps and bruises this afternoon, I surely hope you keep this thing tuned up and enough fuel in the tank to get  you to the doctor's office!

 

I thought about that.  I could drive and shift with my left hand, I’ve done it.  It’s not the most fun, but doable.  I’m glad I was able to bruise my ego more than my body on that one!

[adsm08 3,338]

13 hours ago, JoeM said:

I understand that many of the parts used today are shared between manufactures. 

Could we be witnessing the start of the MTD philosophy in the auto industry?

 

Just like the NASCAR guys, are those cars really Fords, Chevy, or Toyota's under the body or just branded as such. 

 

 

Oh 100% these things are being made to be thrown out. Most of Ford's newer engines have oil pump drive belts, they are a maintenance item, at 150K, and takes about 10 to15 hours depending on the vehicle. Plus about $1000 in parts.

 

And no, those "Stock" cars aren't anything of the sort. Rule used to be that to qualify for a NASCAR race you had to be able to go down to the dealership and buy that car, and there had to be so many of them on the road. Go find me a RWD, carb'd V8 Fusion and I'll buy it.