[Frost__2001]

GERMANY: Ford Europe eyes imports from US
Source: just-auto.com editorial team from Jan 24, 2005

Ford Mustang Might be on sale in Europe for 2006.

Ford of Europe has its first import-export manager. Jan Brentebraten, 52, will study the potential for importing Ford Motor Co.'s North American-built models to Europe.

US rivals General Motors and the Chrysler group are boosting sales in Europe by importing North American-built cars, according to Automotive News Europe.

The veteran Ford troubleshooter will first look at whether the Ford Mustang should go to Europe.

Ford of Europe CEO Lewis Booth said a decision would be made later this year on whether the Mustang and other North America-sourced models will be imported officially into Europe.

"It must be profitable and we must put into place a good infrastructure for parts, technical training and service," Booth said.

The first retail sale of the new Mustang was to a German couple who bought the car in California and shipped it to Germany.

Specialist importers in Europe are already taking orders for the Mustang.

Ford is the only Detroit automaker that does not distribute its North American models through official sales channels in Europe.

The last model Ford imported into Europe was the Cougar coupe, which was sold from 1998 until production stopped in 2001. European sales peaked in 1999 with 20,802 units.

GM is shaking up its European sales operation for its US-made models.

In the future, GM will sell its US-made GM models under the GMC brand to distance them from GM's Chevrolet Europe (formerly GM Daewoo) economy cars built in Korea.

Chrysler will launch its US-based Dodge brand in Europe starting in early 2006 as an entry-level brand targeting young buyers.

Last year, Chrysler sold about 90,000 Chrysler and Jeep models in western Europe. About 40,000 were imported from the US; the rest were assembled locally in Austria and Germany.

Dodge will debut a concept for a lower medium-sized car for Europe code-named PM 49 at the Geneva motor show in March. A medium SUV and an upper-medium sedan also will be launched in Europe.

[BrooksZX3]

interesting... well there already are vehicles over there running the 4.6/5.4 modular motors anyway

How would you love to blast down the autobahn in a 600hp pony :)

[S2]

Sure they'll export stuff over to the UK but no chance in hell they'll import some UK stuff to North America. Once again, the UK gets all the good s**t.... (europe, etc).

[NOS2Go4Me]

I take it you're referring to everything Focus RS? :)

We've been getting the short end of Ford's stick for 20-odd years.

I'd crucify someone, even myself, for a factory Focus RS.

[S2]

Yeah Focus RS, the MK2 although we should get that in about 5-7 years.... there are some other sweet Ford cars over there also, mostly talking about the 'idea' that everything is 'tried out' over there first then brought here with exception to say the RS which will never be over here.

[FocusTunerzx3]

yea that blows...export our cars but dont import any of theres...Ford NA blows.

[NefCanuck]

FocusTunerzx3,Jul 6 2005, 06:04 PM Wrote:yea that blows...export our cars but dont import any of theres...Ford NA blows.
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I dunno, I remember some the utter trash Ford imported in the '70's.... no way would I wish a repeat of that on anyone (I'm thinking the Mercury CRAPri before it became a Mustang clone in '79) and the Ford Aspire for a more recent example of Ford's inability to pick the cherries from overseas and constantly giving consumers in NA the pits :rofl:

NefCanuck

[Frost__2001]

NefCanuck,Jul 6 2005, 07:33 PM Wrote:

FocusTunerzx3,Jul 6 2005, 06:04 PM Wrote:yea that blows...export our cars but dont import any of theres...Ford NA blows.
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I dunno, I remember some the utter trash Ford imported in the '70's.... no way would I wish a repeat of that on anyone (I'm thinking the Mercury CRAPri before it became a Mustang clone in '79) and the Ford Aspire for a more recent example of Ford's inability to pick the cherries from overseas and constantly giving consumers in NA the pits :rofl:

NefCanuck
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Acutally the Ford Aspire is the 1994 - 1998 MK 4 Escort in Europe, but Ford NA really took loads away from it, and made it what was sold here. Too bad we never got anything like a Ghia Package for the " Aspire " because in Europe it had things like GPS, Leather, Remote Global close windows feature with the power windows. not to mention the 4wd option.

[scoobasteve]

haha, an escort with GPS.. that'll be the day

[ANTHONYD]

Finally, a poorly made N.A. product in Europe.

They won't know what hit them.

[K_OS]

ANTHONYD,Jul 7 2005, 11:45 AM Wrote:Finally, a poorly made N.A. product in Europe.

They won't know what hit them.
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The last time I went to Europe I saw a Dodge Caravan :o , maybe the Mustang is not the 1st poorly made NA product but probably the 1st poorly made Ford NA product.

Laterz :)

[scoobasteve]

Watchoo talkin bout.

Caravans are awesome.

Go drive a sedona :D

haha

[D-Dub]

The caravan is made in Austria and most of the parts are from Europe. There caravan is by far better quality then ours, because if it started to fail in build quality then the van would sink faster then the titanic.

If you look closely on the vans it says Made in Austria

[NefCanuck]

ANTHONYD,Jul 7 2005, 12:45 PM Wrote:Finally, a poorly made N.A. product in Europe.

They won't know what hit them.
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I dunno, I've seen some pretty badly made POS NA cars that made the leap across the pond... Funniest example was seeing a brand new Ford Exploder sitting at a Ford garage in Switzerland back in '03. All I could think of was:

Narrow mountain roads + wide assed SUV = Break out the St. Bernards, someone's going over!

NefCanuck

[Frost__2001]

Actually the Explour has been in Europe and Asia since more or less they went into production in 1991. Besides I've seen a 2000 Mustang on E-bay in France going for like 25,000 euros. It's not uncommon for some of our cars to go there, I mean heck the Dodge Neon has been sold in Germany for nearly 10 years now.

[NOS2Go4Me]

Frost__2001,Jul 8 2005, 01:34 PM Wrote:Actually the Explour has been in Europe and Asia since more or less they went into production in 1991. Besides I've seen a 2000 Mustang on E-bay in France going for like 25,000 euros. It's not uncommon for some of our cars to go there, I mean heck the Dodge Neon has been sold in Germany for nearly 10 years now.
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I wonder how DaimlerChrysler gets all those head gaskets over there... do they have a really cheap rate on shipping, or did they modify a plant to produce nothing but rubber-related Dodge consumables? :D

Kia Sedonas are the most solidly-built minivan on the market... because they weigh almost 4000 lbs and have no right to be called a minivan. It's like smuggling linebackers for Pinball Clemons on a daily basis. :lol:

[scoobasteve]

haha, funny story. when i was at erinwood originally looking to buy an svt. pinball walked in and started talking to me about his sedona.

it was strange.

Just shows how down to earth this guy is


Headgaskets... maybe if they still used the 3.0. now its all about the transmissions.

[Focus Is Art]

com'on Ford bring me the KA sport.

[K_OS]

scoobasteve,Jul 7 2005, 02:24 PM Wrote:Watchoo talkin bout.

Caravans are awesome.

Go drive a sedona :D

haha
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actually I learned to drive in my dad's Caravan.

Quote:If you look closely on the vans it says Made in Austria

Sorry it was moving too fast and I just couldn't run to keep up any longer ;)

Laterz :)