Ford Rules Out Low-Cost Brand, Keeps Door Open For Cheap Cars

Ford won't be following in the footsteps of Renault and other auto makers that have introduced "low cost" brands like Dacia. But the company hasn't ruled out a model line of cheaper vehicles either. Speaking at Ford's Amsterdam dealer meeting, CEO Alan Mulally told Automotive News that "We are looking around the world at opportunities to offer a car priced below the Fiesta…We do not have a firm plan at the moment [for a global sub-B model], but clearly being competitive in every market segment is important," Model specifics or production sites were not discussed, but conventional wisdom dictates that cars like the A-segment Ford Ka aren't suitable for a global low cost vehicle, since (relatively) larger cars are favored in other markets around the world. The Fiesta platform is a likely candidate for the future vehicle. This wouldn't be the first time Ford produced a vehicle for developing markets either; the Ford Ikon was previously sold in Mexico, China, South Africa and India, with underpinings derived from previous Fiestas. from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

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