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forgedaboutit.


the BRAKES on the Ontario economy

This looked like a real dumb idea to begin with I'm surprised that vehicle got as far as it did.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/natio ... 71b76b9bbd

Ford cancels Flex; 500 out of work
CHCH News
Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

HAMILTON - Ford confirmed it is suspending plans to create hundreds of jobs in Oakville, Ont., cancelling a planned third shift to create the new Flex vehicle, the company confirmed late Tuesday afternoon.

The Canadian Auto Workers said they feel as though they have been hit with a sledgehammer and described the news as being blindsiding.

Hundreds of people were scheduled to start working in Oakville next week to begin production on a third shift for the Flex line.
Ford had been putting a lot of hopes into the Flex - a seven-passenger vehicle with a fuel-efficiency the company thought would help sell the vehicle in this era of robust gas prices. But those sales haven't materialized, largely due to a downturn of the U.S. economy.
Ford had been putting a lot of hopes into the Flex - a seven-passenger vehicle with a fuel-efficiency the company thought would help sell the vehicle in this era of robust gas prices. But those sales haven't materialized, largely due to a downturn of the U.S. economy.

"Right now . . . we have 500 people that were going to start work at Ford in Oakville and currently that's been postponed," said CAW spokesman Ron Balazs. "The impact's huge, actually. It's absolutely huge,"

Ford had been putting a lot of hopes into the Flex - a seven-passenger vehicle with a fuel-efficiency the company thought would help sell the vehicle in this era of robust gas prices.

But those sales haven't materialized, largely due to a downturn of the U.S. economy.

CHCH-TV reported Tuesday that since Flex production began in the late spring, Ford has sold approximately 500 of the 13,000 or so that were produced.

"We just got this word," said Buzz Hargrove, CAW president. "We'll meet with Ford now and find out what the numbers are . . . and look at if there is anything we can do."

"We've got some ideas to share with Ford and see where we get them, but there's no guarantees in today's environment."

   

Like everything else Ford does right - they neglect to tell anyone about it. perhaps it's a great car, but outside of the showroom - no one knows about it.

Here's a hint - fire all the overpaid executives who get bonuses from this layoff drivel, and hire more for the Advertising department. Then perhaps you can sell some vehicles.

I guess the 500 people who bought one of these vehicles must have accidentally tripped over one when they were in the showroom for some other reason. Typical Ford.

   

Let me cry a tear for Ontario auto workers.

Hey guys lots of job over here in Alberta and BC.

   

Yeah, I have never heard of this vehicle. All I here from Ford commercials is F-Series! Built Ford tough! SUV! Deep discounts! Sale!

   

The Big Three have had forty years to figure out how to build better cars and they have yet to do so. The fall of Ford is perhaps then overdue.

   

I,ve never even heard of the flex.

The new ford powerstrokes should come with a warning that their undrivable at anything colder then -40

   

no no not interested they'll just vote Liberal so we can kill all those jobs as well.

   

\

But don't forget that BC stands for "Bring Cash"

   

Tell me about it!

   

I work at the oakville assembly complex, we have been builing the flex all summer long (im a student) but due to this shift being cancelled I and many others are now getting laid off-probably by the end of the week. I dont understand why they would even make this car. Ford need to go back to the days of the model-T and jsut build a basic, fuel-efficient economy car that anyone can afford.

   

What do they do with the ones that are already built?


put them in the crusher?

   

no they are still being distributed, mostly to the states. they just arent selling. Now is not the right time for a large cross-over vehicle.

   

Oh no!! They're going to stop making an ugly car.

   

How many did they make?

wouldn't it be a bitch to get repair parts for these things if production is going to be stopped so early?

   

My point, precisely.

Only cars people think they make are the Focus and F-150. The 500/Fusion, new Taurus/X, Lincoln MK/Z/S/X are all fine vehicles - but no one even knows they exist.

People don't accidentally walk into showrooms.

   

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