Jim Farley Hits the Road and Cars are Getting Judged and X-rayed The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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Welcome back to the pod Michael Wood, whose dogs are as excited about this show as we are! Today we are looking at the road trip Jim Farley is about to embark on, how customers perceive automakers and dealers, and a car going under the microscope…er, x-ray machine!


Show Notes with links:


Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Farley is embarking on a nation-wide "engagement tour" with dealers to discuss key issues including electrification, quality, and affordability. Starting in Dearborn and visiting cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta, the tour aims to gather insights directly from a broad section of Ford's dealer network through 12 in-person meetings.Farley, responding to the Ford National Dealer Council's request, aims to understand dealer perspectives on industry challenges, regulatory compliance, EV transitions, and competition. They plan to invite retailers of all sizes, including some who didn't sign up to sell EVs.Joining Farley will be COO Kumar Galhotra, CMO Lisa Materazzo, Ford Model e COO Marin Gjaja, Ford Blue President Andrew Frick and Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis.“Our quality has gone down as much as our prices have gone up. That has to be addressed.” said O.C. Welch, dealer principal at O.C. Welch Ford-Lincoln in Hardeeville, S.C.Eddie Hall III, COO of Hall Automotive Group said, "I'm used to being a brand for the masses. While I think we have a phenomenal lineup, I still want to be able to sell vehicles to the customers I have been selling to for so long."Customer satisfaction with dealer services sees a slight improvement in 2024, but parts and labor shortages continue to stretch appointment wait times, as per the latest J.D. Power CSI Study.Average wait time for an appointment has risen, with mass market vehicle owners facing a 5.2-day wait, up from 4.8 days in 2023.Costs for dealer visits have jumped 30% in the past two years due to inflation and rising parts and labor costs.​​Lexus ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among premium brands for a third consecutive year, with a score of 897.Buick ranks highest in satisfaction with dealer service among mass market brands with a score of 887. MINI (884) ranks second and Subaru (877) ranks third.Mercedes-Benz, in a pioneering collaboration with the Fraunhofer-Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, conducted the world's first X-ray crash test. This breakthrough method, utilizing a linear accelerator as an X-ray camera, captured internal car and dummy deformations during a collision at 60 km/h, offering unprecedented insights into the dynamics of vehicular crashes. The use of high-speed X-ray technology enabled the precise visualization of internal processes, making previously invisible deformations transparent for detailed analysis.The crash test dummy used was a female version, as females are at much higher risk of serious injuries during crashes.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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