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View Full Version : Ford and GM posts massive losses, GM nears minimum level of cash to operate........


Brothers4TheStruggle
11-07-08, 01:13 PM
Could things get any worse for the big 3 Automakers here in the states??

http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-posts-25b-loss-halts-trading-for-announcement.html

General Motors posted a $4.2 billion operating loss during the third quarter of 2008 - a far larger amount than had been expected by analysts - the automaker announced today. The automaker has suspended its talks over a possible merger with Chrysler and said that its cash liquidity for the rest of the year “will approach the minimum amount necessary” to continue to operate.
GM says that, despite the plans outlined in the presentation to employees this morning, its liquidity will fall significantly short of that minimum amount unless the industry’s conditions “significantly improve.”

GM’s financial situation

The Detroit automaker posted a third quarter net loss of $2.5 billion ($4.45/share), an improvement over the $42.5 billion loss from t GM says that its rate of burning through cash - previously about $1 billion a month - has doubled to $2.3 billion, or $6.9 billion total during the quarter.
The automaker says that it expects fourth quarter spending to be down significantly, however. Revenues for the third quarter were down $37.9 billion, well below analysts’ estimates before the announcement. GM says its operating cash is approaching the “minimum amount necessary to operate,” which puts the automaker near the edge of bankruptcy. The automaker has about $20 billion in cash but says that below $12 billion is its breaking point.

Short-term fixes

To temporarily improve its liquidity, GM is looking to boost capital by $5 billion by the end of the year and $20 billion by the end of 2009 by way of more job cuts, sale of assets and slashing capital spending by a further $2.5 billion. According to the presentation GM gave to its employees earlier today in Detroit, the automaker will cut spending in its media and sales promotions, reducing its dealer network restructuring activities, revising its production schedules, eliminating non-essential projects and, perhaps most importantly in the long run, reducing engineering spending.

More than $10 billion in internal operating actions to reduce spending have been completed or are on track for completion by the end of 2009.
GM confirmed that it would push back the Chevrolet Cruze, Cadillac CTS coupe, Saab 9-5 and Saab 9-4x to a 2010 calendar year introduction as 2011 models.

Chrysler merger talks over

The automaker announced that it has suspended talks with Chrysler LLC and Cerberus Capital Management LC over the proposed merger between the two automakers. GM says that it won’t look into a merger further until its immediate financial problems are fixed - so don’t expect many more GM/Chrysler rumors for a while.

U.S. Government bailout

GM again reiterated its desire for federal funding to help the Detroit auto industry, though CNBC analysts were mixed on how positive this outcome would be for the automaker and the industry as a whole.
“The U.S government’s actions to help stabilize the credit markets and eventually ease the credit crunch are an essential first step to the economy’s and the auto industry’s recovery but further strong action is required,” CEO Rick Wagoner said in a statement.

Ford post $2.7b third quarter loss..........

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-posts-27b-loss-in-third-quarter.html

Things are going from bad to worse in Detroit, with low consumer confidence and tight credit markets leading to the full on collapse of new car sales. Ford posted a $2.7 billion operating loss in the third quarter, prompting the Dearborn-based automaker to announce further production and job cuts.

In addition to posting a $2.7 billion operating loss in the third quarter, Ford also burned through $7.7 billion of its cash reserves, according to Automotive News. As of the end of September, Ford had $18.9 billion cash on hand, down from $26.6 billion three month earlier.

Ford’s automotive operations lost $2.9 billion before taxes in the third quarter, compared to a $362 million loss a year earlier.
Ford calculates that it still has an overall liquidity of nearly $30 billion, but with sales expected to continue to tank in 2009, the future isn’t looking bright.

“We continue to take fast and decisive action implementing our plan and responding to the rapidly changing business environment,” CEO Alan Mulally said in a statement on Friday. “We have a strategy that is broad and specific enough to handle the dramatic changes in today’s environment.”
In an attempt to at least slow its bleeding, Ford will cut 10 percent of its North American white collar workforce by the end of January. Another 2,600 hourly workers will be let go through a voluntary buyout package. In addition to job cuts, Ford will also remove 40,000 vehicles from its fourth quarter production schedules, with most cuts coming at car and crossover plants.
Ford hasn’t turned a profit since 2005 and doesn’t expect to return to profitability until at least 2010.

beaniemac
11-07-08, 01:17 PM
I just made another thread regarding this issue and how this news is gonna have GM with their hand out for bailout money as well.....:thumbsdow:smh::thumbsdow:smh:

http://forums.projectcovo.com/showthread.php?t=1224041


hell, y dont they give me some bailout money too?? my pockets were hurting this summer when I had to pay record prices for gasoline to go to and from work.

Kalik
11-07-08, 01:32 PM
That Camaro aint gone come out...

beaniemac
11-07-08, 01:59 PM
That Camaro aint gone come out...

these idiots investing probably a billion dollars in a new muscle car when gas was around $4 a gallon, instead of in hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles. I mean it was just stupid all around. u gotta blame management for that kinda stupidity.

kemyran
11-07-08, 03:26 PM
Of the two, Ford is actually doing the right things.... they've got a lineup of small cars coming out soon, they're releasing a true hybrid Fusion that will significantly trump the mileage of the Camry Hybrid (yeah, its a leapfrog game, Toyota will trump them and then Ford again....), they're bringing over some key vehicles from their Euro lineup, they've divested themselves of Land Rover and Jaguar and will likely do the same with Volvo and a portion of Mazda.

Their leadership is actually making sweeping changes. Alan Mulally is a no nonsense kind of guy that turned around Boeing before he got there. If a bailout is imminent, there's a really good chance Ford will actually do some good with it and the taxpayers will get their money back. GM... who knows? They need to make huge changes, but they seem hesitant to do it. Wagoner and the boys seem to be asleep at the wheel, but they have made strides as well. I'd hate to see either of them go, the failure would be cataclysmic and affect several markets and jobs here in the US.

I can see the argument against a bailout, but the Japanese have inherent advantages back at home such as a complete lack of legacy costs (which the big 3 are trying to reign in) and government kickbacks that help their bottom line.

As far as the Camaro goes you're just flat out wrong. That shyt was in the planning long before gas shot up, you obviously have no idea how the typical automobile planning cycle goes. Not to mention, the car has a base V6 that is rumored to get 26-27 MPG, which is not bad at all. Keep in mind, most of these cars are bought in base trim with the weaker engine. Every mustang isn't a GT or Cobra and when the camaro was out, they weren't all SS's.

Koolest
11-07-08, 03:48 PM
those assholes should've known to just invest in good gas milege cars, years ago...

The Bilingual Gringo
11-07-08, 06:00 PM
those assholes should've known to just invest in good gas milege cars, years ago...

I can't knock them for making that decision, I think almost every car maker made that choice.

I think they failed in planned. Toyota was already cash heavy, but at the same time they were tooling out Tundras and Seqoias, they had a lineup of smaller vehicles.

God, this is going to be NUTS if Ford and GM fail like this w/o government intervention.