This is what our readers would do if they were CEO of Ford for a day – Jalopnik

If Jim Farley ordering Ford to launch a Dakar Rally factory program can’t convince you that the CEO has virtually complete control, nothing will. We asked our readers earlier this week what they would do as CEO of Ford for a day. While I mentioned Farley’s role in expanding Ford’s presence in racing and pushing performance off-road vehicles as the automaker’s future, the commentators had very different ideas.

Several readers want to fire Ford’s entire C-suite, including themselves. I know the golden parachute would be a really nice deal, but there’s still a car company to run. Others took a more sensible approach, suggesting that the Blue Oval return to selling a full range of cars in the United States. There was even a suggestion to revive the Mercury brand. However, I think Ford would rather make Mustang or Raptor its own brand at this point. Without further ado, here are some of the ideas that were offered:

I would remove “Mustang” and the Mustang logo from the Mach-E. I know it’s beautiful. I am not a CEO for many reasons.

Submitted by: Pursuit

Set a rule that the highest salaries in the company cannot be more than 15x the lowest salary in the company. And that applies to all managers, including myself.

If you want to make good money, you also have to pay your employees good money. Otherwise, I hope the board enjoys their maximum compensation of $108.75/hour. (15x the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.)

Submitted by: Dr.Xyster

I walked into the boardroom and handed each member of the board of directors and management team a small box, wrapped in ribbon. It would contain a cheap box cutter. As soon as they opened it, I would tell them that if they couldn’t solve the problems with the company, they should feel free and leave. The meeting would be adjourned. I think it was Luca Di Montezemolo who did this, and I love it.

After that meeting, I would ensure that no one would ever damage the brand reputation of one of the most successful automakers in history the way this current team of managers and C-level executives has done.

Submitted by: ColoradoOnTheFly

Bring back Mercury. Rebrand all Ford EVs as Mercury vehicles. Bring back the T-Bird as an electric roadster. The Mach-E is now the Mercury Marauder. Ranchero on the Mustang platform. 5.0 and 6-speed gearbox. Give a final call to the Escape. Get the Kuga from Europe as a replacement.

Submitted by: Mark Horning

Put cars back on the menu. Small cars, mid-size cars, luxury sedans. The cheapest should be around $20,000, make sure this is done without sacrificing quality.

Release a cheap, simple, but quality EV.

Make simple pickup trucks again. Let people pay $110,000 for a truck if they want, but offer very basic, stripped-down models for those who don’t want or need the luxury and technology. Long bed, single cabin, standard folding windows.

My main use of technology would be to make things more efficient and powerful, not complex and fancy. Leave the luxury and unnecessary technology to Lincoln.

Any vehicle offered abroad that would be at all practical for US applications should be offered in the US.

Submitted by: Psycho78

Fire 90% of managers and executives, the rest can use AI to replace the fired managers. Fire the entire interior design department. Create EV versions of Bronco and Bronco Sport. Use most of the Mustang platform and interior, but make it a sedan. Create a third unibody platform “Bronco” that can be placed between the sport and the body-on-frame platform to replace the Escape and Explorer.

Submitted by: great

Step 1: Return the Transit Connect
Step 2: ST/RS/Tremor de Transit Connect; manual option
Step 3: Support the grassroots motorsports emergency program
Step 4: Transit Connect Spec racing series with low entry costs
Step 5: Buy a life jacket to avoid drowning in all the money Ford will make

Submitted by: Grease tank

I would try to create the Model T for electric cars. An affordable one (mid $30 – low $40,000) with a decent range (300 miles or so), a nice interior (somewhere between bare bones and uber-tech) and reliable. The Model T made Ford Ford. I feel like by focusing on trucks and SUVs they lost focus.

Submitted by: Quarter mouse