23% in 1999. The Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV’s) segment has emerged as one of today’s hottest markets through its increased sales. North-American consumers in higher income brackets are choosing, with increasing frequency, to put SUV’s in their garages. Minivans market share was 8% in 1998, which was down 12% from 1991. This is a result of a shift in consumer demand away from these vehicles. Overall market analyst consensus is that minivans have entered the mature stage of the product life cycle. Pick-up trucks, uniquely American vehicles that span all of the consumer target markets, show good potential for domestic manufacturers. U.S. manufacturers have sustained unparalleled sales in this segment due to the popularity growth of trucks. The largest and most important product segment in the automotive industry is mid-size cars. It is an area of intense competition for car sales in the United States. Popularity for mid-size vehicles is due to consumers’ preference for luxury cars they cannot afford and compacts that they do not like. All of these vehicle segments combine to form an industry in which consumers have continuously changing tastes. Recent years show that, for those manufacturers who can compete worldwide, profit and growth potential will be ever present. The company who is able to produce vehicles incorporating the most recent technologies at the lowest cost will find themselves with the competitive advantage.Firm AnalysisGeneral History of Ford:Ford Motor Company’s first car was sold on July 23, 1903. In 1906, the first Model T was made available and the millionth car was produced on December 10, 1915. Production of trucks and tractors began in 1917. Ford became the first international company when they started exporting cars to Europe. Within 10 years Ford had plants in 5 countries. In 1956, Ford went public with the largest stock issue of all time; 10.2 million shares. The ...
