James H. Hodges, Jr.

If someone told me in 2008, during the height of the economic meltdown, that Ford Motor Company would be outselling Toyota in 2010 and would replace Toyota with the highest quality rankings according to J.D. Power and Associates’ annual initial quality rankings, I would have told them they were insane. But it’s true, an indicator that America is making a comeback means taking a look at what one automaker is doing to turn the tide of recession.

Not many know this, but when the Federal Reserve was handing out bailout money to the many large failing companies like Bank of America, Fannie Mae, and the “Big 3” automakers to stop the bleeding of the country’s economy, Ford Motor Company graciously refused stating that they had foreseen this coming and had made preparations to survive. Ford has gone from merely surviving to taking the auto industry by storm. With the help of Toyota’s accelerator sticking blunders and its massive recalls in the millions, 2010 has been the year to shine if you’re Ford. With the success of its lineup of Ford Edge, Fusion, Taurus, and the eagerly awaited arrival of the gas sipping Fiesta, this resurgence doesn’t appear to be a fluke.

Why has America decided to start buying American cars again? Could it be the recalls of Toyota that has shaken their trust with Japanese automakers or is it something deeper? Perhaps the most powerful marketing tool for America is fear and uncertainty. Maybe Americans finally woke up and realized that in order for a failing economy such as ours to recover is to start buying American made products once more. Perhaps Americans are realizing that American automakers such as Ford are not the same automakers that were basically selling junk in the 1980’s and that the quality of American made products is just as good if not better than what companies overseas are offering. China has had several problems using lead paint on toys that our children are playing with while the Camry and Prius are accelerating out of control. For whatever the reason, America is taking pride in itself again. It is evident in the Dow reaching 11,000 for the first time in almost three years and companies like GM paying off its bailout loans 5 years early with interest.

Although we’re a long way to a full recovery and America has certainly seen better days, no one has put it better than our president, Barack Obama, during his State of the Union Address, “While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.”

Are you planning to buy a Ford in the future? Or other American made products?

Graphic Credit:
animationfactory.com