Jaguar

[Cooperman]

Looks like the whole of the car industry is in the shite. Nissan are on the brink. Volkswagen are having issues. Alfa Romeo are struggling, it's my opinion that this EV bollox has really fooked the industry over.

Some of these decisions are self inflicted. The decision of Ford to kill the Focus and Fiesta models is something which will haunt them for years to come. This also goes beyond Europe; Stellantis North America have something like 300,000 cars sat in inventory and with no sign of an upturn in sales. This means closing plants until after Christmas and this has a knock on effect down through the supply chain.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, our business is booming in markets which have flex fuel solutions (Brazil and India). At some point Europe is going to have to rethink its strategy of only betting on EV.

 

[Cooperman]

Aye, I think they are done. This looks desperate, and flawed in so many ways.

Shame really, the XK and the F-type were beautifully engineered cars and excellent to drive. LR and Jags much too risky as an ownership proposition though. If you get good ones, they are lovely cars, don’t get a good one and they’ll just shit on you.

My mate had what I called a ‘Friday afternoon’ Discovery. My word, did he have some hassle with it.

 

[Itchysphincter]

I’ve had two jags, one was the worst car I ever had, one was the best. Still miss them.

 

[monmouth]

I’ve had two jags, one was the worst car I ever had, one was the best. Still miss them.

The ghost of John Prescott lives on

 

[3swan]

Worked in the car industry all my life, and concept cars are just the base idea of what they want to do and the final production car never matches fully the early design.

In saying that, the J of JLR, do seem to being going in a higher market direction, but they tried competing in the BMW etc range and failed, so can't see them succeeding in the higher premium market

 

[JackSomething]

Some of these decisions are self inflicted. The decision of Ford to kill the Focus and Fiesta models is something which will haunt them for years to come.

Not in the industry myself, but Ford's decision baffled me. I was in Tesco Fforestfach a few weeks ago and noticed 8 Fiestas happened to be parked in a row. There's just so many of them out there the decision seems nonsensical.

I saw someone suggest that the decision was made because sales were declining as there was little change between models of Fiestas and Focus year to year, so they'll come back in a few years with new models of both and hope to sell loads of them. Being unable to buy them will increase demand in the meantime or something? No idea if that's true, but sounds like a risky move if so.

 

[Cooperman]

Not in the industry myself, but Ford's decision baffled me. I was in Tesco Fforestfach a few weeks ago and noticed 8 Fiestas happened to be parked in a row. There's just so many of them out there the decision seems nonsensical.

I saw someone suggest that the decision was made because sales were declining as there was little change between models of Fiestas and Focus year to year, so they'll come back in a few years with new models of both and hope to sell loads of them. Being unable to buy them will increase demand in the meantime or something? No idea if that's true, but sounds like a risky move if so.

The underlying issue for Ford was not uncommon through the industry, a shortage of semiconductor components meant that they had to prioritise what vehicles they made. In the case of Ford they sacrificed a fairly well established place in the market for models with larger margins, but those other models don’t have the same customer loyalty. Joe Bloggs who has swapped his Fiesta every four years will now have to go and buy another brand.

 

[monmouth]

The underlying issue for Ford was not uncommon through the industry, a shortage of semiconductor components meant that they had to prioritise what vehicles they made. In the case of Ford they sacrificed a fairly well established place in the market for models with larger margins, but those other models don’t have the same customer loyalty. Joe Bloggs who has swapped his Fiesta every four years will now have to go and buy another brand.

Wasn't it the North American market that caused it? The massive and ridiculous hunger for SuVs meant no one over there wanted any kind of 'sedan' especially a small low powered one?

 

[Cooperman]

Wasn't it the North American market that caused it? The massive and ridiculous hunger for SuVs meant no one over there wanted any kind of 'sedan' especially a small low powered one?

Yes in part. A bigger car will generally consume more chip sets and have higher profit margins. The easy decision is one directing supply for the SUV’s and of protecting short term profits, but the product teams who look longer term will have had a different view. Too late now, damage already done in the Ford Europe example.

 

[J_B]

Everything seems to be getting bigger and heavier. I’m sick of very low profile tyres going bang due to the state of the roads so I’ve got rid of my beloved TT Quattro recently. The other reason is that at 68 I was struggling to get out of the car especially if parked beside a high kerb.
I’ve largely lost interest in cars now having loved them most of my life and been lucky enough to drive a few Porsches in the past. They’re just a means of getting from A to B now.

 

[monmouth]

Everything seems to be getting bigger and heavier. I’m sick of very low profile tyres going bang due to the state of the roads so I’ve got rid of my beloved TT Quattro recently. The other reason is that at 68 I was struggling to get out of the car especially if parked beside a high kerb.
I’ve largely lost interest in cars now having loved them most of my life and been lucky enough to drive a few Porsches in the past. They’re just a means of getting from A to B now.

I've gone from performance to comfort since I turned 60, and so have my cars.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

Dropping the iconic growler badge is a huge mistake.

Jaguar has become the poor relation to Land Rover in the TATA Group.

The F Pace is really cramped for a supposedly big SUV.