While the pending deal between Chrysler LLC and Italian-automaker Fiat has the auto world buzzing, it appears as barely a blip on Ford’s marketing guru Jim Farley’s radar.
“My point of view on this thing is probably different than many others. Chrysler is working hard to ensure its viability. If that means a partnership, then that’s what they need to do. This is such an unusual year for Ford and I’m focused on getting us back (to stronger sales performance),” he said, adding that 40% of the Dearborn automakers volume will come from new products, such as the F-150, MKT and others, this year.
He isn’t sure that it’ll have any impact on Ford. At the very least, it won’t have much impact on him. Farley did suggest that a strong Chrysler could mean good things for the industry, but he is more focused on the “impact on the customer.”
“Chrysler is working hard to ensure its viability and if that means a partnership, then that’s what they need to do,” he said after a speech at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit this morning. “To us at Ford, I’m just so focused on rejuvenating excitement in our products, I am focused on that (task).”