DETROIT, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Ford says it expects its market plunge to end within six months as the company banks on new products with fewer incentives.
Chief Executive Officer Bill Ford Jr. said in a blunt interview the company has lost ground because it's been trying to sell old models against rivals' newer designs, has failed to make its newer models look different than the old ones and hasn't offered a big enough variety.
Ford said he's so intent on trimming the cost of incentives he might let Chevrolet outsell the Ford brand this year, for the first time in 17 years, rather than pouring money into keeping Ford the best-selling brand in the United States.
Boosting market share without also boosting rebates is almost unheard-of in today's discount-crazed auto market, the Detroit News said.
Through October, Ford Motors has sold just 23,083 more Ford vehicles than General Motors' Chevrolet brand has.
