Ford Reported Loss

Well, it's not really surprising that the Dearborn automaker posted a loss for 2007. We all know that the automaker has posted sales declining month after month.

Recently, The Auto Channel reported that Ford's 2007 revenue amounted to $173.9 billion. This shows that the company is showing signs of returning to profitability. As Ford CEO Alan Mulally puts it:

"Each of our Automotive operations is improving, and we are encouraged by the progress, which validates our strategy and plan. In 2007, we introduced great new products around the globe that received strong third-party endorsements for styling, quality and safety. This year, we have some outstanding new product introductions including the Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Ford F-150 in North America, and Ford Kuga and the production version of the Ford Verve concept in Europe."

It is just a matter of time before the automaker returns to profitability and produces more vehicles with auto parts more valuable that an Integra mirror. Here are other highlights for the automaker in 2007:

• Reached agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW) on a new four-year national labor contract, which significantly improves the company's competitiveness going forward.
• Continued to align capacity to match demand and improve productivity in North America, and reduced personnel by 32,800 in 2007.
• Achieved $1.8 billion in cost savings in 2007 (at constant volume, mix and exchange; excluding special items).
• Introduced Ford SYNC - the company's award-winning, fully integrated, voice-activated in-car communications and entertainment system developed in association with Microsoft - which will be available in nearly every Ford, Lincoln and Mercury product by the end of 2008.
• In the U.S., Ford, Lincoln and Mercury crossover utility vehicles led the fastest-growing segment with a sales gain of 62 percent in 2007.
• The Ford Mustang convertible made history as the first sports car and first convertible to earn the highest possible safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Mustang convertible earned five-star ratings in all crash test and rollover categories.
• Ford Taurus, Taurus X and Mercury Sable earned Top Safety Pick ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for achieving the highest possible ratings in frontal, side and rear crash test performance. They also earned five-star crash-test ratings from NHTSA.