Now we can all be an employee of any of the Big 3 car companies -- at least for vehicle buying purposes. See following article from today's issue of Automotive News:

July 5, 2005

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EMAIL ALERT

Ford, bowing to pressure from GM, matches deal


DETROIT (Reuters) -- Ford Motor Co., bowing to pressure from General
Motors, said on Tuesday that it was matching its larger, crosstown
rival's employee discount program.
Under the program, which takes effect on Wednesday and will be called
the "Ford Family Plan," Ford will shave thousands of dollars off the
sticker prices of most 2005 model vehicles, company spokesman David
Reuter said.
The program will run through Aug. 1, he said. Like the GM plan, Ford
will sell its vehicles to anybody at the same prices Ford employees
pay.
"It's a great deal that we're going to deliver in a simple, consistent
way to customers," Reuter said. "We're going to advertise this widely,
in a huge significant way throughout the month."
The Chrysler unit of DaimlerChrysler has said it will respond to GM's
program by rolling out its own employee pricing program on Wednesday.
GM's "Employee Discount for Everyone" program was launched last month
and the company extended it through Aug. 1 earlier on Tuesday. It drove
GM's sales up 46.9 percent last month, which was the company's best
sales month in 19 years.
Ford, which has seen its U.S. sales fall for 13 consecutive months, can
ill afford not to remain competitive with GM. It has already warned that
its core automotive operations may not be profitable this year.

 

So does that mean X plan or A plan?

 

i think that would mean A-plan.

 

I sure wish the cobras (shelby's...whatever) were out!

-Mike

 

What is the excluded list?

 

If its anything like past sales....DIESEL SUPER DUTYS! Those fri ggin a-holes are never going to let me buy a hauler for the Lightning!

 

Which one is better A or X plan?

And I was watching th news last night. They showed some pretty impressive graphs regarding GMs sales for the month of June. Its a shame Ford didn't think of this first.

31C

 

A is the biggest discount.i believe its 3% less than X.

A = is active employee
Z=retired employee
x=friends and nieghbors

im guessing the ford gt is excluded

 

I got my Lightning "A" plan.. 28k back in 2003 for a new L.Sticker price of 33 or 34 If I remember correctly

 

i paid 28K in 03 with no plan.

 

http://www.blueovalnews.com/2005/bus...ces.05jl05.htm

copy/paste of excluded vehicle list:
The plan is simple to understand. All 2005 eligible models will be sold at or below the employee and retiree discount price less bonus customer cash incentives. Excluded from the plan are Ford trucks larger than F-350 and E-350, the Ford Mustang, Ford GT and Ford Escape Hybrid.

 

Translation:

Trucks larger than F-350 and E-350: Business buyers are less price sensitive. And Whip wants one.

Mustang: They are flying off of the lots anyway.

Ford GT: Our employees can't afford them.

Escape Hybrid: We're already losing money on this one.

 

 

Does anyone know if this applies in Canada?

 

I am sure I could call a dealer and find out, but does this also apply to Mazda?

The little lady wants a new vehicle and has been eyeing the Mazda 6's a little bit.

Thanks

Steve