The most significant impact of this change was that the average assembly line worker at Ford could afford to purchase an automobile for their own families. The increased mobility, wages, and leisure time inspired a movement across the country. Many other companies began to follow suit giving the Ford Motor Company credit for the creation of the American middle class.
In 1939, under the direction of Edsel Ford, the Ford Motor Company created the Mercury brand. This was intended to compete with General Motors who produced several mid-priced vehicles including Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick. Mercury was the perfect solution to bridge the gap between the affordable Ford brand and high-end Lincoln cars.
We've seen it happen many times. Our great customers from communities like Ashland or Richmond, VA try investing a little more in our Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Ford models through Ford Blue Advantage. They like it so much they keep buying Ford Blue Advantage cars for many years to come. The prices are always affordable because they're pre-owned and the quality is always high because these vehicles are carefully inspected by us.
I have long argued that incumbent car makers are best positioned to win the EV market over the long run, not Tesla (TSLA) or startups like Rivian (RIVN). I made General Motors a Long Idea in March 2018, and I remain bullish now. While General Motors and Ford are competitors, they both are positioned to profit over the long run from their legacy ICE businesses while taking advantage of the growing EV market.
Nevertheless, even if Tesla can achieve profitability over the long-haul, it will likely only win a small share of the global vehicle market. Tesla benefited from a first-mover advantage, which provided status, brand recognition, a technological lead in EV, and easy access to capital. Other startups will not enjoy those same advantages. Meanwhile, recent market share losses suggest that Tesla will not fully capitalize on its first-mover advantages.
As you can see, there are many advantages of buying a new car that you may find outweigh the benefits of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle. Which one is right for you depends upon your finances, how long you plan to keep the vehicle, and your personal preferences when it comes to features.
Technological innovation is a key source of competitive advantage in the automobile industry and for companies that want to grow their market share, it is the method to make their product portfolio more attractive in the eyes of the consumers worldwide. Ford invests a large sum in research and development each year and in 2019 the company invested around $7.4 billion in research and development. Technological innovation is a key source of competitive advantage for the brand since the company relies mainly on product differentiation to grow sales worldwide. Apart from bringing a large range of fuel-efficient and safer cars to the market, the company also brought several attractive SUVs and crossovers to the market. To achieve faster growth and strengthen its competitive advantage, the company also invests in research and innovation in several areas including autonomous driving as well as developing more environment-friendly models.
A large and attractive product range that serves the needs and preferences of various consumer segments worldwide is also a key source of competitive advantage for Ford Motors. The company enjoys global popularity and is among the best selling brands in the US. It has brought a large range of automobile products to the market that includes cars, SUVs, crossovers, trucks, and hybrids. Its product range also includes commercial vehicles, trucks, and vans as well as electric cars and performance vehicles. Ford offers a large number of choices to its customers and caters to a diverse set of consumers with diverse needs.
Human resource management is also a key source of competitive advantage in the automobile industry which employs a very large number of people worldwide. In 2019, the company employed around 190,000 people worldwide. The automobile industry has grown highly competitive and acquiring faster growth requires having talented people onboard. Apart from hiring and retaining talented employees, Ford also invests in their career growth and job satisfaction.
Brand image is also an important source of competitive advantage for automobile brands since sales heavily depend on how much consumers trust a particular brand worldwide. As an automobile brand, Ford has maintained the highest focus on its brand image and reputation. It has formed the image of a reliable and customer-centric brand which places the highest focus on customer satisfaction. High brand equity and a strong reputation have led to higher sales in key automobile markets and particularly the us which is its biggest market accounting for the highest revenue of the company.
In some areas, factory workers are paid less and work in dismal conditions. However, this does not have to be the case. Workers in the United States tend to make higher wages and often have unions to advocate for better working conditions. Elsewhere, mass production jobs may come with poor wages and working conditions."}},"@type": "Question","name": "Is mass production expensive to set up?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Creating a mass production system can be expensive to set up and even more expensive to alter if changes need to be made after the production has already started. The cost of setup is generally offset by the efficiency with which products are made once the system is up and running.","@type": "Question","name": "Does mass production produce quality items?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "It can. As Henry Ford proved, very complex products can be made successfully using assembly line techniques. However, if there are unforeseen problems with an element of your product, that issue can be replicated thousands of times before it may be noticed. This is why product recalls are frequent among mass-produced items."]}]}] Investing Stocks Bonds ETFs Options and Derivatives Commodities Trading FinTech and Automated Investing Brokers Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Markets View All Simulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard Banking Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Money Market Accounts Checking Accounts View All Personal Finance Budgeting and Saving Personal Loans Insurance Mortgages Credit and Debt Student Loans Taxes Credit Cards Financial Literacy Retirement View All News Markets Companies Earnings CD Rates Mortgage Rates Economy Government Crypto ETFs Personal Finance View All Reviews Best Online Brokers Best Savings Rates Best CD Rates Best Life Insurance Best Personal Loans Best Mortgage Rates Best Money Market Accounts Best Auto Loan Rates Best Credit Repair Companies Best Credit Cards View All Academy Investing for Beginners Trading for Beginners Become a Day Trader Technical Analysis All Investing Courses All Trading Courses View All TradeSearchSearchPlease fill out this field.SearchSearchPlease fill out this field.InvestingInvesting Stocks Bonds ETFs Options and Derivatives Commodities Trading FinTech and Automated Investing Brokers Fundamental Analysis Technical Analysis Markets View All SimulatorSimulator Login / Portfolio Trade Research My Games Leaderboard BankingBanking Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposit (CDs) Money Market Accounts Checking Accounts View All Personal FinancePersonal Finance Budgeting and Saving Personal Loans Insurance Mortgages Credit and Debt Student Loans Taxes Credit Cards Financial Literacy Retirement View All NewsNews Markets Companies Earnings CD Rates Mortgage Rates Economy Government Crypto ETFs Personal Finance View All ReviewsReviews Best Online Brokers Best Savings Rates Best CD Rates Best Life Insurance Best Personal Loans Best Mortgage Rates Best Money Market Accounts Best Auto Loan Rates Best Credit Repair Companies Best Credit Cards View All AcademyAcademy Investing for Beginners Trading for Beginners Become a Day Trader Technical Analysis All Investing Courses All Trading Courses View All EconomyEconomy Government and Policy Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy Economics View All Financial Terms Newsletter About Us Follow Us EconomyEconomicsMass Production: Examples, Advantages, and DisadvantagesByCaroline BantonFull Bio Caroline Banton has 6+ years of experience as a freelance writer of business and finance articles. She also writes biographies for Story Terrace.Learn about our editorial policiesUpdated March 23, 2023Reviewed byCharles Potters Investopedia / Hilary Allison
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