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South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Audi A5 review - is the Audi A4 replacement a better car?
Datsun was the original name given to cars built by Nissan and sold in Europe. The badge was dropped in 1984 in favour of the parent company's brand. Going through a rebrand is a risky and very expensive business. In Datsun/Nissan's case it cost the company half a billion dollars… in 1984. Today that translates to roughly $1.3 billion just to change a name plate. And Nissan is far from alone. Mitsubishi cars used to be branded as Colts in the UK and Daewoo transformed into Chevrolet (in Europe at least) before disappearing altogether. Cars change their names too. Famously, Porsche was forced into a last minute change for its 901 sportscar when Peugeot claimed the number. Instead, it's rear-engined sportster was called… the 911. Tesla's Model 3 was originally going to be the Model E because the four model range would then spell out S-E-X-Y. Thankfully, clearer heads prevailed. The Alfa Romeo 164 saloon had to be rebranded as the 168 in Taiwan and Hong Kong because the number 164 means 'all the way to death' in Chinese. Which brings us to the Audi A5. The A5 is the new name for the A4, Audi's highly successful compact premium saloon. Why? Because last year marketeers decreed that odd numbers would henceforth denote internally combusted engines and even numbers would be reserved for electrically powered models. Or at least it did until earlier this year when the company did an about turn following complaints that the rebrand was causing confusion. Except it has no plans to swap the A5 back to the A4 – the only model to be rebranded before the whole plan was scrapped. Confused? You're not alone. I had the A5 on test and was approached twice by enthusiasts asking if it was the new Audi coupe. To which my answer was 'sort of' because there isn't going to be a direct replacement for the old two-door A5 Coupe. That's not to say the new A5 is unattractive. The shape is a modern re-interpretation of the previous generation A4 (internally known as the B9) which was hailed as one of the most beautiful cars in the world in a survey a few years ago – so that's a good place to start. The A5 brings the body style up-to-date with a bigger grille, sleeker headlights, flush-fitting door handles and a full width light bar at the rear that echoes the Audi A6 EV. The good news carries on when you slip inside. Audi has a justifiable reputation for building some of the best cabins in the automotive business and the A5 is packed with high technology. Most obviously, there's the full width digital screen set-up which adds a third monitor above the glovebox for the passenger to fiddle around with (they can change the radio station, call up a weather forecast and see how fast you are travelling among other things). Audi says the third screen cannot be seen by the driver but I was always aware of it out of the corner of my eye. The old A4 was one of the first Audi models after the Mk3 TT to get a virtual cockpit back in 2015 and the new system goes one further with a sweeping panoramic monitor set-up that can be customised to your individual requirements. The central screen is a whopping 14.5 inches and responds instantly thanks to a beefy processor upgrade and changes to the user interface. The high resolution means the graphics are sharp and easy to read. The main instrument screen measures 11.9 inches and displays all you need to know at a glance. Sadly, the beautiful row of silver alloy switches for the air con and climate control in the old A4 has been replaced by virtual controls on the new A5. At least they are permanently 'on' so it's fairly easy to adjust the temperate regardless of what you're doing (albeit not as simple as just flicking a switch). Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard along with a handy wireless charging plate for compatible phones. The Sound and Vision optional upgrade adds a Bang & Olufsen branded stereo and a head-up display. Touch sensitive pads on the steering control the audio and cruise/speed limiter, but they can sometimes be activated by mistake when turning the wheel and your palm accidentally brushes against them. There's more room inside the new A5, which is both longer and wider than its predecessor, and five adults can sit in complete comfort, although there's a transmission tunnel hump to be straddled by anyone sitting in the middle. The new model is more practical, too. Despite being designated as a saloon, the new model actually has a hatchback which opens to reveal a 445-litre space (417-litre in 4WD versions) that can be expanded by dropping the rear seat backs, creating a very useful long and flat load area. The BMW 3-Series may have a slightly larger boot, but it can't compete with the A5's hatchback versatility. Audi sent the diesel A5 for evaluation. It's been awhile since I've had the pleasure of driving a turbo diesel – a far cry from the mid-Noughties when, for a time, it seemed as if DERV was the future. On re-acquaintance it's easy to understand why. Fast, smooth and very economical, the TDI has to be the engine of choice if you do a lot of motorway miles thanks to its effortless mid-range shove and miserly fuel consumption. At any speed, the A5 is quiet and smooth thanks to those smooth aerodynamic looks and acoustically-tuned glass. It's a very fine place to spend a long journey. It's a pretty snappy mover as well. If you choose the Quattro all-wheel drive version 62mph comes up in less then seven seconds. More importantly, there's enough mid-range torque to accomplish overtakes with nothing more than a mere flex of your right foot. The A4 – and the Audi 80 before it – have been a mainstay of the German marque's range for the best part of three decades. It's not hard to see why. With its smart looks, posh interior, roomy cabin and flexible load carrying capacity, the A5 is all the car most people will ever need. As for the name change, I think if this car were a breakfast cereal it would be Coco Pops – a firm family favourite that was rebranded as Coco Krispies in 1998 prompting a national outcry before common sense won out and the chocolate-flavour breakfast reverted to its original name just months later. Whatever the badge says, it's a damn good car.
Globe and Mail
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Is Ford Stock a Buy Now?
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) hasn't quite panned out as a worthy investment over the long term. If we zoom out and look at the past decade, shares of the Detroit automaker have generated a total return, including dividends reinvested, of just 16% (as of May 22). This pales in comparison to the 228% total return of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). Ford is an icon of the American economy. I don't believe anyone will argue that. But should you buy this auto stock right now? Let's consider key bull and bear arguments that can better inform investors about their decision. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Reasons to remain positive about Ford shares By simply looking at the stock price, investors will find a clear reason to be bullish. That's because the valuation is so low. As of this writing, shares trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of just 8.3. Given the valuation of the overall market, investors are likely struggling to find any businesses that provide this type of perceived value. Consequently, Ford pays a hefty dividend yield of 7.2%. Most investors might only care about capital appreciation. However, there are undoubtedly some market participants who would love to add this income stream to their portfolios. Ford Model e, the company's EV segment, continues to burn cash. But the rest of the business, which includes the legacy Blue segment, as well as the Pro segment that focuses on commercial customers, remains firmly profitable. Ford is a leader when it comes to pickup trucks and SUVs. And in the commercial division, the company is creating high-margin and recurring revenue, with a focus on software and subscriptions. This could have positive implications for the future of the company. Can Ford stock beat the market? Assuming that most readers are looking to pick individual stocks in an effort to outperform the S&P 500 in the next decade and beyond, Ford provides no shortage of reasons to be extremely pessimistic. There are some very unfavorable traits of the business that should make quality-minded investors pump the brakes. Ford's cyclicality is something to keep in mind. To be fair, this isn't specific to this company, as it's something nearly all automakers must deal with. Because cars are usually the second-largest purchase a person will make in a lifetime (after their home), a lot of thought and planning goes into the decision. When times get tough and money is tight, it makes sense that this purchase can be delayed. Pressured demand will have a negative impact on Ford's sales. This adds risk to the equation, especially if you worry that a recession is coming sometime this year or next. Ford's revenue will surely take a hit. And thanks to the incredibly low margins the business already operates at, it wouldn't be surprising to see a net loss. That's not what investors want. The great Warren Buffett loves to own companies that possess an economic moat -- a set of durable competitive strengths that help to fend off rivals and support financial outperformance over time. In my opinion, this is the sign of a high-quality business. Ford likely doesn't have a moat. One way to tell is by looking at its extremely low return on invested capital (ROIC) of just 8.6%. Investors who want to own companies for a decade or more should desire ROIC figures that are at least 20%. This indicates that the business is able to invest in projects that earn a return well in excess of their weighted average cost of capital, thus creating value in the process. The nature of the auto industry generally, and Ford's business specifically, ensures that this car manufacturer will probably never be able to build sustainable competitive advantages that make it a high-quality company. Investors should pass on buying the stock now. Should you invest $1,000 in Ford Motor Company right now? Before you buy stock in Ford Motor Company, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Ford Motor Company wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $639,271!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $804,688!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is957% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to167%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
ArabGT
09-02-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
Ford Losses Continue to Mount with Billions Expected in 2025
Ford losses in the electric vehicle sector are set to worsen in 2025, with the company projecting financial setbacks of up to $5.5 billion. In 2024, Ford already recorded a $5.1 billion deficit linked to its clean energy vehicle operations. The persistent financial strain stems from the high production costs of electric vehicles, primarily due to expensive battery technology. Despite Tesla's struggles to achieve profitability until 2020, General Motors recently reported that it has begun turning a profit on EVs. Meanwhile, Ford's Model E division, responsible for its zero-emission lineup, has faced consecutive losses and is preparing for yet another challenging year. Ford Losses in the EV Market Ford's financial report for 2024 revealed an annual loss of $5.1 billion in earnings before interest and taxes. Looking ahead, the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker expects its Ford losses to climb even higher in 2025, ranging between $5 billion and $5.5 billion. Despite the bleak outlook, the company remains optimistic, pointing to its continued investments in electric vehicle development. Ford also reported $1.4 billion in cost reductions last year within its Model E division, a step toward improving financial efficiency. Although Ford losses in the EV segment remain substantial, the company's electric vehicle sales grew by 34.8% in the U.S. last year, with 97,865 new units sold. Meanwhile, hybrid models saw a 40.1% increase, reaching 187,426 units. However, gasoline-powered vehicles still accounted for the bulk of Ford's total sales, with 1,793,541 units sold, reflecting a modest 0.2% increase over 2023. Electric Trucks Face Major Challenges For the 47th consecutive year, the Ford F-Series remained the best-selling truck in the U.S. However, company executives acknowledged that the F-150 Lightning, Ford's flagship electric truck, faces considerable obstacles. During the 2024 fiscal conference call, CEO Jim Farley admitted that electric trucks struggle with towing due to their large and heavy battery packs. He also noted that EVs have worse aerodynamics and weigh significantly more than their gasoline counterparts, requiring even larger and costlier batteries to achieve competitive range figures. With these challenges in mind, Ford has chosen to delay its next-generation electric midsize pickup truck by 18 months, pushing its expected launch to late 2027. Future EV Strategy and Cancellations In February 2024, Farley revealed that Ford had formed a 'skunkworks team' to develop a low-cost EV platform aimed at competing with Tesla and affordable Chinese electric vehicles. Additionally, Ford engineers are working on extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) that use a small gas engine as a generator to charge the battery. Similar to the Mazda MX-30 R-EV, these models won't rely on the internal combustion engine for direct propulsion. Instead, electric motors will power the wheels, offering a hybrid-like range extension without traditional mechanical connections. Meanwhile, Ford losses continued to pile up as the company abandoned its three-row electric SUV project for 2024, citing financial infeasibility. This decision cost the automaker a staggering $1.9 billion. Initially planned for release in 2024, then pushed back to 2027, the large SUV was ultimately canceled due to unfavorable market conditions. While Ford has discontinued some projects, it still offers large electric SUVs in Europe, such as the Explorer EV, though this model is distinct from the gasoline-powered Explorer sold globally. The Explorer EV is essentially a rebadged Volkswagen ID.4, while the new Ford Capri shares its platform with the Volkswagen ID.5. Looking ahead, Ford plans to utilize multi-energy vehicle platforms capable of supporting both combustion engines and electric drivetrains. This strategy will allow the automaker to reduce Ford losses while adapting to evolving market trends and consumer demands.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford swings to profit in Q4 profit but warns of growing EV losses in 2025
Ford Motor Company has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2024, alongside its earnings guidance for 2025. The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker reported a fourth-quarter revenue of $48.2bn, marking a $2.2bn increase from the same period last year. Fourth-quarter net income stood at $1.8bn, a strong turnaround from a loss of $523m in the same period last year, largely attributed to pension-related expenses that affected the prior year's results. The company's adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the quarter totalled $2.14bn as against $1.05bn a year ago. For the full year, Ford achieved a 5% revenue increase, totalling $185bn. Net income for the year was $5.9bn versus $4.34bn a year ago. Adjusted EBIT amounted to $10.2bn versus $10.42bn in 2023. Cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter was $3bn, with adjusted free cash flow at $0.7bn. For the full year, cash flow from operations totalled $15.4bn, and adjusted free cash flow was $6.7bn. As of year-end, the company held over $28bn in cash and nearly $47bn in liquidity. However, Ford also projected up to $5.5bn in losses for its electric vehicle (EV) and software operations in 2025. Despite this, the company is expecting overall profitability for 2025, though it anticipates a decline from 2024's levels. Ford president and CEO Jim Farley said: 'In 2025, we expect to make significantly more progress on our two biggest areas of opportunity – quality and cost – as we enter the heart of our Ford+ transformation. We control those key profit drivers, and I am confident that we are on the right path to create long-term value for all our stakeholders.' Looking at Ford's business segments for 2024, Ford Blue, which focuses on traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, saw revenue remain flat at $101.9bn. Positive net pricing helped offset a 2% decline in wholesales, which was driven by the discontinuation of lower-margin products, the company said in its press statement. This segment's EBIT was $5.3bn. Ford Model E, which is responsible for electric vehicle operations, reported a full-year EBIT loss of $5.1bn. Ford Pro, focused on commercial vehicles and services, reported EBIT of $9bn, maintaining a margin of 13.5%, in line with its target of mid-teens. The segment saw a 15% year-over-year increase in revenue, reaching $66.9bn. Paid software subscriptions rose by 27% to nearly 650,000 subscribers, while telematics services grew by nearly 100%, the auto giant said. Lastly, Ford Credit, the company's financial services arm, reported full-year earnings before taxes (EBT) of $1.7bn, a $323m increase compared to the previous year. "Ford swings to profit in Q4 profit but warns of growing EV losses in 2025" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford CEO: Trump tariffs would wipe out billions in profits if they're long lasting
Ford (F) CEO Jim Farley has a message to the Trump administration: Our profits will be run over if you hit the world with tariff hikes. "There's no question that tariffs at 25% level from Canada, Mexico, if they're protracted, would have a huge impact on our industry, with billions of dollars of industry profits wiped out and adverse effect on the US jobs as well as the entire value system in our industry. Tariffs would also mean higher prices for customers," Farley said on a late Wednesday earnings call. President Donald Trump agreed to a 30-day pause on 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Monday, while a 10% tariff on China kicked in on Tuesday. The tariffs could inject chaos into auto supply chains, experts say. The auto industry accounts for 26% of imports from Mexico to the US, and 12% from Canada, UBS researchers estimated. Farley believes tariffs for a few weeks would be "manageable", but after that, they would be painful to the company's top and bottom lines. "We believe based on our conversations in D.C. with the Trump administration and congressional leaders that they are committed to strengthening, not weakening our nation's auto industry. That is certainly our expectation. And we look forward to working with our leaders to make sure that that becomes a reality. Because they understand and appreciate how vital our industry is to jobs, the economy, our national security and the communities across our country," Farley said. Watch: how Jim Farley interacts with Elon Musk Farley's blunt views on tariffs come on the heels of a mixed 2024. While full year sales rose 5% from the prior year, adjusted earnings per share dropped 7%. The company was weighed down in large part by a $5 billion operating loss at its Model E electric vehicle division. Ford's share price fell 6% to $9.53 in pre-market trading as investors digested a lackluster quarter from the auto giant. The company's ticker page was the fifth most active on Yahoo Finance at last check, trailing AI plays such as (BBAI), Arm Holdings (ARM), and Qualcomm (QCOM). The Ford CEO's comments echo the warning from General Motors (GM) chair and CEO Mary Barra on Yahoo Finance following its latest earnings report. GM's profit outlook unnerved the Street as it didn't bake in the impact of tariffs. GM produces highly profitable pickup trucks in Mexico and relies on plants there to make EVs such as the Chevy Blazer and Cadillac Optiq. It has five large assembly plants in Canada and Mexico. Ford manufactures 12% of its products in the two countries.. "There's a question of how fast you can react to that [tariff]. You don't have a lot of extra capacity in the US to move," Bank of America auto analyst John Murphy said on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid podcast. The other component is whether demand takes a hit, should automakers hike prices to offset tariffs. Kelley Blue Book estimates the average cost of a car would increase by $3,000 if Trump pushes through 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. That could send people toward buying cheaper used cars. In its earnings report, Ford opted to take a cautious view on 2025. It sees adjusted operating profits of $7 billion to $8.5 billion, which would be lower than the $10.2 billion logged last year. The Street had been expecting $8.3 billion. "Ford's 2025 guidance came in well below consensus but some investors wonder if this could mean numbers are derisked. We think it is too early to tell. Inventory days are elevated, and this could lead to down net pricing. Ford also faces launch cost headwinds and greater EV volumes coming at the expense of profits," RBC analyst Tom Naryan said in a client note. Naryan cut his price target on Ford to $9 from $10. He continues to rate shares at Sector Perform. Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email Sign in to access your portfolio
