This article was published in the Seattle Times this past Sunday.
The answer is simple: Ford Motor Company has separated itself from other automakers.
While others in the industry have struggled and required government bailout money to continue operations, Ford has continued to operate without taking any government bailout funds. One needs to look no further than your local Ford dealer, Evergreen Ford, to see why this is true. Evergreen’s owner, Dan Rowe explained, “The reason we’ve been so successful is our community. We’ve supported them and, in turn, they’ve stepped up and supported us, even in today’s rough market.” When asked to elaborate on what he meant he stated, “We’ve been very active in the local community ever since we opened up 20 years ago. We’ve gone so far as to hire an employee whose entire job is dedicated to giving back to the community. They participate on local boards, foundations and functions that benefit everything from service clubs to underprivileged kids in our neighborhoods. Not only that, but our entire staff really understands that giving back to the community creates a healthy environment both personally and for business. We provide more than just monetary funding – our entire staff actually participates in these community activities.”
(more…)