Ford Grumpy at Maverick/Ranger6G Photo Leaks

[SILK]

https://jalopnik.com/leaked-ford-memo-threatens-loose-lipped-suppliers-with-1846089008

"A memo that’s reportedly an internal Ford document obtained by Automotive News says that the automaker is threatening “business repercussions” and 'recovery actions' against suppliers who are found responsible for leaked Ford photos or information."

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[Deleted member 1634]

I'll just say what I said on the Maverick forum about this. As much as I enjoy seeing these leaks and learning more things about these products prior to official release, especially the ones I'm interested in, I do see where Ford is coming from with this statement. I work for a manufacturer that is consistently at the top of the game in innovation and new releases in our field/industry, and when pictures and/or details of one of the new projects finds it's way onto the internet I am very upset and frustrated with the person who did it. Especially if it's someone inside the company or a supplier.

 

[SILK]

I'll just say what I said on the Maverick forum about this. As much as I enjoy seeing these leaks and learning more things about these products prior to official release, especially the ones I'm interested in, I do see where Ford is coming from with this statement. I work for a manufacturer that is consistently at the top of the game in innovation and new releases in our field/industry, and when pictures and/or details of one of the new projects finds it's way onto the internet I am very upset and frustrated with the person who did it. Especially if it's someone inside the company or a supplier.

No doubt! I'd be mad too.

 

[Robisten8]

Ford isn't mad, they're just acting like it because it causes people to talk more about their product. The same concept of the leaked photos. Can you imagine if everything was tight lipped and then suddenly a product is released, without the hype? Neither can I........They're just building hype!

 

[SILK]

Ford isn't mad, they're just acting like it because it causes people to talk more about their product. The same concept of the leaked photos. Can you imagine if everything was tight lipped and then suddenly a product is released, without the hype? Neither can I........They're just building hype!

Products are announced far enough in advance that there is PLENTY of time for hype. I'd say Ford and other manufacturers get legit mad when this happens.

 

[Robisten8]

Products are announced far enough in advance that there is PLENTY of time for hype. I'd say Ford and other manufacturers get legit mad when this happens.

Sounds to me they need to perform searches before employees are allowed to work in their facilities then. That way they can prevent cell phone pics. I still don't buy it!

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

Sure it causes a BUZZ when leaks happen, when they rattle the sabre, when we talk about it...but industrial espionage is a REAL thing in the design/manufacture business. You can have a great ideal but if another guy copies it and gets to market first, well what's the saying? "possession is 9/10ths of the law?"

 

[DHH]

Ford isn't mad, they're just acting like it because it causes people to talk more about their product. The same concept of the leaked photos. Can you imagine if everything was tight lipped and then suddenly a product is released, without the hype? Neither can I........They're just building hype!

I have to mostly agree with you. I'm sure there are some legitimate "leaked" photos, but I have to believe that a large percentage of them come directly from Ford.
Just look at all the "leaks" that came out for the Bronco. It's soooo obvious a large chunk of them were from Ford. Now that the Bronco's been revealed, we'll start to see "leaked" photos of the Ranger & Maverick.

 

[VAMike]

Sure it causes a BUZZ when leaks happen, when they rattle the sabre, when we talk about it...but industrial espionage is a REAL thing in the design/manufacture business. You can have a great ideal but if another guy copies it and gets to market first, well what's the saying? "possession is 9/10ths of the law?"

If one of ford's competitors can completely change their strategy, redesign their product line, beat ford to the market and blow away the unreleased maverick based entirely on the crappy pictures we've seen...well, they probably deserved to win anyway.

 

[Robisten8]

Employee's are likely required to sign an NDA, or similar type of document, upon hiring. I know I did when I started working here. Sharing of private, experimental, and/or unreleased information is therefore grounds for dismissal, which is essentially what Ford's statement is saying. They are taking action for someone violating the agreement. They're not going to do strip searches of all thousands of employees everyday coming and going. That's ludacris. At a certain point you have to put the responsibility on people/employees to obey the rules.

There's a difference between marketing leaks and unwanted leaks. Bronco Nation is good example of "subtle" Ford marketing. But not all of the Bronco pics that went up were supposed to. Especially the ones taken early at the dealer meetings/conferences.

There's a business in my patrol area called Flextronics that called 911 reference a person that was having a mental health crisis. I was one of the responding Officers, walked to the front entrance and was greeted by a team of security Officers that would make the pentagon jelly. Everyone that enters the building is treated like TSA treats travelers, but worse. They told me I had to leave my cell phone with them and I politely told them to get bent. None of their employees are allowed to bring cell phones inside. It wouldn't be all that difficult for Ford to enforce the same rules and policies in their factory. If you don't like our rules, go work for Chevy!

 

[tfisher15]

If one of ford's competitors can completely change their strategy, redesign their product line, beat ford to the market and blow away the unreleased maverick based entirely on the crappy pictures we've seen...well, they probably deserved to win anyway.

The competition won’t completely redesign their product but they make see a new feature, color, design element, or dimension that will give them a preview of where Ford may be headed. A player in a highly competitive market will guard their innovations closely. Been there done that.

 

[Lone]

I seem to recall, years back, that a scrappy little company called AMC got wind that the big three were planning cars to combat the foreign invasion. They chopped the arse off a Hornet and, before we knew it, we were up to here in Gremlins. Caught the Vegas and Pintos off guard. A little competition is a good thing.

 

[r1ch999999]

Most of the products have their names copyrighted/trademarked long enough ahead of time to give people a heads up. My Google-fu is rusty, but there is an old story about Ford and GM beating one or the other to a trademark for a model name.

 

[Langwilliams]

am I the only one that doesn't get anything out of the "leaked photos"? I used to subscribe to Car an Driver an every month they'd run leaked or captured photos of models in development. They might get their own pics since they frequent development sites doing tests but when I see the official release photos of the prototype/test mule I saw with all kinds of camouflage an tape hiding the lines I don't think I learned anything. Maybe the basic dementions an layout.

 

[DHH]

I seem to recall, years back, that a scrappy little company called AMC got wind that the big three were planning cars to combat the foreign invasion. They chopped the arse off a Hornet and, before we knew it, we were up to here in Gremlins. Caught the Vegas and Pintos off guard. A little competition is a good thing.

Lol. I (sheepishly) admit to being an AMC fan. Back in the day I use to buy 3~4 year old Gremlins with less than 40k on them for about $1500. At 40k they were worn out....but a lot of cars were back then. The V8 Gremlins were awesome burnout cars. Much more so when I put a 360 in one. My list included 3 Gremlins, Javelin, Javelin AMX, and a Spirit AMX. The Spirit I put a nasty built 401 into it. That cost me a new set of rear tires every few months.

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