Historic Ford Sign Blows Away in an Irrefutable Sign From God to Change Course
In what could only be defined as an act of God urging the automaker to stop calling itself a mobility company, gusting winds ripped the 20-foot Ford logo off the company’s Dearborn headquarters.
How do I know that it was willful cosmic intervention and not simply dumb luck? Because a day earlier, Ford Motor Co. released another implausible mobility solution called “Autolivery” as if it were actively working on the technology.
Autolivery is a delivery service where an autonomous van drives a package to your home within hours and then releases a drone that carries it the rest of the way. Ford showcased the concept at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, along with the TriCiti and patently ridiculous Carr-E urban transportation devices. It’s my belief the universe finally had enough of Ford’s mobility marketing nonsense and removed the sign as a warning.
I photographed Ford HQ for work this morning after their logo blew off in the wind pic.twitter.com/Nud9gFhasM
— Mason Christensen (@mkrauszc) March 2, 2017
The last time the iconic sign came down was when Former CEO Jacques Nasser decided usher in the new millennia and replace it with cursive script. Nasser’s removal of the Blue Oval and over-diversification of the company crippled the its ability to function. Despite Bill Ford Jr.’s best efforts to clean up the mess, you cannot put the toothpaste back in the tube.
Thankfully, Ford returned the emblem to its rightful place in 2003. But like a mummy’s curse, the evil could not be satiated until blood was spilt and Ford fell further into disarray and destitution.
It wasn’t until recently that Ford turned things around and became profitable again, which makes you wonder why it’s tempting fate with so much of this mobility malarkey. It isn’t that Ford shouldn’t be spending billions on autonomous R&D or state-of-the-art automotive technology — it should be. The problem is that it’s becoming disingenuous with how it’s presenting itself.
Distractions like the gimmicky Carr-E are flummoxing and hoisting it up as an incredible mobility solution that “goes where cars can’t” is a ridiculous claim for one of the world’s oldest automakers to make. Is this the best a mobility company can offer? While the industry certainly needs to evolve with society, it does feel a little like Ford is getting distracted with promoting hypothetical mega-cities and drone delivery services that other companies are surely better equipped to handle.
At any rate, Ford spokesman Mike Moran told the The Detroit News earlier today that they are working to replace the missing sign soon as possible. I just hope it isn’t too late and the curse hasn’t returned.
[Image: Ford Motor Company]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Isn't it just Ford trying to keep up with Sprinter & drone?
It's a signal that means "Your cars' design cycles should be measured in epochs".