Live data from Hacker News

Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

whichcar.com.au

111–120 of 171 posts

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#111

I know that Ford takes a lot of flak (deservingly in many cases) but I've always been very impressed by how consistently the company has seemingly been run. If I remember correctly, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I don't, they are the only one of the 'Big 3' American auto manufacturers to not need a bailout.

There was a time when Ford owned a bunch of brands at the same time which made them quite a large car company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company#Former_marq...

I was very surprised to see they were listed as stand alone in that list.

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#112

I know that Ford takes a lot of flak (deservingly in many cases) but I've always been very impressed by how consistently the company has seemingly been run. If I remember correctly, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I don't, they are the only one of the 'Big 3' American auto manufacturers to not need a bailout.

Ford is bipolar. On one hand some models are pure garbage. Then on the other hand their F-150 truck is incredible. Mustang and new Bronco are also loved.

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is absurd, and as bad as him being listed as the "Chief Engineer" at SpaceX

They're different. Rewriting history to say you're a founder is delusional. Giving yourself the title of "chief engineer" is akin to being the mascot of the company.

I see something like Chief Engineer no different from Executive Producer on movie or tv show...

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#115

I know that Ford takes a lot of flak (deservingly in many cases) but I've always been very impressed by how consistently the company has seemingly been run. If I remember correctly, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I don't, they are the only one of the 'Big 3' American auto manufacturers to not need a bailout.

Watch Ford vs Ferrari to get an idea of what Ford is like. Also be aware that you are not their customer. Their dealers are their customers. This is why a Shelby with an MSRP of $60k goes for $90k, while a faster $72k MSRP Camaro goes for <$70k. Ford makes limited runs so dealers can put insane markups, while GM makes cars for people to buy. (Bonus, when GT350s' rear differentials overheated on the track, Ford said "The GT350 is not a track car" - Shelby is rolling in his grave). Ford's "halo" car is $300k MSRP, GM's is $190k. Guess which one you can actually buy. I have owned three Mustangs including a GT500, and tracked them, and will never buy Ford again.

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#116

I know that Ford takes a lot of flak (deservingly in many cases) but I've always been very impressed by how consistently the company has seemingly been run. If I remember correctly, and I'm sure someone will correct me if I don't, they are the only one of the 'Big 3' American auto manufacturers to not need a bailout.

There was a time when Ford owned a bunch of brands at the same time which made them quite a large car company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company#Former_marq... I was very surprised to see they were listed as stand alone in that list.

The list seems to be Australia-centric. In the US Ford still owns the Lincoln brand as well.

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#117
post #16

I always wanted something like this but for all companies. I feel like it would be a great tool to help people understand how giant conglomerates are actually a big part of what we consume. My favorite are outdoor clothing companies which almost all tie-in to the same Chinese investment fund. Or how glasses companies all belong to that one French conglomerate.

I was recently looking at Tool brands and came across a similar article explaining how all the popular tool brands you know are owned by a handful of corporations. https://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

Whenever I see that chart I feel gratified that I chose Makita when I was making the big battery decision a few years ago.

Personally, I lean to independent brands. I don't want my Milwaukee tools having all the same parts as the Ryobi line - makes me assume I'm being suckered into an identical tool that's way more expensive. Even if the Milwaukee is usually superior, I'm guessing some things just are exact copies with red paint. I'm the same way with say Patagonia over North Face - I'll always avoid VF Corp brands for something that's still building legacy, rather than profiting on historical credibility.

I guess the same is true with previous generation stuff. Abercrombie & Fitch, and Eddie Bauer used to be premier outdoor equipment companies with great down jackets and sleeping bags, fishing equipment, even shotguns. Now they're both brands representing clothes I don't want. Both brands sold and were aggregated with other companies in the late 1980s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bauer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abercrombie_%26_Fitch

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#118

Interesting fun fact - the Japanese sub-brands were mostly created to get around US import restrictions. At the time, the US had super imposing quantity limitations on Japanese cars. So the workaround was the companies spun off luxury companies (Lexus, Acura, Infiniti) so they could sell fewer cars at a higher markup.

Acura launched first, since Honda already had a factory in the US (originally for motorcycles). Honda was still smaller than Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota at the time, iirc. That factory is still the oldest operating, US factory from a foreign automaker.

Amusingly, the import restrictions were "voluntary," as much as geopolitics can be voluntary.

Re: Auto manufacturer family tree: Who owns what?

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

good direction but impractical.. a tech lead at Starbucks quipped "we don't actually know how many people work at Starbucks right now" .. huh? because, though they do have modern cloudy tech, there is meat-space time involved in edge transition from state of employed to not-employed, etc. So it is true, even with "perfect" observation of events, the leaders have ranges, not hard numbers. So it is with markets. There…

Impractical? Isn't it already being done? At least here in Norway, I can look up an organization and see all owners of that company last year. And press a button and it calculates the "true"/indirect owners up the chain as well. I can also go the other way. Select a person, and see what they own through multiple layers of companies.

Interesting.

Is this a public service? Could you please give an url to know more about it? Thanks

Post reply on HN