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Ford of Australia Bans Executive Cars

27 May 2000

Autoline Detroit: Ford of Australia Bans Executive Cars
Watch the entire show right here on THE AUTO CHANNEL
http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/autoline/2000/414.html

    DETROIT - On the television program Autoline Detroit, Geoff Polites, the 
president of Ford Australia, announced a unique way to force Ford executives 
to get more in tune with their customers.

    Company officers will no longer have new cars delivered at work, nor will 
they have them washed and serviced at the executive garage.  Instead, executives
will have to purchase their own cars at dealerships, and schedule their own
service.  They will have to wash their own cars as well.

    Geoff Polites has a unique perspective on how Ford can become a more
consumer-driven company.  He was the dealer principal at one of the major Ford
dealerships in Australia before he was tapped to become president of Ford's
Australian operations.

    Mr. Polites appears on Autoline Detroit this Sunday.  Also appearing is
Peter Hanenberger, the chairman of GM Holden.  He discusses how GM's
Australian operations will serve as the corporation's central engineering
resource in South East Asia.  Hanenberger also talks about Holden's expertise
in large, rear-wheel-drive sedans and how it manages to be profitable in very
low volume production.

    Autoline Detroit is a weekly television program that airs on Detroit
Public Television on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m.  It also airs Tuesday
nights at 8:30 p.m. and Friday afternoons at 4:40 p.m. on the cable system
Media One serving south east Michigan.  It is hosted by John McElroy and
produced by Blue Sky Productions.  Video streaming of the program is available 
right here on THE AUTO CHANNEL at 
http://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/autoline/2000/414.html.