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USA Today
an hour ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford's leadership team studies China's auto industry for competitive edge
In late May, Ford Motor Co.'s executive leadership team went to China with an agenda: To study every aspect of how Chinese auto companies operate, then apply those learnings across Ford in its other markets. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has been studying China's car companies for years now; that's not new. But in recent years, Ford's leaders have intensified their examination of its Chinese rivals, viewing Chinese automakers as the top competition to learn from — and beat. Ford CEO Jim Farley started taking his leadership team to Shanghai and other big markets in China a couple times a year starting about two years ago. The sojourns last about a week, said Mark Truby, Ford's chief communications officer who has been on a couple of the trips. Truby said the team drives China-made vehicles, talks to the experts in China, studies the technology and the customer service all with the purpose of learning "with a humble approach" and to ensure Ford has the right partnerships and strategy to succeed. Auto sales in 2025: Ford sales surge 16.3% in May amid employee pricing and tariff concerns "It's not just a copy and paste because the markets are so different," Andrew Frick, Ford's president of Ford Blue and Model-e divisions, told investors on June 11. "China is different from the U.S., different from Europe, et cetera. What we're trying to do is really replicate the intellectual approach, the speed that they do business on, and learn from our (joint venture) partners and then transfer that knowledge to the company." Ford's ultimate goal is to lead in every global market Ford is in, knowing that one day the Chinese will bring their cars to the United States. When they do, Ford has to be competitive if the 121-year-old automaker is to survive another century. Consider what Ford Vice Chair John Lawler recently told Wall Street analysts about the Chinese automakers. "They're going to continue to be a force to be reckoned with, given their speed, their cost structure, their nimbleness and their ability to iterate very quickly," Lawler said at the Bernstein 41st Annual Strategic Decisions Conference in New York on May 28. "When they've established themselves, they'll be looking to come to the U.S. So is that five years? Ten years down the road? I don't know. But eventually, they'll come, just like the Japanese did and the Koreans did." When China's automakers do enter this market, Lawler said, consumers will gravitate to the lowest cost, highest quality products, not caring if those products are made by a foreign rival. "That's eventually going to happen," Lawler said. China's growth to world dominance Dan Ives, managing director of Wedbush Securities, applauds Ford's strategy to study China car companies. "This is a smart move as the innovation and supply chain from BYD and other China automakers is stunning," Ives told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "(CEO) Jim Farley and team using this as rebirth of Ford to expand globally is a smart pivot." But Morningstar's autos analyst David Whiston warns that "everyone is a formidable competitor these days." "The Chinese have come on strong and I suspect executives feel it's a matter of time before they are selling in the U.S.," Whiston said. "The Koreans are no longer the cheap bargain substitute brand they were 15-20 years ago. Then there's EV startups like Rivian and Lucid floating out there and continued premium competition from the German three and Porsche." But China is now the largest new vehicle sales market in the world. A total of 31.4 million vehicles, including buses and trucks, were sold last year there, a 4.5% jump compared with a year earlier, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported. Growth in sales outpaced production, which rose 3.7%. By comparison, about 16 million new vehicles were sold in the United States last year, up 2.7% from the previous year. China has expanded in other markets, too. Exports of Chinese-made passenger cars soared nearly 20% in 2024, to about 5 million vehicles, according to an Associated Press report. Exports of what China calls 'new energy vehicles," which are battery electric vehicles, fuel-cell cars and plug-in hybrids, reached 1.28 million in 2024, a 6.7% increase from 2023. Trump tariff turmoil: How Ford is navigating rare earth mineral supply chain disruptions, tariffs and more The U.S. government has a 100% tariff on China-made electric cars and the European Union also hit China-based EV makers with high tariffs, saying the Chinese automakers have benefited from unfair government subsidies. The tariffs have kept all Chinese-made cars from being sold in the States so far. But to say American automakers are not alarmed by the rapid expansion of the Chinese automakers around the world, would be an understatement. "I would say it is pretty serious," Mike Wall, executive director of Automotive Analysis at S&P Global Mobility, said of the Chinese threat to U.S. car companies. "While the Chinese are not directly competing in the U.S. yet, I think there is an expectation that they eventually will be and for a global automaker like Ford (and others), the threat the Chinese present in other markets is already there." Ford's use of China as an export hub Ford and General Motors have both faced an increasingly tough market in China in recent years as Chinese automakers, including the giant BYD, and EV-leader Tesla, have dominated domestic sales there. Both automakers have worked to reverse slumping sales in China. GM shut down facilities last year as it spent $5 billion to restructure there. Ford shifted focus to use the country as an export hub. Last year, Ford made $900 million in earnings before interest and taxes in China for the year and much of that was based on exports, Frick said. "Take a vehicle like Territory with our JV partner. We are now exporting Territory all around the world," Frick said of the compact SUV Ford makes with Jiangling Motors Corp. "It's doing quite well in Mexico. Actually, in Mexico, Territory is now our best-selling vehicle. We sell more Territorys than we do F-150s in Mexico, where there's a big Chinese influence." China automakers comprise about a third of all new vehicle sales in Mexico, he said. Frick, who made the comments at Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conference 2025, said Ford's business in China is "very profitable business" and "it's capital light" because of Ford's joint ventures. Ford has partnerships with Changan Automobile, Jiangling Motors Corp. Group and Changan Ford New Energy. "It's a really good, investable business there," Frick said. The only vehicle Ford assembles in China and sells in the United States is the Lincoln Nautilus. It sold 36,544 Nautilus SUVs in the United States last year, a 50% increase from the prior year. Ford is still exporting the Nautilus to the States despite a new 25% U.S. tariff on all imported vehicles, Truby said. Ford's learnings out of China so far Frick noted that Ford has an edge on Chinese automakers with its Ford Pro business, its commercial vehicle division. Frick called it a "long-term advantage" for Ford because the Chinese are not investing in commercial vehicles and the subscription services to the extent Ford has. In April, Ford reported its Ford Pro Intelligence software platform has nearly 674,000 active subscriptions, based on end of first quarter estimates, up 20% year-over-year. As to Ford's executive team's learnings out of its most recent visit to China, Frick provided a high-level outline to investors. "Speed, the way they're integrating AI into their vehicles and into their customer experience and their digital experience is really impressive," Frick said. "How we leverage the learnings out of there, not only from the actual customer experience that they're going through, but the development plans, the processes, we're taking a lot of that knowledge and trying to transfer it." He said Ford is also learning a lot from Chinese automakers' new energy vehicles, which he believes could help Ford best determine its future electrification strategy such as where the natural consumer demands for electric vehicles and other electrification technology will land. "That will likely inform, plus or minus government subsidies and incentives, that will inform where natural customer demand may be in other parts of the world," Frick said. "So there's a lot to learn in China.' Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@ Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
India.com
5 hours ago
- Business
- India.com
Mukesh Ambani's joins BIG race to acquire on of world's largest…, Reliance will compete with major players like…
Whirlpool Corp is likely to divest a 31% stake in its Indian arm over global restructuring after a $1.5 billion loss. Indian big players like Reliance Retail, Havells India, and buyout funds like EQT and Bain Capital are interested in this share, as reported by Economic Times. Whirlpool wants to raise $550-600 million. Reliance Retail and consumer appliances major Havells India will compete with other bulge-bracket buyout funds to acquire a controlling interest in Whirlpool of India. It is the locally listed firm of the Michigan-based company that was once the world's largest appliance maker by sales. Other financial sponsors EQT and Bain Capital are also shortlisted after the initial round of screening. Whirlpool Corp Divesting Plan Whirlpool Corp is looking to sell 31% stake in Whirlpool of India, which generates 85% of its Asia revenue. They will retain a 20% equity stake in the company. The equity in India is held through Whirlpool Mauritius Ltd. This exercise is part of a global reorganisation started by the company in 2022 in the US after its KitchenAid and Maytag products reported a $1.5 billion loss. It has already reshaped its global portfolio operations in other Asian markets and also in some parts of Europe. Whirlpool Corp is also trying to cut costs and its workforce. Why Is Whirlpool Corp Divesting? The company is also focusing on selling smaller home appliances like blenders and coffee makers. The company reportedly said it is keen to raise net cash proceeds of $550-600 million (Rs 4,684-5,110 crore) from the transaction. They will also give an open offer for an additional 26% stake from public shareholders of the company. If it is fully subscribed to, the incoming investor may own around 57% of the company.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Reliance & Havells enter PE party to snap up Whirlpool
Reliance Retail and the home-grown consumer appliances major Havells India would compete with several bulge-bracket buyout funds, multiple people told ET, to acquire a controlling interest in Whirlpool of India , the locally listed arm of the Michigan-based company that was once the world's largest appliance maker by sales. These two companies are competing with financial sponsors EQT and Bain Capital , who have also been shortlisted after the initial round of screening. TPG Capital is also among those initiating the due diligence, said the people mentioned above. Whirlpool Corp is looking to sell 31% stake in Whirlpool of India , which generates 85% of its Asia revenue, while retaining a 20% equity stake in the company. The equity in India is held through Whirlpool Mauritius Ltd. The monetisation exercise is part of a global reorganisation initiated at the end of 2022 when the company, synonymous in the US with its namesake brand as well as KitchenAid and Maytag products, posted a $1.5 billion loss. Live Events It has already reshaped its global portfolio pruning operations in key Asian markets and in pockets of Europe. Whirlpool Corp has also heightened efforts to cut costs and its workforce. The company is simultaneously focusing on selling smaller home appliances like blenders and coffee makers — to overhaul its more than century-old business — as consumers pull back on large purchases. The company said it is keen to raise net cash proceeds of $550-600 million (Rs 4,684-5,110 crore) from the transaction. A formal stake-sale process was launched in April by the company's advisor Goldman Sachs. The change of control transaction will also trigger an open offer for an additional 26% stake from public shareholders of the company. If fully subscribed to, the incoming investor could end up owning 57% of the company. Public shareholders own 49% of the company. ET in its edition dated April 29 had reported PE funds like Bain, Carlyle, KKR among others were evaluating the opportunity. The high valuations have seen some interest taper, added people in the know. Open Market Deal Last February, the parent sold a 24.7% stake in its Indian arm through block deals worth Rs 4,039 crore. The buyers had included five mutual funds such as SBI Mutual Fund and Aditya Birla Sunlife Mutual Fund, and one foreign institutional investor--Societe Generale. After the parent announced the decision to reduce its holding to a minority stake on January 30, the stock price in India fell to a 52-week low of Rs 899 on March 3 from the highs of Rs 1,577 on January 29. It closed at Rs 1,329/a piece on Thursday, down almost 3% from previous day's closing with a market capitalisation of Rs 16,861 crore. At current value, a 57% stake would translate to a Rs 9,610 crore ($1.13 billion) acquisition. Emails sent to Whirlpool Corp, Reliance Retail and Havells remained unanswered until the publication of this report. TPG, Bain, EQT declined to comment. Hot & Cold 'There are concerns around the low-margin business of Whirlpool India, which has a dominant play only in entry-level products and has missed the premium play, unlike competitors such as LG, Samsung or Haier,' said an industry executive who is part of the deal negotiations. Analysts believe if the US parent is not happy with the final offers on the table, it may once again divest through the open market route. Another bone of contention is believed to be the royalty payout to the parent in future. 'It's a low margin business and if the parent insists on hiking royalty then the pressures will be far more,' said one of the contenders who had evaluated the opportunity but chose not to pursue. Reliance, he added, wants a stronger brand play in consumer electronics after it found some success with its licensed labels BPL and Kelvinator to mirror its FMCG strategy where Campa Cola is giving stiff competition in the beverage segment. Reconnect and Wyzr, electronic brands that Reliance founded, have met with limited success. Among the first MNC electronic brands to enter India in late 1980s, Whirlpool hasn't been able to scale up as much as rivals LG, Samsung and Haier, which entered much later, or even homegrown brands such as Voltas and Godrej. Strategic Choice Industry players believe Whirlpool still has a sizable brand equity, factories and good presence in smaller cities and towns through distributors. Like Reliance, Havells, too, wants a larger play in appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines which it is yet to achieve with its Lloyd brand. Lloyd is more popular in air-conditioners, where it is among the top four. The Whirlpool brand will add heft to the Havells portfolio. The Noida-based company enjoys leadership position in electrical goods such as wires, switches, and is a leading brand in fans and small appliances. Reliance, TPG and Bain have all evaluated buying into the India business of Haier India where its Chinese parent is looking to significantly bring down its ownership to make it into a local company as diplomatic relations between the two countries continue to remain strained. However, all of them had backed out following massive differences in valuations. Whirlpool Corp's chief financial and administrative officer James W Peters had told analysts last month that the India transaction has 'generated significant interest from large third-party investors'. He said the company expects cash generated by the transaction in the second half of 2025. The parent intends to repay or refinance debt with this money as it had done the last time. The US parent had said the reduction of its shareholding will result in 'increased autonomy' at the Indian unit, allow it to focus on accelerated growth, and utilise its well-funded business to invest further.
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
New Tree's Desugared Juice Revolutionizes Fruit Nutrition: Full Nutritional Value with Zero Sugar and No Guilt
New Tree Fruit Company's FDA approved, patented De-Sugaring technology sets a new industry standard for health-forward innovation across food and beverage categories. De Pere, Wisconsin, United States, June 17, 2025 -- New Tree Fruit Company, a Michigan-based food technology innovator, announced the launch of a breakthrough De-Sugared™ Juice product that delivers the full nutrition and flavor of real fruit—without any sugar. At a time when terms like 'no added sugar' often mislead consumers into believing a product is healthy, New Tree sets the record straight. Its proprietary De-Sugaring™ technology eliminates 100% of natural sugar while retaining essential nutrients, fiber, color, and taste—unlocking clean-label potential across a vast range of categories including beverages, smoothies, jams, purées, yogurts, dairy, gummies, nutraceuticals, jellies, and more. The result provides brand and product developers a powerful tool to meet growing consumer demand for cleaner, healthier options without sugar. 'Our De-Sugared™ technology was ahead of its time when we created it,' said Luc Hobson, Co-Founder of NewTree Fruit Company. 'Now the market is finally catching up. Consumers aren't falling for half-measures or sugar-coated claims anymore—they want true innovation that puts health first. Brands that listen and act now will be the ones leading tomorrow.' They are now demanding healthier food and beverages amid a landscape in which brands and companies are falling short of consumer expectations. This demand will drive real innovation across all categories.' New York-based InterContinental Beverage Capital (IBC), a leading global advisory and investment firm and long-time investor in New Tree, sees this as a category-defining opportunity. 'Too many products hide behind clever labeling,' said Stephen F. Horgan, Partner at IBC. 'De-Sugared™ Juice isn't just a better-for-you option—it's a bold leap forward. It preserves all the goodness of fruit while removing what consumers don't want. That's not just innovation; that's transformation.' 'De-Sugared™ Juice sets a new bar. We're not masking sugar—we're eliminating it. That's meaningful innovation for today's wellness economy and those seeking a healthy lifestyle and longevity.' To deliver this innovation to the market, NewTree is partnering with Waco, Texas-based Elevate Manufacturing, a leader in clean-label, portion-controlled contract manufacturing. The initial offering includes 30ML and 50ML single-serve options, ideal for brand sampling, DTC, E-commerce, retail, on-the-go nutrition, school programs, and workplace wellness. Each portable will deliver a full serving of real fruit with zero sugar and is low calorie. Among the occasions this solution is tailored for: Product development, B2B partnerships, and private label opportunities are available immediately. About New Tree Fruit Company New Tree Fruit Company is a De Pere, WI–based company dedicated to improving nutrition while reducing sugar consumption among consumers worldwide. With its patented De-Sugaring™ Technology, NewTree has successfully eliminated sugar in a 4oz juice-based product while maintaining taste and delivering the full nutritional value of one serving of fruit. For more information, visit or email [email protected]. Media Contact (New Tree): Kim Anderson [email protected] 902.366.9024 About Elevate Manufacturing Elevate Manufacturing, offers end-to-end production solutions for single-serve liquid, gel, syrup and food products. Our services include formulation, fully automated production, quality assurance, 3-tier packaging solutions, and shipping preparation. Website: Contact: [email protected] ### About the company: About InterContinental Beverage Capital (IBC) IBC is a Global Advisory and Investment Firm focused on functional beverages, food, consumer packaged goods, wellness and wellbeing, and new technologies impacting these industries. Where IBC partners, its industry relationships, and financial networks come together to provide an exceptional blend of skills for clients in the beverage and consumer packaged goods sectors. Contact Info: Name: Joe Messina Email: Send Email Organization: InterContinental Beverage Capital (IBC) Phone: 212.634.7277 Website: Release ID: 89162472 Should you identify any discrepancies, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content provided in this press release or require assistance with a press release takedown, we strongly urge you to notify us promptly by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our responsive team is committed to addressing your concerns within 8 hours by taking necessary actions to resolve identified issues diligently or guiding you through the necessary steps for removal. Our dedication lies in providing accurate and reliable information.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How To Earn $500 A Month From La-Z-Boy Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings
La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE:JBL) will release its fourth-quarter earnings results after the closing bell on Tuesday, June 17. Analysts expect the Monroe, Michigan-based company to report quarterly earnings at 93 cents per share, down from 95 cents per share in the year-ago period. According to data from Benzinga Pro, La-Z-Boy projects quarterly revenue of $557.44 million, compared to $553.53 million a year earlier. On April 25, Keybanc analyst Bradley Thomas upgraded La-Z-Boy from Sector Weight to Overweight and announced a $46 price target. With the recent buzz around La-Z-Boy, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. As of now, La-Z-Boy offers an annual dividend yield of 2.26%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 22 cents per share (88 cents a year). So, how can investors exploit its dividend yield to pocket a regular $500 monthly? To earn $500 per month or $6,000 annually from dividends alone, you would need an investment of approximately $265,357 or around 6,818 shares. For a more modest $100 per month or $1,200 per year, you would need $53,087 or around 1,364 shares. To calculate: Divide the desired annual income ($6,000 or $1,200) by the dividend ($0.88 in this case). So, $6,000 / $0.88 = 6,818 ($500 per month), and $1,200 / $0.88 = 1,364 shares ($100 per month). View more earnings on JBL Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time. How that works: The dividend yield is computed by dividing the annual dividend payment by the stock's current price. For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and is currently priced at $50, the dividend yield would be 4% ($2/$50). However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield drops to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the dividend yield rises to 5% ($2/$40). Similarly, changes in the dividend payment can impact the yield. If a company increases its dividend, the yield will also increase, provided the stock price stays the same. Conversely, if the dividend payment decreases, so will the yield. JBL Price Action: Shares of Jabil fell 1.8% to close at $175.84 on More: Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? JABIL (JBL): Free Stock Analysis Report This article How To Earn $500 A Month From La-Z-Boy Stock Ahead Of Q4 Earnings originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
