So, who better to have on than Mark Fields, former CEO of Ford, CNBC contributor. Uh, Mark, kind of a rapid fire here. We're going to ask you about some some couple different stories and kind of go bang bang bang.First off, these these bankruptcies and some other stuff, but I want to start with General Motors because you and I have talked for a couple years uh about EVs. It's really hard. Tesla's got a big head start. GM taking a$ 1.6% billion charge related to EVs. Uh, I think they're doing okay.Hey, anecd ...

So, who better to have on than Mark Fields, former CEO of Ford, CNBC contributor. Uh, Mark, kind of a rapid fire here. We're going to ask you about some some couple different stories and kind of go bang bang bang.First off, these these bankruptcies and some other stuff, but I want to start with General Motors because you and I have talked for a couple years uh about EVs. It's really hard. Tesla's got a big head start. GM taking a$ 1.6% billion charge related to EVs. Uh, I think they're doing okay.Hey, anecd ...

Core Insights - Ford is temporarily halting production of its three-row SUVs, the Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, at its Kentucky Truck Plant due to aluminum supply issues stemming from a fire at a key supplier's facility [1][2][7] Group 1: Production Impact - The production pause is expected to last for one week, although the memo did not explicitly cite the fire as the reason for the halt [2] - The fire occurred on September 16 and affected only one area of the Novelis plant in Oswego, New York, which is crucial for supplying aluminum sheet to U.S. automakers, including Ford [7] - Novelis supplies approximately 40% of the aluminum sheet used in the automotive industry, indicating a significant impact on production capabilities [7][8] Group 2: Supplier Response - Novelis has stated that its Oswego plant will not resume operations until the first quarter of fiscal 2026 as it works to restore its hot mill [5] - The company is activating its global network of plants and collaborating with industry peers to source materials to mitigate supply gaps [8] - Despite these efforts, industry experts caution that automakers, including Ford, are likely to continue facing disruptions due to Novelis' critical role as a major aluminum supplier [8] Group 3: Company Actions - Ford has deployed a full team to address the supply situation with Novelis and is exploring all possible alternatives to minimize potential disruptions [10] - However, Ford has previously declined to comment on the specific impacts on its production [11]

Core Viewpoint - Ford Motor Company is experiencing a recalibration in its stock outlook due to operational impacts from a recent fire, despite being considered a good long-term investment [1]. Group 1: Company Performance - Ford designs, manufactures, and sells vehicles under the Ford and Lincoln brands, including electric, hybrid, and internal combustion models [1]. - The stock has shown movement attributed to the company's high domestic content in vehicles, making it a significant beneficiary of auto tariffs compared to competitors like General Motors [1]. Group 2: Market Context - The impact of auto tariffs is expected to change the automotive landscape, with Ford positioned as a key winner due to its U.S.-made content [1]. - The stock's recent performance is contrasted with historical challenges, including warranty issues and slow adoption of electric vehicles [1]. Group 3: Investment Considerations - While Ford is recognized for its potential, there is a suggestion that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [1].

Core Insights - Ford Motor Company is facing significant challenges in 2025, including tariff impacts, the removal of the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles, and a record number of vehicle recalls [1][8] - A fire at a New York aluminum plant is expected to cost Ford up to $1 billion in EBIT due to limited production of the F-150 truck [2][3] - The production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup is also being paused due to the same fire, despite a strong sales performance in the third quarter [4][5] Production and Supply Chain Issues - The fire at the Novelis plant in Oswego, New York, which started on September 16, will affect the supply of aluminum for Ford's F-150 trucks throughout 2025 [5][6] - Ford is actively working with Novelis to address the situation and minimize disruptions [6] - The current challenges add to ongoing supply chain disruptions, including microchip shortages and elevated material prices, which have been exacerbated by previous events such as the 2023 union strike and the COVID-19 pandemic [7][8]

Ford Motor is temporarily cutting production of at least five models including popular SUVs to combat a possible shortage of aluminum following a fire at a supplier’s plant https://t.co/ZPQUVH7vie ...

Core Viewpoint - A sudden fire at the Novelis plant in northern New York has disrupted operations, significantly impacting the U.S. automotive aluminum sheet supply chain, which supplies approximately 40% of the automotive aluminum sheets in the country [1] Group 1: Impact on Ford - Ford Motor Company has suspended production of several models, including the profitable Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, due to the aluminum sheet supply interruption [1] - The production line for three-row SUVs at Ford's Kentucky truck plant has halted, and the Super Duty truck plant in Kentucky may face future shortages [1] - To prioritize core business, Ford is reallocating resources to maintain production of the F-Series trucks while adjusting operations at other production lines [1] Group 2: Operational Adjustments - The Michigan Dearborn plant has ceased production of the F-150 Lightning model, while the Louisville plant has reduced shifts for the Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs to a single shift [1]

Group 1 - Global automotive markets, except for Russia, showed growth in September and the first three quarters of the year, driven by various factors such as electric vehicle (EV) subsidies in the US and tax reforms in India [2] - In the US, electric vehicle sales surged before the expiration of a $7,500 subsidy, with Q3 sales exceeding 438,000 units, marking a record quarter and a market share of 10.5% [3][4] - Major automakers in the US reported increased sales, with Ford's sales up 8.2%, General Motors up 8%, and Hyundai up 13%, largely driven by electric vehicle demand [4] Group 2 - In Europe, the automotive market saw a slight increase in passenger car sales, with a total of 8.69 million units sold from January to August, a 0.4% year-on-year growth [6] - Chinese automakers, particularly BYD and SAIC, have become significant players in the European market, with BYD's sales skyrocketing by 280% [7] - The UK experienced its highest new car sales in September since 2015, driven by strong electric vehicle performance and government subsidies [8] Group 3 - India's automotive market showed resilience with a total of 3.8 million new vehicles sold in the first three quarters, a 2.3% increase year-on-year, supported by tax reforms [9][10] - The new GST 2.0 tax structure in India has significantly improved the affordability of small cars, boosting consumer confidence and sales [10] - In Japan, new car sales reached 3.465 million units in the first nine months, a 5% increase, although the market faced challenges in the latter part of the year [11][12] Group 4 - Brazil's automotive market reported a 2.9% increase in September sales, with a total of 1.91 million vehicles sold in the first nine months, driven by strong export performance [13][14] - The Brazilian government plans to reintroduce tariffs on electric and hybrid vehicles starting in 2024, aiming to stimulate local production [15] - Russian automotive sales plummeted by 23% in the first nine months, with a significant decline in new car sales due to geopolitical factors and rising costs [16][17]

Economic Overview - Singapore's economy showed resilience with a GDP growth of 2.9% year-on-year in Q3, exceeding expectations of 2.0% and following a 4.4% growth in the previous quarter [2][8] - The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has warned of a potential slowdown in economic growth for 2026, revising down the growth forecast from 2.4% to 1.4% [2][8] Inflation Insights - MAS maintains its monetary policy stance, expecting core inflation to bottom out soon and gradually increase, with projections of 0.5% for 2025 and a range of 0.5% to 1.5% for 2026 [3][8] - Core inflation may remain lower for an extended period if economic growth is weaker than projected [3] Corporate Performance - Samsung Electronics is set to report a 30% increase in Q3 operating profit, with expectations of reaching 10.5 trillion won ($7.46 billion), driven by strong demand and rising prices for memory chips [4][8] - The price increases for DRAM and NAND chips are estimated at 7% and 6%, respectively, with significant demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips for AI applications [4] Strategic Developments - JPMorgan Asset Management aims to double its assets under management in the Asia-Pacific region to $600 billion within five years, highlighting its commitment to expanding in dynamic Asian markets [5][8] Industry Challenges - Ford Motor Company faces production challenges due to an aluminum supply disruption caused by a fire at Novelis's plant, impacting approximately 40% of the aluminum sheet supply for the U.S. auto industry [6][8] - Analysts predict a 20% reduction in F-Series output, equating to an estimated 46,000 fewer trucks and a potential $800 million hit to Ford's FY25 EBIT [6]

Commodities Market - Spot Gold prices reached an all-time high of $4,125.30 per ounce, indicating increased demand for safe-haven assets amid global uncertainties [2][9]. Automotive Sector - Ford Motor Company announced production cuts for five of its truck and SUV models due to a significant aluminum-supply disruption, which may affect its output and revenue in the upcoming quarter [3][9]. Asian Markets - Japanese financial markets are expected to open lower, with Nikkei Average Futures dropping by 1.2% due to political instability and US-China trade tensions, contrasting with a 1.6% increase in the S&P 500 on Wall Street [4][5][9]. - Japan's Money Stock M2 grew by 1.6% year-over-year in September, up from 1.3% previously, while M3 increased by 1.0%, compared to 0.8% prior [4]. Technology Sector - NVIDIA introduced DGX Spark to support AI developers globally, reinforcing its commitment to the AI industry [6][9]. - Broadcom's CEO highlighted that generative AI is expected to become a significantly larger component of global GDP [6][9]. Geopolitical Developments - Former President Trump suggested that Turkish President Erdogan could help de-escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine, following an appeal from Ukrainian President Zelensky [7][9].