Ford is currently denying reports that an external CEO successor search is underway, but it appears that Ford Chairman Bill Ford Jr. discussed the possibility to “survey the external environment for potential candidates as a regular course of action.”

We reported earlier that Four currently has four candidates internally to succeed Alan Mulally, Ford’s current CEO. But now the Wall Street Journal is adding two former Ford executives into the mix, John Krafcik who is CEO of Hyundai Motor Co.’s North American operations and Phil Mortens, CEO of Novelis Inc.

Ford however is adamantly denying the consideration of Krafcik or Mortens – or any external candidate for that matter. But whoever it may be, they’ll be stepping into some really big shoes, as Mulally has been undeniably successful in making Ford profitable yet again, with Ford making money for 10 straight quarters.

[Source: Automotive News]

The replacement for Ford‘s current CEO Alan Mulally will likely come from within, and four contenders have come out on top despite no realistic timeline for someone to replace Mulally.

Those four contenders include Mark Fields, the president of the Americas and current frontrunner (age 50), current CFO Lewis Booth (age 63), Jim Farley, group vice president of global marketing, sales and service (age 49), and Joe Hinrichs, group vice president of Ford Asia Pacific and Africa (age 45).

The talk of a CEO successor for Alan Mulally is probably premature, as his success in Ford will allow him to leave on his own terms, when he wants. But at age 66, Ford’s board of directors has to realistically begin to consider successors. One thing is for sure, Ford will be promoting from within rather than hiring from the outside – as they did with Mulally – in order to send a message of stability. Another option that Ford is considering is that Mulally could act as a mentor for Ford’s future leader.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ford may begin building electric cars in China via joint ventures with Chinese auto makers, replicating the tactics of rivals like General Motors and Daimler AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz. China is looking to add 1 million EVs by 2015 as part of an effort to curb emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally was in China for the groundbreaking of a new engine assembly plant with local partner Changan Automobile Group, part of a $1.6 billion effort to build four new factories in China. Mulally expects China to play a key part in boosting Ford sales by 50 percent by 2015, and Ford’s Lincoln brand may become part of that strategy, as Chinese demand for luxury cars is rapidly growing.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford is opening the floor to 2011′s contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers—which always ends in suspense.

Will the UAW walk away in anger? Will they threaten a strike? Will Ford shut down a couple more plants and idle production for months on end? Or will the ghost of Henry Ford send in the Pinkertons? It’s all up in the air, which makes for breathlessly thrilling news. Hey, automotive journalists have to keep themselves entertained somehow.

“We are reflecting upon our proud 70 year history of working together—a history of working with mutual trust and respect to effectively address difficult business challenges,” said John Fleming, vice president of Ford’s labor relations. ”We are committed to negotiating this year with the same transparency and honesty we always have upheld.”

Ford‘s success streak rolls on, with the latest good news for the automaker coming as recognition of its leadership by Chief Executive magazine. The publication has announced Ford boss Alan Mulally is its 2011 CEO of the Year.

Nominated by magazine readers, the top 10 picks were then chose and the title decided by a committee of peers. With the award Mulally joins the ranks of past winners like Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Michael Dell, A.G. Lafley, John Chambers, Anne Mulcahy, Larry Bossidy, Andy Grove and Herb Kelleher.

Those same peers had plenty of accolades to bestow upon Mulally with the announcement of his win.

“The turnaround and triumph of Ford is an amazing success story, due largely to his talents, leadership and courage,” said Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant, winner of last year’s prize “It’s a turnaround not only of an American icon but more importantly, a global icon, as well.”

“The success he showed in the face of incredible difficulty was just extraordinary,” said James Turley, chairman and CEO, Ernst & Young. “The foresight he showed throughout the process, the courage he showed in making some tough decisions on popular brands, the global mindset he showed, and above all, the statesmanship he showed when two major competitors were on the public dole shows he was thinking for the good of the country as well as his company and industry.”

Mulally will be the guest of honor at a private event at the New York Stock Exchange in July.

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Things have been going well for Ford over the past few years with increased profits, sales and market share, but you haven’t seen nothin’ yet says CEO Alan Mually. Speaking this morning on CNN’s American Morning, Mulally said the automaker is looking to increase sales globally by an incredible 50 percent.

The plan to achieve this goal relies mostly on emerging markets, which Ford will target with an increasing number of small vehicles. According to Mulally, half of Ford’s global lineup will eventually be small cars. Over the next few years the Blue Oval will expand its Chinese lineup from five to 15 vehicles, while its lineup in India grows from three to eight vehicles. In total, Ford expects that by 2020 emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region and in Africa will make up one third of its global sales, compared to just 15 percent now.

In addition, Ford will continue to rely on strength and growth in established markets. Currently global sales are down 30 percent from highs recorded before the recession, indicating there’s plenty of space to grow again.

Ford’s global sales tally for last year totaled 5.3 million units. If it can achieve a 50 percent growth strategy it would raise Ford close to the 8 million mark where Industry leaders like GM and Toyota sit.

[Source: CNN]

The next CEO of Ford Motor Co. probably will be a company insider, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. said Friday. The current Ford CEO is 65-year old Alan Mulally who is still performing and has no plans of retiring just yet.

Ford Jr.also explained that it would be “very unusual” if Mulally’s replacement came from outside. The executive chairman went further into detail explaining that Mulally holds “Business Performance Review” meetings once a week, to encourage executives from different sections of the company to participate and learn about the business as a whole. The meetings are also designed to help “train the next generation” of leadership for the company.

[Source: Detroit News]

UAW President Bob King said that the union may abandon their tactic of targeting one automaker during contract negotiations and negotiate with Chrysler, Ford and General Motors at the same time.

The UAW previously targeted one automaker during negotiations and used that to set an example for the others. However, King says that the relationship between the Big 3 and the UAW is better than previous years. King would like a deal to be completed before the union’s contract expires on September 14th.

King is hoping to extract concessions from the Big 3 after workers gave up thousands of dollars worth of compensation during the automakers lean periods.  The resurgence of the Big 3 has spurred some union members to demand King take a more aggressive tone with the automakers.  King previously criticized Ford for offering CEO Alan Mulally a $26.5 million compensation package, calling it “morally wrong”.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

UAW chief Bob King slammed Ford CEO Alan Mulally’s $56.5 million stock package, claiming that “I don’t think any human being in the world deserves that much money.”

While certain to raise the ire of Ayn Rand fanatics everywhere, King is amping up the rhetoric ahead of the United Auto Workers “bargaining conference” where strategies will be outlined for the upcoming labor negotiations with Ford and other automakers. King’s rhetoric was particularly inflammatory and reflected the unions hard left leanings, with King quoted as saying “…It seems like one individual is getting all the gains instead of gains being shared by everybody.”

Ford’s stock was up 68 percent in 2009, with share prices quadrupling in 2008. Ford spokesman John Stoll told Bloomberg that Mulally’s compensation “…reflects Ford’s goal of retaining a world-class CEO.”

[Source: Bloomberg]