Ford CEO on Mercury Shutdown Rumors: 'Nothing to Add'

Ford CEO Alan Mulally told talk-radio host Paul W. Smith that he had "nothing to add" to the discussion swirling about the automaker's Mercury brand, which is rumored to be killed off this year, MLive.com reported. After two unnamed executives spoke to Bloomberg News about a plan to wind down Mercury, plagued by middling sales and a lack of brand identity, by July, Ford has yet to confirm or deny if the 71-year-old brand is on the chopping block. "We continue to review all of our brands and all of our nameplates," Mulally told Smith Tuesday morning before changing the subject. In most dealerships, Mercury vehicles are sold alongside Lincolns, and killing the brand could hamper business at those lots. Ford is reportedly considering merging Lincoln dealerships with existing Ford dealerships. Mulally has reportedly been adamant about killing off Mercury since taking over as CEO in 2006. Global marketing director Elena Ford, great-granddaughter of Mercury's founder, Edsel Ford, has been one of the brand's biggest supporters.