agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

GM and Ford CEOs on Heightened Watch for Signs of a Recession

General Motors and Ford Motor Co. CEOs say they are watching for signs of a U.S. recession, despite demand for autos being strong.

June 16, 2022
GM and Ford CEOs on Heightened Watch for Signs of a Recession

Soaring material costs for electric batteries wiped out expected profits on Ford's electric Mustang Mach-E.

Credit:

Ford

2 min to read


 

General Motors and Ford Motor Co. CEOs say they are watching for signs of a U.S. recession, despite demand for autos being strong.

Ford CFO John Lawler told attendees at a Deutsche Bank conference that an economic downturn is a real possibility and that the company is assessing the impacts of inflation and high gasoline prices on the economy. Interest rates may also factor in, as the Federal Reserve approved a 0.75 percentage point rate increase.

Ad Loading...

Higher commodity costs are also taking a toll on profitability in some areas, reported Lawler. Soaring material costs for electric batteries, for instance, wiped out the profit the automaker expected on its electric Mustang Mach-E.

Lawler also reported Ford Credit, the company’s financing arm, has seen an uptick in auto loan delinquencies. Ford is monitoring the situation closely, he said.

“We’re looking for every indication and every data point we can to get a read on where the consumer is, where they’re headed,” he said.

GM Finance Chief Paul Jacobson says the company plans to maintain flexibility when it comes to raising EV prices, as Ford has already done for the Mustang Mach-E.

“We don’t want to end up in a situation where a customer has ordered a vehicle two, three years out, and we don’t know where inflation is going,” he said.

Ad Loading...

Still, both CEOs report market dynamics remains automakers’ favor due to pent-up demand for vehicles and low vehicle inventory. However, inflated fuel costs and high inflation could restrain these purchases.

Both executives report they are modeling the outcomes of different recessionary scenarios. GM has increased its scrutiny into hiring decisions and prioritizing its spending on longer-term initiatives, such as in electric vehicles.

Both CEOs said the companies are better-positioned to weather a downturn than in the past. The automakers offer fewer profit-damaging discounts and have less unsold inventory.

“It’s a completely different environment heading into what could be a potential recession than anything I’ve seen in the past,” Lawler said.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Industry

Photo of MINI nameplate on the hood of a white MINI Cooper
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 23, 2026

Autos More Appealing

Consumers gave new cars better scores again this year for design, performance and more as mass-market brands kept gaining on premium lineups, JD Power found in an annual poll.

Read More →
red car parked in front of a sunset, The Used Market Divide, Agent Entrepreneur
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 23, 2026

Used EVs Defy Overall Market

While the used-car market saw three months of price declines or stagnation, the used EV segment did the opposite – rising for three straight months.

Read More →
Photo of a retriever dog looking out of an open SUV window with a yellow Peugeot headrest on the top of the window below it
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 16, 2026

Gone to the Dogs

A Stellantis brand decided to have some fun with one of its SUVs’ design to address growing emphasis on family pets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aerial shot of a car dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 13, 2026

OEM Poll Sees Industry Evolution

Kerrigan Advisors’ survey of automakers finds that tariffs, technology, network tightening and other factors are poised to reshape auto retail.

Read More →
Foreign Cars Italia dealership store in front of sunset
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 2, 2026

Luxe N.C. Dealerships Change Hands

A collection of Italian and English brand franchises were handed off to the owner’s friend in the business and include the Carolinas’ only Ferrari retail stores.

Read More →
inside of car, person with hands on black steering wheel
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJuly 2, 2026

Exposure Drives Interest in Chinese Cars

At a recent demonstration, consumers had the chance to ride in a Chinese-branded vehicle, a firsthand experience that improved their perceptions and purchase intent.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman's hands holding an wallet empty of cash
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 1, 2026

Automotive Consumers Sink Further in Debt

Most financing metrics hit records in the second quarter as more buyers locked themselves into long terms and high monthly payments.

Read More →
Rob Mancuso sitting in a chair on stage
Industryby Hannah MitchellJuly 1, 2026

Agent Advocate

Rob Mancuso, who comes from a long line of auto dealers, values general agents’ place in the industry and makes a case for them taking an even bigger seat at the table.

Read More →
Photo of a touchscreen on a car's dashboard
Industryby Hannah MitchellJune 25, 2026

Driving Under Distraction

Though consumers gave higher marks to new vehicles in JD Power’s most recent initial-quality poll, high-tech interference worsened, pointing to craving for simplicity.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
split background green and blue. 2019 to 2025 with car going from starting location to end point. $37,310 and $48,402. Agent Entrepreneur logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJune 25, 2026

Affordable New Cars a Thing of the Past

More than one out of five new vehicles sell for more than $60,000, according to Edmunds. That's up 7% compared to prepandemic 2019.

Read More →
Ad Loading...