[jyl]

Rather helpful for Ford, in the short run, then? They just did a partial debt exchange too. If the March SAAR improvement continues, abetted by a cash for clunkers law, it might be a pretty good time to be FoMoCo. In the short run.

Ford might be able to pick up some tasty bits on the cheap. I doubt they'd want anything that GM will be selling, but Jeep is a good brand. Maybe the Viper too (no, on reflection I don't think so). Especially if you don't have to take the contracts, dealers, debt, pensions, etc.

In the long run, Ford can't relish the idea of competing with a GM that's restructured it's union contracts, pension and medical, debt, and dealer network. Ford will need to find a way to match that.