GLOBAL BUSINESS: Ford executive says July sales slump 'by design'

4. Aug 2026

(AWP Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by global companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Walmart Inc - Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail chain - Completes acquisition of self-service streaming TV ad platform Vibe.co. The USD1.4 billion deal was announced in June. Walmart does not expect the transaction to have any impact to 2027 sales and operating income growth guidance. Comments: "The acquisition of Vibe.co will help Walmart Connect, the company's commerce media business in the US, bring to market new and differentiated ways for advertisers to plan, buy and measure streaming TV advertising. By combining Vibe.co's intuitive self-service platform with Walmart Connect's commerce media capabilities, Walmart will make connected TV advertising more accessible while helping brands connect with customers across the shopping journey and achieve greater impact from their advertising investments."

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Ford Motor Co - Dearborn, Michigan-based carmaker - Total vehicle sales decline 10% to 169,951 in July from 189,313 a year ago. Of this, total electrified vehicles sales drop 40%, while internal combustion sales slide 5.2%. Sales fall across type and the majority of models, with the exception of Bronco Sport, Maverick, Explorer and Heavy Trucks. Ford director of US sales Rob Kaffl tells CNBC the drop was "by design". "July was a good sales month for a number of reasons. Our July results reflect a strategy that is working exactly as planned: we've intentionally been sunsetting select models and pulled back on low-margin rental fleet volume to make room for an onslaught of new-product introductions by the end of the decade." Kaffl says.

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Fast Retailing Co Ltd - Yamaguchi, Japan-based fashion holding company, owns Uniqlo - July 2026 same-store sales including online sales increase 4.3% year-on-year while total sales including online sales increased by 5.0%. Same-store sales rise year-on-year in July. Says this is due "to strong sales of new products along with strong sales of Summer items during the persistently hot weather from mid-month onward."

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Nidec Corp - Kyoto, Japan-based electric motor manufacturer - Updates on investigation into ransomware attack at Taiwanese subsidiary Nidec Chaun Choung Technology Corp in June. Confirms "no explicit evidence...showing any data leak." However, part of the list of folder and file names was confirmed to be published on the self-identified attacker's website. Therefore, says it is "difficult to deny possible leak of the data on the aforementioned list and other information. As of today, no data on the folder and file list has been confirmed to have been published on the dark web." Says the attacks presents no material impact on production, shipping, or other business activities at the subsidiary. "The Nidec Group will remain focusing on this issue and monitor for suspicious activities, and promptly disclose any material fact to announce publicly as soon as it emerges," adds.

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AbbVie Inc - Chicago, Illinois-based drugmaker - US Food & Drug Administration accepts for review subsidiary Allergan Aesthetics's supplemental biologics license application for botox cosmetic for the temporary improvement in the appearance of marked to very marked masseter muscle prominence associated with masseter muscle activity in adults. If approved, botox would become the first and only neurotoxin indicated for this condition in the US and expand its portfolio to a fifth aesthetic indication. AbbVie senior vice president Darin Messina says: "This submission builds on the depth and versatility of botox cosmetic and reflects our continued investment in advancing aesthetic medicine. At Allergan Aesthetics, our approach to innovation includes both developing new treatment options and continuing to expand the potential of established products. The pursuit of a fifth aesthetic indication demonstrates that commitment to addressing evolving patient needs."

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Sanofi SA - Paris-based drumkaer - European Commission approves an extension of the indication for the MenQuadfi vaccine to include infants from six weeks of age to help protect against invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y. MenQuadfi was previously approved in the EU for use in individuals aged 12 months and older. The expanded indication follows the positive opinion adopted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in June. "With this approval, MenQuadfi provides healthcare professionals in the EU with an additional option for vaccinating infants against invasive meningococcal disease from as early as six weeks of age. This expanded indication, aligned with routine infant immunization schedules, is supported by MenQuadfi's demonstrated immunogenicity data," Sanofi says.

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Eli Lilly & Co - Indianapolis, Indiana-based pharmaceutical firm and Adyen NV - Amsterdam-based payment technology company - Announces agreement to facilitate payment services for patients accessing Eli Lilly medications and free home delivery through LillyDirect. Transactions will utilize Adyen's AI-powered Intelligent Payment Routing which automatically selects the most efficient US debit network for each transaction. "LillyDirect will leverage Adyen's platform to continue offering patients flexible payment options, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, and HSA/FSA cards. Adyen's fraud prevention, reconciliation, and analytics capabilities will reduce friction throughout the checkout process while supporting a secure end-to-end experience," Adyen says.

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Alstom SA - Paris-based rolling stock manufacturer - Concludes EUR270 million order following the exercise of a contract option by the Victorian Government to build 25 X'trapolis 2.0 trains. The exercise brings the total fleet under manufacture by Alstom in Victoria to 50 trains. Alstom was awarded an initial contract for 25 trains back in 2021. X'trapolis 2.0 is six-car electric train developed with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning. It offers a 1,225-passenger capacity.

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Johnson & Johnson - New Brunswick, New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company - Jennifer Taubert will retire as executive vice president, worldwide chair of Innovative Medicine after more than 21-years at J&J. "Under her leadership...Innovative Medicine business grew to more than USD60 billion in annual revenue and strengthened its position as one of the most respected and successful pharmaceutical businesses in the world," company says. Taubert is to be succeeded by Innovative Medicine North America group chair Tom Cavanaugh.

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By Aidan Lane, Alliance News reporter

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