Ford To Stop Selling Every Car In North America But the Mustang, Focus Active (techcrunch.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Ford today announced it will phase out most cars it sells in North America. According to its latest financial release, the auto giant "will transition to two vehicles" -- the Mustang and an unannounced vehicle, the Focus Active, being the only traditional cars it sells in the region. Ford sees 90 percent of its North America portfolio in trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles. Citing a reduction in consumer demand and product profitability, Ford is in turn not investing in the next generation of sedans. The Taurus is no more. The press release also talks about a new type of vehicle, though it sounds like a crossover. This so-called white space vehicle will "combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility." Currently, Ford sells six sedans and coupes in North America: the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, C-Max, Mustang and Taurus. This lineup hits multiple segments, from the compact Fiesta to the mid-size Focus, C-Max and Fusion to the full-size Taurus. The Mustang stands alone as the lone coupe.

Comments

Following the Japanese

[digitect]

I think Honda might have been the first to do this about three decades ago when they based all their cars on just two flexible platforms. The Accord, TL, RL, TSX, Crosstour... all the same car. The smaller was the Civic and the RSX. The SUVs are similar, Pilot/MDX and CRV/RDX. They keep changing the model names to throw us off the trail, but the manufacturing is very carefully designed to minimize infrastructure, support, and design. I never figured out where the odd US models like Fit and Element fit that scheme, but they sure seemed expensive for so few units if they were unique.

How will they achieve CAFE?

[JoeyRox]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_average_fuel_economy

Re:Oil and gas profits not as high as projected...

[ArchieBunker]

Ford sells a ridiculous number of trucks, that is why they are phasing out less popular models. They somehow suckered people into thinking $60k for a truck is a normal price. One model is over $100k when maxed out with options!

Re:A high ride is a good thing?

[drinkypoo]

The compact/mid SUV much easier access and egress, better vision, far more effective loading area, in fact the most logical body shape for a car.

You spend a few minutes or even seconds getting in and out, or loading and unloading. You spend hours driving. Sedans have better aerodynamics than crossovers. The most logical body shape for a car is a sedan or wagon, given that we live in the real world with wind resistance.