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It wasn't too long ago that Ford stock was junk and worth pennies on the dollar.
Ford won't publicly speculate on future investments, but the company's goals are clear: In lieu of more fuel-efficient but expensive diesel engines — and until hybrids and electrics catch on, if they ever do — the power and fuel efficiency of EcoBoost remains the chosen path."
Ford's EcoBoost engine to spur investment, job growth (Detroit News)
They sold like hotcakes when they were a good value.
People who love small trucks like to think that the decline was due to product. But in reality the majority of the folks who used to buy Rangers switched to crossovers and small cars.
It's not that there isn't a market - it's just that the market is very small and not worth a big investment like it used to be.
HHR? Insight? Z4? Tribeca?You'd think Ford could have cranked a few Rangers now and then and still use the line for something else the rest of the time. It's not like they'd have to invest a lot of new money in tooling.
akirby has a point, for sure. There was a time when people liked small pickups because they recognized their utility and versatility. I think the market is itching for a good offering in this class, but are settling for compact/mid-size SUVs because there isn't anything compelling. Honda was on the right track with their Ridgeline, but the towing isn't good enough and the fuel economy stinks.
Get a midsize, four-door pickup with a 5'+ bed, add a solid 6,500# towing capacity, AWD optional, average FE of 25+, and priced in the 20s, and it would sell very well I think.
Ford has far better things to spend money on including making the new F150 significantly better in terms of fuel economy which would be worth a lot more than a few Ranger sales.
My brother has a new F-150. Have you seen the liftover height on those things? His came with a built-in step on the tailgate to help you climb into the bed.
I still think there's a market for compact pickups, and we'd likely be flooded with Thai ones if it weren't for the chicken tax.
Because of that, you're right... compact pickups are merely a niche with a heavy cost of entry (not so different from diesels).
"Under the skins, they are still purpose-built machines, no more "stock" than a Formula 1 machine. But at least they look like stock cars, and that, Allison says, is significant. He cited the introduction of the Mustang brand in NASCAR's second-tier division, the Nationwide Series, in 2010."
2013 NASCAR Ford Fusion's Mission: Strengthen Consumer Relevance
But for me, my small pickup serves my hauling needs very well (but if GM wised up & brought the Ute over it may get another partner in the garage :shades: ).
The supersegment has grown at the expense of large cars, like the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Impala, sales of which have continually declined."
Ford takes new route to auto sales (Detroit News)
Robust Auto Sales Propel Ford's North American Profits to a Record
The aging truck fleet (average age is 11 years), improving housing sector and other factors are driving sales.
"Cheap" gas prices weren't mentioned.
Oversized, fuel-inefficient utility vehicles, once a symbol of American overindulgence, have fallen out of favor, replaced by smaller, more stylish versions, many built on car platforms rather than truck platforms.
As the middle class expands around the world, and as road conditions improve, "utilities are attractive in a lot of countries," Caldwell said. "The SUV is a status symbol, with higher seating, good visibility, and the boxy (shapes) gone."
How Ford Escape Is Taking Over the World (thestreet.com)
One of the things that bothered customers was the inability to quickly change the channel or volume on the radio through familiar knobs, he said. As Ford redesigns its vehicles, the flat control panels with add more buttons and knobs and the main screen will become simpler."
Ford to Add Back Dashboard Buttons After Complaints (Wall St. Journal)
Ford to Add Back Dash Buttons
Nothing wrong with a few dials and knobs on the dash.
Frankfurt Motor Show: Germans learn a stunning truth (youtube.com)
Guess again.
Galpin Celebrates 60 Years Under Boeckmann Ownership
Not even Cal Worthington could out-sell them.
"“The plan is he’s going to stick around,” said Ford, 56, of Mulally in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Monday. “I’m happy he’s sticking around. But we also feel really good about where we are in terms of succession.”
Ford acknowledged that the CEO does not have a contract."
Bill Ford: Mulally staying put, not going to Microsoft (Detroit News)
If Ford can max out an entire assembly plant selling vehicles at a high MSRP - why is that bad? Isn't that what Honda did in the 90s? I remember folks paying MSRP or higher for Accords back then and waiting in line for vehicles.
I think it is misplaced arrogance of Ford to not be more price competitive..especially when they are not spotless with regards to R&D and recalls and other issues... (fantastical EPA ratings) etc.
You don't beat Camry and Accord in sales just by having a great vehicle. You need a steady stream of repeat buyers - multiple repeat buyers - to build up volume over time. That's what Accord and Camry did. 33% of Camry buyers are repeat buyers. Ford is only around 19% as this is only the second generation of Fusion whereas Camry is on its 4th or 5th generation. You have to build up that base of repeat buyers in addition to new buyers.
Based on sales the first 9 months of the year, it appears that buyers are willing to pay higher prices for the new Fusion. $4K more than Camry by comparison. It wasn't until the competition added incentives that Fusion lost sales, which apparently means the competition was overpricing their vehicles, not Ford. Or they were overproducing. Either way that doesn't reflect negatively on Ford. A lot of people buy on price and they buy cheap. Ford doesn't want that business. They want higher ATPs and so far they're getting it even if it means reduced volumes temporarily. This incentive war won't continue.
I'm gonna stick with the arrogance word..but hey..if it makes you feel better..there have been times I have accused Honda of exactly the same thing. It's just that, in the end, I did vote my confidence level on Honda. Ford failed me and I swore to them if they turned their back on me in a cut-and-dried case of injustice that I would never forget it. And I haven't.
Some pretty passionate comments posted at the bottom of that one too..
Obviously having taken it seriously.
Mustang has always been at Flat Rock, and they're going to add the new Taurus and MKS within the next year or two. No problem keeping the plant busy.
You have to wonder if the fall in sales last July was due to lack of vehicles or maybe something else was happening besides Camry incentives and the falling yen.
Or maybe it's just a bit of oversupply and we (well, not Akirby) are over-reacting:
"With a second factory -- in Flat Rock, Mich. -- online producing Ford Fusions, sales of Ford's hot mid-sized sedan soared 71 percent in October, pacing Ford Motor Co. to a 14 percent monthly sales increase.
"The Fusion broke an October retail record in every one of our five markets nationally," said John Felice, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service."
Sources:
Ford kicks up Fusion production, shares Mustang factory (USA Today)
Ford to Idle Fusion Production at Flat Rock Plant for One Week (Motor Trend)
Hot Fusion paces Ford sales (Automotive News)
Now, a year later, there's a spat over an "air defense" zone between China and both Japan and South Korea (and the US). Sounds like the issue is dissipating but if it heats up, that could hurt the Japanese automakers.
How that would affect Ford, I don't know.
Base engine - 2.3L ecoboost 300 hp/300 lb ft
Da winna again.
"Ford expects to retain its title as the best-selling vehicle brand in North America for the fourth year in a row, thanks to such key models as the 2013-'14 Ford Fusion, 2013-'14 Ford Escape and 2013-'14 Ford Fiesta.
The automaker said its Ford brand expects to sell more than 2.4 million vehicles in 2013, well ahead of 2nd-place Toyota.
"We're seeing double-digit sales growth in cars, trucks and utilities," said John Felice, vice president of Ford's U.S. marketing, sales and service. With 16 launches in 2014, "we're looking to keep our sales momentum going."
Ford Poised To Be Best-Selling U.S. Auto Brand Again, Company Says
"The gains by Detroit are striking Toyota and Tokyo-based Honda in the hearts of their lineups. Deliveries of Ford’s Fusion climbed 22 percent from January to November, outpacing gains of 1.3 percent for Camry and 11 percent for Accord. And Fusions sold for an average of $26,378 last year, a premium of $897 to Accord and $2,224 to Camry, the lock to be the top-selling car in the U.S. for a 12th consecutive year.
“From so many views, it shouts out ‘I’m a $60,000 car,’” Smith, the Californian, said of the white-platinum Fusion hybrid that he bought for $33,500. “The Aston Martin look really draws attention.”
The Fusion is a standout in a crowded field of more competitive passenger cars from Detroit. Deliveries of GM’s Cadillac cars jumped 55 percent last year through November, and Chrysler’s Dodge line of cars boosted sales by 31 percent. Those were the two biggest gains of any car brand with at least 20,000 deliveries last year."
Detroit Gains Ground in 2013 as Ford Fusion Sets Growth (Bloomberg)
What you're seeing now with Fusion is what we saw previously with Accord and Camry. You build up more and more repeat buyers with each generation to go with the new buyers. I expect Fusion to plateau soon until the next refresh. Ford no longer cares about being #1 - they're more focused on profits and ATPs than overall sales crowns.
I think that's true. When successes happen, it is surely a bonus, but taking a title simply means you get a huge target painted on your back!