Ford exiting the sedan business

[Dorzak]

This is an interesting article:
http://autoweek.com/article/car-new...h-america-entirely-face-unstoppable-crossover

Essentially Ford is going to concentrate on crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. Dropping traditional sedans except the Mustang and upcoming Focus Active. From a quick search the Active appears to be a hatchback.

 

[JExpedition07]

Well then get serious on the trucks and give us some big motors back!!!!

 

[Black]

Well then get serious on the trucks and give us some big motors back!!!!

The Cafe standards will have to go before that happens.

As for Ford dumping the sedan. Why sell what people aren’t buying?

Though Lincoln is still keeping their sedans.

Wonder if Ford is going towards the GMC/Chevy idea of branding.

I also bet all of these crossovers or whatever they want to call them will have designs that can quickly be made back to sedans if the sales trends change.

 

[Dorzak]

I also bet all of these crossovers or whatever they want to call them will have designs that can quickly be made back to sedans if the sales trends change.

If I recall correctly the Ecosport is on the same platform as the Fiesta, the C-Max uses the Focus platform, and the list goes on.

 

[Flexpedition]

As for Ford dumping the sedan. Why sell what people aren’t buying?

Huh?

2017 model year sales figures, US and Canada only. 48,077 Fiesta sold. 51,999 Taurus sold. 219,359 Fusion sold. Thats 319,435 units that "people aren't buying". Lets say profit margins are sooooo slim that Ford can only manage to squeeze out an unimaginable single Benjamin Franklin profit per car. Thats $32M in profit per year gone bye bye. You can bet Hyundai, Toyota, and Nissan are shaking their heads and laughing at this move.

If you want to see what people aren't buying, look at Expedition sales numbers.

Jim Hackett might have done a good job with office furniture 20 years ago, I'm not sure that somehow translates into being best suited for automotive manufacturing. Especially with decisions being made like this. He's truly earning the nickname Hack.

 

[Black]

Huh?

2017 model year sales figures, US and Canada only. 48,077 Fiesta sold. 51,999 Taurus sold. 219,359 Fusion sold. Thats 319,435 units that "people aren't buying". Lets say profit margins are sooooo slim that Ford can only manage to squeeze out an unimaginable single Benjamin Franklin profit per car. Thats $32M in profit per year gone bye bye. You can bet Hyundai, Toyota, and Nissan are shaking their heads and laughing at this move.

If you want to see what people aren't buying, look at Expedition sales numbers.

Jim Hackett might have done a good job with office furniture 20 years ago, I'm not sure that somehow translates into being best suited for automotive manufacturing. Especially with decisions being made like this. He's truly earning the nickname Hack.

Looking at a single model year will do absolutely nothing for you when planning a sales future.

The sedan market is in a serious decline and nothing is showing any indication that the decline will change anytime soon. So they are tooling for that continued decline.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/midsize-sedan-sales-toyota-camry-leads-in-a-declining-segment/

As I stated in my previous post I can promise you all of these new crossovers or whatever they decide to call these new vehicles, will quickly be able to adapt into a sedan if the sales trends were change.

 

[Plati]

Meanwhile .... Tesla ONLY makes sedans?

 

[Flexpedition]

Meanwhile .... Tesla ONLY makes sedans?

I'd say Model X isn't a sedan, more of a SUV/CUV variant if you have to label it. Upcoming Roadster looks promising.

 

[07xln]

Upcoming Roadster looks promising.

Promising for who? It’s gonna be a $200k plus car.

 

[JExpedition07]

Yeah, nobody is buying sedans...... until nobody drives them and everyone wants to be different and drive a sedan.

 

[Black]

Meanwhile .... Tesla ONLY makes sedans?

And looses money on EVERY sale

 

[stpaulcarguy]

Ford did something stupid and shortsighted that will probably hurt them in the long run?
Heavens to betsy me, I am ever so shocked and surprise.

 

[JExpedition07]

I think it’s a short sighted poorly executed decision on their part in the long term, I guess we will find out.

 

[fordexpylvr]

Huh?

2017 model year sales figures, US and Canada only. 48,077 Fiesta sold. 51,999 Taurus sold. 219,359 Fusion sold. Thats 319,435 units that "people aren't buying". Lets say profit margins are sooooo slim that Ford can only manage to squeeze out an unimaginable single Benjamin Franklin profit per car. Thats $32M in profit per year gone bye bye. You can bet Hyundai, Toyota, and Nissan are shaking their heads and laughing at this move.

If you want to see what people aren't buying, look at Expedition sales numbers.

Jim Hackett might have done a good job with office furniture 20 years ago, I'm not sure that somehow translates into being best suited for automotive manufacturing. Especially with decisions being made like this. He's truly earning the nickname Hack.

 

[fordexpylvr]

The 18 expedition is selling very good surprisingly with the price. With that said used 17 expedition are still priced high. 40k to 45k for a low miles units. Why do you think people aren’t buying them? I really hope you are right so the prices will get lower. I appreciate any insight on this. Thanks

 

[JExpedition07]

The 18 expedition is selling very good surprisingly with the price. With that said used 17 expedition are still priced high. 40k to 45k for a low miles units. Why do you think people aren’t buying them? I really hope you are right so the prices will get lower. I appreciate any insight on this. Thanks

Sales are up from 2017 but he is talking relative to all the other models. The expedition isn’t a large volume seller compared to the other more affordable options. Also if you want to get really technical you can look long term over the life of the Expedition model and sales are relatively low for the 2018 compared to earlier years.

 

[fordexpylvr]

Good info. I am interested in a low mile 17 and find them high priced in my view. I love expeditions and have a 07 very great shape one with only 81k miles. I may end up just keeping it rather than spending what they want for one 10 yrs newer. No payments right now is a great feeling but love the 17

 

[Black]

I think it’s a short sighted poorly executed decision on their part in the long term, I guess we will find out.

I think they’ll be just fine.
Lincoln is still keeping all their sedans so if sales trends go back to cars they can simply adapt those platforms and the majority of their new vehicle lines will be able to quickly be tooled to cars.

Silly to keep a focus on what people really aren’t buying. They know they are highly unlikely to ever touch Honda and Toyota’s market share and with Hyundai and Kia taking more of your market share. Focus on what folks are buying of yours.

For all of Fords 2017 police vehicle sales 80% of those are the Utility Interceptor (Explorer).
SUVs/Crossovers give a lot more versatility than a sedan. Now that their costs are inline with sedans and gas mileage is similar lots of folks are headed that way.

 

[Dorzak]

As it is the crossovers are based on the same platforms as the sedans. They are making all but body and interior still. Also it is announced several years off. Things may change in the meantime.

 

[JExpedition07]

Eliminating cars by 2021...... I think they have major troubles coming. They have the crossovers and SUVs covered pretty well today with Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition etc... the effect adding four new SUVs is going to have is spreading their current SUV customer base out over more models and lose the 350,000 people buying cars.