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Old 27th April 2018, 09:21   #31
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

To me what this means a strategic move out of fossil based sedans. I expect Ford to develop formidable EVs (for EU & US atleast). Given the rise of Uber/Ola, The personal car segment can be expeted to shrink and this move is in step with this assumption.

However, the marquee cars will still be a "personal" car and thus the mustang is continnued. The focus as it is a verasatile platform can be used to develop all kinds of models right form the hatch to the convertible.

Trucks anywhich ways are growing and half of the SUVs are built on common platforms. So i dont see a sense in discontinuing SUVs in principle
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Old 27th April 2018, 11:19   #32
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Dates of cars that will be phased out in US have been revealed,

- Focus Production will end in May 2018
- Taurus in March 2019
- Fiesta in May 2019

Quote:
As for the Fusion, which has raised concerns about the fate of the Euro-spec Mondeo, it will stick around for a while
Focus Active will be imported from China starting in mid-2019.


Source:

Last edited by volkman10 : 27th April 2018 at 11:26.
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Old 3rd May 2018, 11:34   #33
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

whatever happened to "fleet average mileage" criteria. Is it still in place? These norms, in addition to pollution norms, will surely be stricter in the future. How does Ford plan to fulfill the "fleet average mileage" criteria with a majority of SUVs in its portfolio?
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Old 3rd May 2018, 13:31   #34
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

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Originally Posted by jessie007 View Post
whatever happened to "fleet average mileage" criteria. Is it still in place? These norms, in addition to pollution norms, will surely be stricter in the future. How does Ford plan to fulfill the "fleet average mileage" criteria with a majority of SUVs in its portfolio?
CAFE rules were put in place as a political move to sock the working class, the Trump administration sees that as detrimental, and they are, to American interests.

The hybrid and EV lineup will help with mileage norms, crossover aren't trucks, just cars riding a bit higher. The doomsday scenario of high oil prices will affect full size trucks and SUVs, crossovers are here to stay.

People won't buy Ford sedans, but they will think that the company should keep selling them. Beyond the Fiesta and Focus, SUVs are where the action is, sedans are pretty much on life support, even the Accord became a sport back in its latest generation.
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Old 3rd May 2018, 15:36   #35
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

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Originally Posted by avira_tk View Post
crossover aren't trucks, just cars riding a bit higher.
Not so sure. When we lived in the USA 2009-2012, My 1998 Jeep Cherokee was classified as a truck. never understood what the criteria for such a classification was.

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Old 3rd May 2018, 16:54   #36
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

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Originally Posted by Jeroen View Post
Not so sure. When we lived in the USA 2009-2012, My 1998 Jeep Cherokee was classified as a truck. never understood what the criteria for such a classification was.

Jeroen
The vehicle weight is the deciding criteria, with less taxes on 4wd than more fuel efficient front wheel drive versions. Wiki says that post 2013, but compact suvs are classified as those with less than 6000lbs gross vehicle weight rating.

Taxes favour SUVs, sort of a reverse sub 4m rule. Full size trucks are exempt from EPA ratings and CAFE, which is why you see trucks larger than houses with small 5.4 litre v8 engines as the entry to the range.
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Old 3rd May 2018, 17:04   #37
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Quote:
Originally Posted by avira_tk View Post
The vehicle weight is the deciding criteria, with less taxes on 4wd than more fuel efficient front wheel drive versions. Wiki says that post 2013, but compact suvs are classified as those with less than 6000lbs gross vehicle weight rating.

Taxes favour SUVs, sort of a reverse sub 4m rule. Full size trucks are exempt from EPA ratings and CAFE, which is why you see trucks larger than houses with small 5.4 litre v8 engines as the entry to the range.
My experience is up to 2012:
A 98 Cherokee only weighs in at about 1500kg, say 3200 lbs or so. Plenty of regular Sedans in the USA that weight considerable more. Heck my Jaguar in the USA weighed close to two tonnes. (4500lBs) but was definitely not classified as a truck!

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Old 3rd May 2018, 18:25   #38
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeroen View Post
never understood what the criteria for such a classification was.
Quote:
Originally Posted by avira_tk View Post
The vehicle weight is the deciding criteria, with less taxes on 4wd than more fuel efficient front wheel drive versions.
I think the Classification is also State dependent. E.g., if I remember correctly, in NY State, SUVs & pick-ups are always classified as passenger vehicles, unless you specifically register them for commercial use.
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Old 10th May 2018, 15:53   #39
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Ford announces more changes are coming : Europe, S. America in sights.

Quote:
It could be regions, it could be functions, it could be areas of emphasis.
Quote:
We’ve done some big things, and we still have some big things to do
Quote:
Figuring out how to make Ford of Europe sustainably profitable has become a priority within the company again after a disappointing performance in the region last year.

Link
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Old 14th May 2018, 23:39   #40
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO View Post
- What's going to happen when petrol prices climb? Historically, in every major gas price hike, the USA market has moved to smaller cars bigtime. Ford will be caught with its pants down then.

Ford is basically handing the sedan & small car market on a silver platter to its USA competitors and those from Japan / Korea (Camry, Corolla, Accord & Civic will gain bigtime). Toyota & Honda sell well over a million of these every year in the USA
I happened to be in US now for some official things, people here speak on this topic and the above two points of GTO is kind of what they feel like. I do agree that USA is a SUV/Pickup country and also they feel proud to own an American car. The Dodge and Jeep sell good too.

But the reliability and fuel economy of Japanese, Korean cars have a strong appeal. Ford had been losing its steam in that segment. Whenever big organizations are not doing well, first thing they do is an age old management trick "RE_ORG". When RE_ORG fails, then fat-shed and layoffs follow.

They changed their CEO an year ago, the new guy also could not push things well. What is now happening is probably the fat shedding phase.

Last edited by Thermodynamics : 14th May 2018 at 23:41. Reason: mistakes
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Old 26th July 2018, 08:55   #41
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Ford's profit plummets by almost half, cuts 2018 outlook.


Quote:
Ford's second-quarter earnings plunged by almost 50 percent and the company lowered its 2018 earnings projections, citing a disruption in the production of its popular F-150 pickup truck and heavy losses in China during the quarter.
Quote:
Ford, the No. 2 U.S. automaker, also postponed a meeting with investors that was scheduled for September. The company said it would be rescheduled when “more specifics can be shared on global redesign and restructuring.
Quote:
It’s clear that the redesign is going to be fundamental and it’s going to be deep and it’s going to really address these underperforming parts of the business

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Old 26th July 2018, 11:54   #42
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

"Shanks said Ford would improve the performance of underperforming units or dispose of them."



Just out of curiosity, how would Shanks rate the performance of its Indian operations?

They kicked out a homegrown auto guy at heart with a furniture salesman who's on a mission that was supposed to keep Wall Street happy. I don't know where is this is heading to.
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Old 7th August 2018, 11:10   #43
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

Ford is rumoured to be in the process of exiting S American market. The business could be sold to VW or FCA .

Ford however denies the deal.

Quote:
Michigan-based Ford hasn’t shown a pretax profit in South America since 2012 and has lost $4.2 billion in the market since then.
Quote:
Fiat Chrysler, VW are said to have been approached by Ford

Quote:
If Ford finds a buyer for the business, the company would be following in the footsteps of General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra. Under Barra, GM has either pulled back from or exited troubled markets such as Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Europe to focus on technology development.

Source:
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Old 7th August 2018, 11:57   #44
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

The American market is totally different from the Indian market. So comparing it here is wrong.
The Americans mainly prefer bigger SUV's or trucks as they are called.
Just look at the new 2018 Ford Raptor. It's a wonderful truck with many super features. It's doing very well and is compared to the full size Nissan truck.

If Ford has taken this brave decision then it's definitely by excessive discussions over a period of time amoung the top bosses. They have definitely weighed the pros and cons and come to a collective decision. We as an individual or as a Teambhp group can just comment on it.
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Old 25th August 2018, 19:09   #45
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Re: Ford USA to end sales of small cars & sedans; only Mustang, Focus & SUVs to survive

An interesting and detailed piece on Americans falling out of love with sedans appears in today's Wall Street Journal (it's behind a paywall, but I think one can access it from WSJ's facebook page), with this priceless quote which reminded me of their justification for guns:
Gordie Stewart, a Toyota dealer near Birmingham, Ala., said customers often cite the safety factor when choosing SUVs. Mr. Stewart is a believer himself.

In the fall of 2015, his teenage son texted a picture of himself standing roadside next to his crumpled Toyota 4Runner SUV, which had just been totaled in a crash. His son walked away unhurt. Mr. Stewart has since replaced the SUV with another 4Runner and now three of his son’s friends drive the same model.

“If everyone else out there is driving black SUVs like the CIA and you get in an accident in your small car, you’re gonna lose,” Mr. Stewart said.
A point to consider, nonetheless!
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