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If you weren’t pumped up about the Mustang’s global successes, you might want to start getting excited. While Ford has long been a truck company that happens to sell cars in North America, it has really committed to trimming all the unprofitable vehicles and concentrate on the movers in the SUV and truck segments. Soon only the Focus Active crossover and Mustang will roll off assembly lines.
“We are committed to taking the appropriate actions to drive profitable growth and maximize the returns of our business over the long term,” Jim Hackett, president and CEO, said regarding its first quarter 2018 financial results. “Where we can raise the returns of underperforming parts of our business by making them more fit, we will. If appropriate returns are not on the horizon, we will shift that capital to where we can play and win.”
Over the next few years, the Ford car portfolio in North America will transition to two vehicles… — Ford
Part of making the company more financially fit is killing off underperforming car platforms like the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, and Taurus. As strange as it sounds, the Ford is all about trucks and SUVs going forward with the exception of two notable cars.
As Ford looks to improve its financial standing by culling underperforming car platforms,only the Focus Active crossover and Mustang will continue after 2020.
“Over the next few years, the Ford car portfolio in North America will transition to two vehicles — the best-selling Mustang and the all-new Focus Active crossover coming out next year,” said the company. “The company is also exploring new ‘white space’ vehicle silhouettes that combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility.”
Now you know why Ford Performance recently announced sporty SUVS, like the Edge ST and Explorer ST. Performance still sells, but it has to work with the platforms that are available. Of course, the Focus and Fiesta live on in other parts of the world, so Ford could certainly shift gears back to more cars in the future if the market demands dictate doing so. For now, just breathe a sigh of relief that the original pony car will continue to gallop on into the future as one of Ford’s mainstream vehicles.
