Ford is reportedly considering axing both the Ford Taurus full-size sedan and C-MAX multi-purpose vehicle in the United States market, anonymous sources have told The Detroit News. The Ford Taurus, once the best-selling car in the US, saw its popularity wane drastically throughout the 2000s; sales are currently less than a tenth of what they were at the car’s peak.
Because of that, Ford may pull the plug on the large car in the US by the end of next year, The Detroit News reports. The Ford Taurus was subjected to a complete redesign for the Chinese market for 2016, but the automaker has no plans to bring that updated, seventh-generation model to the US. For the North American market, the car is currently built at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant.
The Ford C-MAX, which could be on the chopping block by early-2019, is a compact MPV based on the Ford Focus. The North American version is built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, and it bears the distinction of being Ford’s first nameplate in the US to be sold exclusively as a hybrid, with both conventional and plug-in hybrid models available.
The news that both the Ford Taurus and C-MAX are now in jeopardy in the US comes just after a report revealed that the brand-new Fiesta, unveiled in Germany late last year, likely won’t reach the North American market.
The reason for all of these things is simple: the market share of crossover and SUV models is expanding rapidly, forcing automakers to reduce their focus on cars, minivans, and other non-truck models.
Comments
I would hate to leave the FORD family if in fact the TAURUS may be discontinued but I will if I have to.
I would love to buy a CONTINENTAL but I could only do so if I took on a lot of debt. I don’t like the FUSION and don’t care for the short wheelbase crossovers that FORD has to offer.
I like sedans in the size range of the TAURUS or bigger. GM is hinting at discontinuing the CHEVROLET IMPALA so if that’s the case, I will look into the DODGE CHARGER, CHRYLSER 300, or TOYOTA AVALON when the time comes.