Back in 2018, Ford made the somewhat shocking announcement that it had decided to cease selling virtually every passenger car in its North American lineup, save for the Ford Mustang and Ford Focus Active. The latter of those two models never made it to the states either, as Ford nixed that idea after then-President Donald Trump imposed strict tariffs on China, where the model is produced. Regardless, it’s worth noting that the automaker’s transition is now essentially complete, as Ford SUV and truck sales accounted for a full 94 percent of its product mix as of the end of April.
Over the last couple of years, The Blue Oval has discontinued the Ford Fiesta, Fusion, Taurus, Focus, Lincoln MKZ, and Lincoln Continental from its North American lineup. Over that same time period, it has also introduced a number of new Ford SUV and crossover models to the lineup, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford Bronco Sport, with more – like the Ford Bronco, a Ford and Lincoln EV crossover, and up to two European models built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform.
While Ford’s sales results have been uneven over the last couple of years, it’s difficult to gauge the exact impact these changes have had given the lasting effects of the current semiconductor chip shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic. Regardless, the automaker enjoyed a strong April, with sales climbing 65 percent year-over-year.
Back when it first announced its decision to forgo most passenger car sales in North America back in 2018, the automaker said that it expected roughly 90 percent of its product mix to consist of Ford SUV and truck models by 2020 – a figure it has now exceeded. That’s certainly a win for the automaker, which isn’t planning on bringing sedans back to North America anytime soon. Unfortunately, that also bad news for those coveting beautifully designed sedans destined for other countries – like the new Lincoln Zephyr Reflection concept.
We’ll have more on Ford’s changing product mix very soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
Since they are basically out of the automobile market the number is not amazing. Geniuses all.
Since I’m not willing to buy an SUV or a crossover for the simple reason that I don’t like them and a truck doesn’t satisfy my needs, after 30 years buying Ford products, I will buy from now on somewhere else but I will continue buying sedans. Maybe I belong to a minority, but since Ford doesn’t offer what I want and need, I will buy with the one who does.
Dropping all sedans from the product mix was the dumbest decision I have ever seen. I am a sedan buyer and have been a loyal Ford customer for over 50 years. When my current Lincoln is up for replacement I guess I’ll go to BMW, Audi, or Mercedes, even though it may have to be a used certified one.
The Hackett / Farley crew will prove to be disaster for this company in the long run.
Well….DUH…Ford really doesn’t have a legitimate Sedan Model lineup….so naturally 90% of all sales are trucks and SUV’s.
When it comes time for me to give up either my Mustang or SHO, Ford won’t even be in the running (after my owning Ford product exclusively for over 40 years). I’m not in the market for any SUV or truck, I’ll be looking at Audi or perhaps Mazda when their new 6 comes out. I didn’t leave Ford, Ford left me.