The future of the Ford Escape has been in doubt for some time now, with various rumors flying around suggesting that the compact crossover may be facing discontinuation in the coming years. However, nothing concrete has been reported on that particular topic thus far, though a new report indicates that production of the Ford Escape will indeed end in the somewhat near future.
That report comes to us from Automotive News, which reports that Ford Escape production at the Louisville Assembly plant is slated to end by the conclusion of 2025, after which The Blue Oval will focus on the Ford Bronco Sport as its compact crossover of choice. However, the report also claims that Ford plans to launch an all-electric compact crossover later this decade, though it’s unclear if it will utilize the Escape nameplate.
Rumors of the Escape’s demise originally surfaced back in mid-2022, when Ford CEO Jim Farley indirectly hinted that the model may be facing cancelation. A few months later, Farley stated that the company was planning on ditching ICE-powered two-row crossovers altogether, with the Ford Edge going away since then. As Ford Authority reported in November 2023, Ford’s new master contract agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW) stated that the Escape and Lincoln Corsair would only be built through the “planned product lifecycle” of each, after which an “all new EV product will be added.”
This past March, that report was seemingly confirmed by another report indicating that Ford’s new low-cost EV platform was slated to underpin a crossover produced at Louisville. However, just last week, Ford itself revealed that the first product riding on that new architecture would be a mid-size pickup – not the expected crossover – potentially putting its future in doubt.
We’ll have more on the future of the Ford Escape soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Escape news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
100% pathetic.
Agree!
This makes no sense to me. The Escape sells pretty well, more than the Bronco Sport. Plus replacing with an EV that will sell even fewer is baffling.
Agree!
Killing off a legendary 25 year nameplate for EV garbage that nobody wants.
Agree!
We have a 2022 Lincoln Nautilus now and had planned in the future to downsize to a Corsair because the new Nautilus is made in China now instead of Canada. This possible throws that plan out the window as we will only have 30k on it at the end of 2025, to soon to trade.
Bad decicions by Ford, build Hybrids which are what people will buy!
It’s never too soon to trade .
😍Ford loves you! 😘
Is the mustang next?
This would definitely be a terrible decision – I know Ford lost significant market share with the Escape, so instead of actually improving the product they will just kill it? LOL….
The 2020+ gen has an interior that belongs in a $20k car….and also a bit too small compared to the competition…so I guess Ford will just fully give up this segment to Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia?…
EV junk won’t sell…!
Bad decicions by Ford, build Hybrids which are what people will buy!
We’ll also buy V6’s (and V8’s for trucks). We went to GM for a 3 row SUV last year because of all the turbo garbage in Fords.
Now GM is producing the same stupidity.
Sounds like BS to me, but then again Automotive News is less than accurate on many occasions.
Actually, come to think of it, if it’s going out of production at the end of the ’25 model year, why on earth is Ford fussing so much with the ’25 (they’ve done dumber things lately, but…)? What diff would it make? I actually think this report is BS and that Ford will pull an “Edge” with it, and it’ll be around at least through the ’27 model year, when Ford hopes that EVs rule the roost. Needs a redo now, not later.
Even if they keep it going 1 more year like they did with th e Edge, they won’t refresh it, just like they did nothing to the Edge for the 2024 modelyear.
Ford has given up to many good name plates and replaced with costly replacement….now when they getting away from 3 row evs …this would be perfect replacement…instead they kill it…EV they learn one day…is niche until they get infrasture in place…and spend most of that money on Quaility….nothing matters is Quaility is not good…and Ford is worse of bunch…lost $4,8 billion last year.. in quaility issues….not counting the anger customers they lose in future..Ford seemly keeps looking for that future customer…at expense of current one..it time to shake up the glasshouse in management..
Worst? I’d say Stellantis is even worse, but you have a point.
At this rate they will only sell trucks. The Escape is the only vehicle my wife and will buy, as it’s the only two row SUV Ford makes. The minute they cancel it is the end of my 46 years of Being a Ford guy. Plus I like the Chevy Trailblazer better with the integrated touch screen, unlike the tacky stand along Ford screens. Plus I found out I can purchase one for the same price or less than my AXZ plan price . So done with Ford in a year or so forever . They keep dropping vehicles, a and only 4 look alike boring SUVs at Lincoln , wonder if they will be out of business in the next 10 years? They sure deserve it , and are working hard to go out of business. Keep up the product cutting and worst in the industry quality
I have a 2010,2015,and 2019 Escape. If they discontinue the Escape I will be looking elsewhere. I love the Escape and see So many on the road. My favorite SUV by far. Wrong decision as far as I am concerned .
I can’t imagine that this will prove to be true, but if it is then Ford is just pushing folks to the competition. If they do proceed as indicated, then they deserve what they get (lost market share). Not that many people (relatively speaking) will buy an Escape sized EV, even if it starts at $30K. The people who want an EV already have a lot of choices.
This guy Farley continues to act as if he can force people to buy what he wants to make, instead of making what customers want to buy. I can’t believe the Ford family, who pretty much has voting control of the company, tolerates this arrogance. Just recently he said “over half of all Ford customers would be better off with an electric vehicle”. How the hell does he know that? He doesn’t know me and he is not going to speak for me. My first new Ford was a 1964 Galaxie; my new 2024 Escape (2.0L ICE) may be my last. It was a fun 60 years car-wise, with only a few excursions outside the Ford family, but it seems it will end.
Ford knows exactly how far their customers are driving every day because they collect that and MUCH more data from all their vehicles.
I agree with all the comments here. What is ford thinking? I have a 2017 Lincoln MKX and I am not replacing it with an all-electric. What they need to do is do some minor tweaks to the interior and do a Toyota and make it a Hybrid only (with AWD standard). Don’t even need the plug-in version in the mix. Just Hybrid AWD standard across all trim levels. That would guarantee excellent sales, production and employment there for 10 years minimum.
When Ford introduced the Bronco Sport, basically a more butch version of the Escape, I figured the latter’s days were numbered. Ford seems to love its “sub-brands” Bronco and Mustang.
I’m not sure what Ford is thinking. They’re killing off models with no replacement in sight.
The Edge is gone, leaving Ford without a midsize 2 row CUV. And now the Escape is destined to end, although the Bronco Sport is a replacement, especially if they offer a version with a longer wheelbase, as the backseat in the Escape has more legroom.
But there were supposed to be various “sport wagon” type vehicles (like the Subaru Outback) to replace the Focus and Fusion. Nothing.
Ford doesn’t have an inexpensive vehicle any more. The Maverick has seen its base price climb $10k just since it was introduced. It now costs more than a Ranger did at that point.
I really don’t get what Ford is doing. What I see is a company that is adrift, with some very good vehicles keeping them moving vaguely in the right direction, but with no sense that there’s anyone with a clue as to what the destination is.
And I know a big part of the problem is the electric vehicle mandates in Canada and the U.S. Automakers have to deal with that even though it’s become clear they aren’t feasible given the lack of infrastructure needed to support them, generating capacity, and lack of raw materials necessary to build all those batteries. But until governments acknowledge the problems and switch to a hybrid mandate, manufacturers are caught.
But other manufacturers, like GM, don’t seem to be having the same problems. So what’s Ford’s excuse?
The Focus Active was supposed to be made in China and exported to the USA. Trump’s auto tariffs killed that idea.
They should keep building it. Not everyone is going to want a Bronco Sport or a Maverick. Having something with on road handling chops appeals to some. And it’s not like the platform or drivetrains are going away
They need to make a new and improved hybrid version and it would be a huge hit. That is what they should be pushing for 2026. Instead they want to kill it. Ugh. Farley is an fool and needs to go.
Right now I drive a 2017 Ford Escape with lots of luxury on it works great In time was going to trade it in for another one but Ford is doing away with certain equipment like Ambient Lighting so Hyundai or Kia might be Next on my list
I am trying to understand the logic behind doing away with models you do sell and focus on models you can’t pay people to take off your lots. I honestly believe that the Bronco, especially in its current form, should have stayed dead and buried next to a Los Angeles highway.
Look at the CARB ZEV mandate for your answer. 45% of US vehicles are sold in states that use CARB emission standard.
2027 is also when EPA Tier 4 kicks in which will require particulate filters for gas DI turbo engines. (Maverick Ecoboost got one for 2025 to book credits ahead of 2027)
You have the EU going electric even faster than the USA
I thought they were going to build more hybrid vehicles. So they axe the Fusion, C- Max and now Escape. All had hybrid options. I’ve owned a Escape hybrid 41+ mpg. Fusion PHEV 60+ mpg.
Ford is dropping hybrid vehicles not building more. That’s why I now have a 2023 Santa Fe Limited PHEV 84+ mpg.
By the way I ordered a 2023 hybrid Maverick that never got built !