Ford cuts back truck production
Ford Motor Company is making further reductions to its North American truck production plan while adding more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains, as the company tries to respond to rising fuel costs and the shift away from large trucks and SUVs.
“As gasoline prices average more than $4 a gallon and consumers worry about the weak U.S. economy, we see June industry-wide auto sales slowing further and demand for large trucks and SUVs at one of the lowest levels in decades,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally.
Ford is also delaying the introduction of the new 2009 Ford F-150 by two months to sell down dealer inventory of the current model.
The new F-150 now will go on sale in late fall.
Looks to Europe
Ford will also tap into its European lineup and bring more of those vehicles to North America.
In addition to hatchback and sedan versions of the European-engineered Ford Fiesta small car that goes on sale in North America in early 2010, the four- and five-door versions of the next-generation European Ford Focus small car will be produced in North America beginning in late 2010.
The new Focus will be common with Europe, South America and Asia Pacific and represent the next generation of today’s successful European Focus. Excellent fuel economy will be achieved through new highly efficient direct-injection engine technology and a new advanced six-speed transmission.
The new Focus and Fiesta— as well as other small cars and crossovers from Europe— will be part of an unprecedented period of new Ford product introductions that has only just begun in North America.
The new Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan went on sale this month, and the new F-150 goes on sale in late fall.
New versions of the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ mid-size cars debut late this year, as do all-new hybrid versions of the Fusion and Milan.
Big upgrades
By the end of this year, 70 per cent of all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products by volume in North America will be new or significantly upgraded compared with the 2006 models. By the end of 2010, 100 percent of the product lineup will be new, including in 2009 the next-generation Mustang, new fuel-saving EcoBoost engines and new European Transit Connect.
“We remain absolutely committed to accelerating the development of the new products that customers want and value,” Mulally said. “We sell some of the best smaller cars and utility vehicles in the world in our profitable European and South American operations, and our plan is to introduce these same vehicles in North America as quickly as possible. This is an integral part of our plan to leverage our global assets and achieve our goal of profitable growth.”
