Ford Culling 80% of Car Lineup, Mustang and Focus Crossover Will Survive [Video]

Want to buy a Ford car? Your options will soon be limited, as Ford shifts resources toward trucks and SUVs

Hoping to stem the flow of diminishing products and cut $25.5 billion in operating costs by 2022, Ford is culling its car lineup. In a move emphasized by truck and SUV demand, the company will stop building the Fusion, C-Max, Taurus, Fiesta and Focus sedan. This will take place over the next few years. The Ford Mustang will remain the only car they build. We will see the Chinese-built Focus, but only as the “Active” crossover.

“We’re going to feed the healthy parts of our business and deal decisively with the areas that destroy value,” Hackett said. “It’s been easy to identify what’s wrong and what we need to do about it. The hand-wringing maybe that has been around in our business is gone. We’re starting to understand what we need to do and making clear decisions there.” – CEO Jim Hackett, in an interview with Detroit News

“Ford realized it can’t be everything to everyone, and in today’s market that could be OK,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds analyst. “The key to success is focusing on where your customers are and where your strengths lie, and for Ford doubling down on trucks and SUVs could be just what the brand needs. But this move isn’t without risk: Ford is willingly alienating its car owners and conceding market share in segments that, while declining, are still relevant to some buyers.”

Heavy investment in hybrids and plug-ins

Despite building larger vehicles, Ford will introduce hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions for every Ford and Lincoln model built in the next two years. Karl Brauer, an industry analyst stated in an interview with Detroit News:

“Modern technology has removed nearly every advantage a car has over an SUV. With the exception of extreme performance or fuel efficiency, there really is no downside to owning a utility vehicle, and there are many advantages in terms of functionality, flexibility and safety. And I can guarantee, these are far from the last car lines we’ll see slashed over the next two years.”

So, not only will cars largely disappear from Ford’s lineup – SUVs will reign supreme. In fact, Ford is planning on 90 percent of their sales coming from trucks or SUVs in the coming years. Investors are liking the news, as stocks jumped 3 percent following the news that Ford is shifting away from less profitable models.

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