bzcat

Correct... I don't see Fusion moving out of Hermosillo. And it makes sense to do the 2nd Escape plant in Cuautitlán for the same reason.

First, none of those vehicles are likely to be only 25-50k a year. They would all be more than 50k a year easily. Second, you do realize all those vehicles are basically just the same car with several different body styles right? Not any different than what's going on now with Focus hatchback, sedan, and tall wagon (C-Max). They will be all based on the same platform, and share similar drivetrain, and most of the interior trim.

Well, I'm sure C-Max will land in China eventually. But we won't be getting it from China anytime soon. Ford can't build enough cars in China to satisfy demand there so they are a long ways away from exporting cars from China.

Ford is probably expecting the new C3 hybrid/PHEV to be a big seller. Let say 100k worldwide? Seems achievable. Ford is selling 50k Transit Connect in the US now with a very long supply chain. If production is localized (therefore, better inventory mix) and let say Ford wins the USPS van contract, you can easily see sales reach 75k a year. Plus Canada and Mexico (I'm going to guess 15k). Now add Transit Connect pickup truck, which add 30k a year? Maybe a little more? Now we are up to 220~230k... enough to keep MAP busy.

Thanks... I've corrected my post

I forgot FCA but it does offer a C-segment hatch with Jeep Compass. Mitsubishi is not mainstream. It barely exists.

Let me consult my sources... My sources say it will be US Spec Taurus. \

But that's what European customers want - a higher riding hatchback. And it's also what American consumers want... judging by the smashing debut of Honda HR-V. Ford was actually ahead of the curve with the original Fusion (the high riding Fiesta, not the midsize sedan) but instead of improving the car with better styling, it decided to replace it with Ecosport, which was going in the opposite direction where the market is headed. The B-segment CUV was and still is trending more car like, not faux butch SUV.

My guess is it MAP will get the new C3 platform hybrid and PHEV + Transit Connect and upcoming compact pickup truck. C3 hybrid in 2017 while Focus winds down. Next generation Transit Connect and pickup in 2018 after Focus completely vacates MAP. That will keep the plant busy with 2 shifts. ~~~ Or ~~~ Alternate hypothesis... The timing seems to suggest the new Explorer (2018). What that says about Chicago... I don't know.

Since about 2002, but 2016 Maxima grew an inche longer (but Altima is due for update in 2017 so it could regain the lead in length). There is basically no functional difference in size between Altima and Maxima... the relationship between these two models is similar to VW Passat vs. CC or Mercedes E-class vs. CLS... Maxiam is the "4 door coupe" version of Altima. Maxima is not a full size sedan like Taurus or La Crosse (or Avalon, Impala, Charger etc). Fusion and 2016 Taurus have meaningful difference in size - different wheelbase, half a foot difference in length, etc. Previous gen 2007-13 Altima L 190.7" x W 70.7" x H 58" Wheelbase 109.3" 2008-14 Maxima L 190.6" x W 73.2" x H 57.8" Wheelbase 109.3" Current gen 2014 Altima L 191.3" x W 72" x H 57.9" Wheelbase 109.3" 2016 Maxima L 192.8" x W 73.2" x H 56.5" Wheelbase 109.3" vs. Ford 2015 Fusion (US spec) L 190.6" x W 72.2" x H 56.9" Wheelbase 107.4" L 191.7" x W 72.9" x H 58.1" Wheelbase 112.2" 2016 Taurus (Chinese spec) L 196.8" Wheelbase 116.1"

More like Buick Regal vs. Buick LaCrosse. Maxima is actually marginally smaller than Altima.

Nissan will be the only mainstream car company in the US to not offer at least 1 C-segment 5 door hatchback in 2016 model year so I think it's clear to most car companies that younger buyers have a preference for hatchback and they all want to be on the consideration list. Ford: Focus GM: Cruze (2016), Volt Toyoya: Scion iM (2016), Scion xB, Prius, Lexus CT Honda: Civic (2016) Nissan: nada Hyundai: Elantra GT Kia: Forte5 Subaru: Impreza, XV Mazda: 3 VW: Golf, Audi A3 (2016)

That's not a big surprise... EcoSport will guarantee higher transaction price and margin than Fiesta and B-segment growth is all going to be in CUVs. But I hope we will continue to get Fiesta from somewhere. And if the market trend continues, C-segment CUVs are going to grow at the expense D segments cars so it makes sense for Ford to plan more C-segment capacity in NAFTA zone.

Visualize the rear 1/4 of the new 2016 Volt with the new 2016 Cruze front 3/4

Read the report yourself. Page 52 has the scope which includes "MCV" + "LCV" - basically class 4-8. What you should note is the sheer amount of trucks sold in China... how many class 4-8 trucks does Ford sell in China? Remember, this is a global ranking. http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/Documents/strategy/DELO_Truck-Studie-2014-s.pdf

Yes, but not this generation. I'm sure Robert has been asked to generate some opinion on this... Make sure the next one is designed for US consumption from the beginning please. Ford really needs two different tiny CUVs... one that is less than 4 meters long for India, and one that is a full B-segment size to compete with other offerings in the class.

Well, "small fry" is relative term... sure, but Isuzu is definitely small on a global scale. In 2014, it didn't even make the top 10. Isuzu has significant presence in Asia but so does Daimler (Mitsubishi FUSO) and Volvo (UD). In most Asian markets, Isuzu is #3 behind FUSO and Hino. On a global scale, Isuzu is not that big as it is a minor player in North America, and hardly a blip on the radar in Europe and South America. Commercial truck company size (by sales volume) in 2014 1. Daimler (Mercedes, Freightliner, Western Star, Mitsubishi FUSO) 2. Dongfeng 3. Volvo (Volvo, Mack, Renault, UD) 4. VW Group (MAN, Scania, VW Trucks) 5. FAW 6. Paccar (Peterbilt, Kenworth, DAF) 7. Tata Group (Tata, Daewoo) 8. China National Heavy Truck 9. BAIC 10. Navistar Ford and Toyota (Hino) is also outside the top 10 but they are much larger car companies overall.

I think a HUGE Govt order could sway that decision... e.g. USPS van tender.

Actually, they are not. Internally, GM is referring to the XT5 platform as C1xx, or Chi I. It is the SUV version of upcoming Espilon III.

GM, Isuzu, Navistar... I'm calling it the medium duty axis of evil These 3 are the non-aligned players in the US - and even more so in a global perspective... they are small fries in commercial trucks vs. Daimler, Toyota, Paccar, VW Group, Tata Daewoo, and Ford. So make sense for them to join forces against the big gorilla.

Impala Limited = Chevelle Malibu Limited = Corsica Cruze Limited = Cavalier Sonic Limited (like that's not going to happen when the new one comes out ) = Chevette

LOL what the kind of drugs are you on? Chicken Tax is not being repealed. How is rebadge a vehicle not made in TPP country (e.g. Brazil, India, or China) going to help skirt the Chicken Tax? Like I said before, educate yourself before you participate in these discussions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Partnership

Yes, that's why all the US and EU car companies are supporting TTIP. Euro NCAP and NHTSA NCAP are pretty close anyway, same with Euro emission and EPA emission standards beyond 2017. If TTIP becomes law, the US and EU will likely allow manufacturer to sell cars in both area if the vehicle meet either Euro NCAP or NHTSA NCAP, or allow car makers to submit test data from one tests for both markets. So in practice, Ford may decide to significantly expand exports from US to EU (e.g. add Explorer and more Mustang niche models) if they don't need to go through costly EU type certificaition. Similarly, Audi or BMW may decide that without cost US Federalization process, they can offer more high performance wagons in the US.

I thought Theta platform is done? The compact Theta (Chevy Captiva, Buick Envision, Caddy XT3) will be using a version of the Delta III platform (Buick Envision is already on sale in China). The midsize Theta (Caddy SRX/XT5, Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain) are supposedly moving to SWB version Espilon III platform. The large Lambda (Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia) are moving to LWB version of Espilon III platform.

That's not really been the German brands' calling card in the US. Audi, Mercedes and BMW are successful in the US because they localized and made their cars according to American preference. VW too... with one glaring exception. Americans like V8 engine - German 3 made midsize cars with big V8 engines American buy sedans and doesn't like wagon or hatchbacks - German 3 introduce more sedans and got rid of their wagons and hatchbacks Americans prefer automatics - German 3 made all their cars available with automatic Americans demand SUV - German 3 made SUV a priority Americans love cup holders and leather seats - German 3 made all their cars and SUV with lots of cup holders and got rid of clothes seats etc VW actually sells plenty of cars in the US - it outsold Subaru, Mazda, FCA, and Kia in cars last year. But VW completely failed the SUV test with American buyers. And that has much to do with Piech's micromanaging than anything else. The big advantage European brands will have with TTIP is actually in cars - they will be able to significantly lower their cost of business because US and Europe will harmonize vehicle safety and emission standards. The German 3 won't have to create different versions of the same car just for US markets and they can sell their niche high performance models much easier on both sides. The Chicken tax thing is a bonus in that it will allow primarily VW to enter the commercial busines that they were shut out before. Daimler is already in the commerical business in the US but they will have more opportunity to expand. Commercial vans are not relevant to BMW obviously.