Ford giving up on Fiesta, Focus and Fusion

[sullynd]

Maybe he'll complain once, but then he will go to other burger places that make food that he likes.

Well, Im sorry, it didnt occur to me. Im sure as soon as he hung up the sales guy called Ford and put a stop to it.

 

The sales guy has as much influence on ford as the teenager who takes your order at McDs.

[Assimilator]

Maybe he'll complain once, but then he will go to other burger places that make food that he likes. Myself, I don't want a Focus Active, especially one manufactured in the PRC. I will likely find my next new car at a VW dealer. They'll still be selling proper compact Euro-flavored cars.

You may want to stop patronizing people.

 

But it's okay if it's Made in Mexico and profits go to Germany?

 

I don't get it, with so much of what we buy made in China you'd think a car wouldn't be the last straw, especially when an American company profits by doing business in China. It's not like Ford is going to China for cheap labor, they are going to China for sustainable production capacity for a car that has been COSTING them money to make and sell in the US. Chinese production could ensure sustainable product diversity. I've always looked at it as an opportunity for those who still wanted those products as they continued to shrink in the US but remain viable in China. But obviously that's not really happening anyway and was probably never viable (Escort, Taurus, Focus, Fusion are all names that carry on in China but not here).

 

I know that's not really the issue in your argument since you're not satisfied with the product, but I just take issue with the conceit that Focus Active is bad because it's made in China. I'm not saying Ford shouldn't be discouraged from moving production to China, but I don't think the incentive to do so has anything to do with labor costs since they are rapidly increasing in China anyway and transportation adds signficantly to cost.

 

I know FoE runs a fairly tight ship when it comes to production capacity but it's possible now that we're down to Focus Active, we might get EU production instead, although I imagine there is some cost benefits to importing from China. I still think we might get the Focus ST/RS for the US but I admit it's probably unlikely since they've been fairly poor sellers anyway.

 

The same argument holds true for the EcoSport, Ford is balancing global production effeciency for lower volume/margin products.

 

A profitable Ford is welcome for all Ford employees.

 

I do feel for the people frustrated by the loss of their preferred Ford since it's clear not everything has a direct successor, but it really comes down to the fact that Ford has to prioritize profits and shedding those customers is something they've had to do many times before.

Edited May 1, 2018 by Assimilator

[351cid]

Not that I owe you any kind of explanation; but since you were so kind to jump to an asinine assumption, I want to remind you of something. In 1986 or 87; the great powers that be at Ford had decided the rear drive, V8 Mustang wasn't selling enough and needed to be replaced. What eventually became the Probe & Probe GT were the replacements. There was an out cry from the public, & the Fox body was continued until the SN-95 made its debut.

 

As well, I had had a conversation with the same guy a few weeks back on this very subject.

 

I'll assume when you go to a store to buy jeans & all they sell are slacks, you just buy them and walk away.

[351cid]

Not that I owe you any kind of explanation; but since you were so kind to jump to an asinine assumption, I want to remind you of something. In 1986 or 87; the great powers that be at Ford had decided the rear drive, V8 Mustang wasn't selling enough and needed to be replaced. What eventually became the Probe & Probe GT were the replacements. There was an out cry from the public, & the Fox body was continued until the SN-95 made its debut.

 

As well, I had had a conversation with the same guy a few weeks back on this very subject.

 

I'll assume when you go to a store to buy jeans & all they sell are slacks, you just buy them and walk away.

[TBirdStangSkyliner]

Three things seem apparent, 1) Toyota is the behemoth that can stay in every segment they desire through cyclical changes in tastes and fuel prices. 2) Soothsaying posters are more full of BS as the voracity of their statements increase. The mostly departed Mr Jensen berated, for years, anyone who suggested that there could be rational business cases made for new generations of; Expeditions, Navigators, Broncos, Rangers, RWD's, and for the platform we now know as the CD6. 3) Having flexible enough platforms to adapt to shifting market demands and energy prices is smart design and economics.

[Assimilator]

Nothing today can be compared to yesterday, that much I've learned about the auto industry.

[jpd80]

Are they not ready to fess up about Chinese Mondeo?

Edited May 1, 2018 by jpd80

[MKX1960]

 

I really don't understand the hatred for the Focus Active. IT'S A FOCUS HATCH WITH BLACK CLADDING AND A 3 CM LIFT. If you and others hate it so much, then you don't like Focus to begin with.

I think a lot of people will always think of the Focus as the car that has CVT issues every 2 years. Any time there's a Ford add someone is sure to say something like "does this one have transmission issue too"? Then a long string of mines been in 3,4, 5 times and still not right.

[MKX1960]

Once Ford said it was ending Fusion, it almost compels them to show the replacement vehicle. I go back to what Akirby said, they didnt need to do that yet, just let the press speculate.

The announcement threw up more questions than answers.... about everything

Ford just through laying out a plan and this announcement makes it sound like that plan went out the window. People are in total confusion now.

[jpd80]

Ford just through laying out a plan and this announcement makes it sound like that plan went out the window. People are in total confusion now.

I wonder if they chickened out on saying that there would be a second Chinese sourced vehicle.

Several posters have speculated that perhaps something like a "Mondeo Active" may become the

Fusion's replacement in a couple of years time...

Edited May 1, 2018 by jpd80

[sullynd]

I think a lot of people will always think of the Focus as the car that has CVT issues every 2 years. Any time there's a Ford add someone is sure to say something like "does this one have transmission issue too"? Then a long string of mines been in 3,4, 5 times and still not right.

When did the Focus get a CVT?

 

Most people dont know about the issues with the DCT.

[rmc523]

Taking styling cues from Pontiac is a smart thing?

 

An no...I'm not really crazy about the Focus. That is why I bought a Fusion. The other choice was a Taurus. Focus was never in the mix.

 

Lol. Really? two little pieces of plastic on the wheel well openings, and now it's a Pontiac covered in plastic everywhere?

 

Ok, there we go. You never liked Focus to begin with, so naturally you wouldn't like the new one. That doesn't make the new one a bad vehicle.

 

I think this is why I loved this announcement because it's so uncharacteristically and mercifully definitive. I knew it was coming so I'm glad I no longer have to constantly persuade people that it was coming and why it makes sense.

 

What Ford epically failed to anticipate is how the news would be reported, so now everybody just assumes all these cars are going away tomorrow and they have no follow ups...Ford is doomed, buy a Chevy right now!

 

Ah well, like everything else it takes time for people to get it and perception is always going to be a struggle.

 

And if Ford is loosing money on most of those sales, the risk is actually pretty low and might help them make that transition sooner. If Ford isn't going to make cars, I might as well just buy this EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer and join the modern era instead of just doing what I'm use to doing and buying the newest 4-door trunk thing.

 

Even if Ford had said "Focus will end on month, day, year," "Taurus will end month, day, year", Fusion will end "month day year (2 years down the road)" in their release, that still wouldn't be reported. It'd still have been "FORD DISCONTINUING ALL CARSSSSS", implying that they'll all be gone tomorrow. Nobody cares about facts these days, they just want to make some astonishing headline to get views.

 

---

 

My opinion - they could have shared Fiesta/Taurus' death --as we knew those were coming-- touched on the MAP Focus ending production and about the coming Focus Active, talked about how Mustang is a Ford icon and not going anywhere, and left Fusion out of it for now, saying Fusion will continue production. Fusion is continuing another 2 years, with the others only one at most. All the announcement on Fusion now will do is crater sales going forward for those two years. Maybe that's what they want, but seems stupid to me.

 

Then at a later date, closer to EOP, they can discuss Fusion's future, and saying "hey, Fusion may be going away in its current form, but *whoosh* (pulls back cover on the new "white space model A") look at what we have to move that market forward and into the future! That approach helps ease current concerns, while also giving the media/buyers a vision of the future - something to take their mind of a Fusion sedan going away.

 

They chose the "rip the band-aid off all at once" approach, though.

Edited May 1, 2018 by rmc523

[silvrsvt]

 

Lol. Really? two little pieces of plastic on the wheel well openings, and now it's a Pontiac covered in plastic everywhere?

 

Ok, there we go. You never liked Focus to begin with, so naturally you wouldn't like the new one. That doesn't make the new one a bad vehicle.

 

 

Even if Ford had said "Focus will end on month, day, year," "Taurus will end month, day, year", Fusion will end "month day year (2 years down the road)" in their release, that still wouldn't be reported. It'd still have been "FORD DISCONTINUING ALL CARSSSSS", implying that they'll all be gone tomorrow. Nobody cares about facts these days, they just want to make some astonishing headline to get views.

 

---

 

My opinion - they could have shared Fiesta/Taurus' death --as we knew those were coming-- touched on the MAP Focus ending production and about the coming Focus Active, talked about how Mustang is a Ford icon and not going anywhere, and left Fusion out of it for now, saying Fusion will continue production. Fusion is continuing another 2 years, with the others only one at most. All the announcement on Fusion now will do is crater sales going forward for those two years. Maybe that's what they want, but seems stupid to me.

 

Then at a later date, closer to EOP, they can discuss Fusion's future, and saying "hey, Fusion may be going away in its current form, but *whoosh* (pulls back cover on the new "white space model A") look at what we have to move that market forward and into the future! That approach helps ease current concerns, while also giving the media/buyers a vision of the future - something to take their mind of a Fusion sedan going away.

 

They chose the "rip the band-aid off all at once" approach, though.

 

 

The problem is that everyone has read into Fords statement, Quote:

 

 

Building a winning portfolio and focusing on products and markets where Ford can win. For example, by 2020, almost

90 percent of the Ford portfolio in North America will be trucks, utilities and commercial vehicles. Given declining consumer

demand and product profitability, the company will not invest in next generations of traditional Ford sedans for North America.

Over the next few years, the Ford car portfolio in North America will transition to two vehicles – the best-selling Mustang and the

all-new Focus Active crossover coming out next year. The company is also exploring new “white space” vehicle silhouettes that

combine the best attributes of cars and utilities, such as higher ride height, space and versatility

 

Ford gave no details-and everyone read into it and provided them in news stores-they didn't give any specifics (for better or worse) about when products are going away specifically.

[Assimilator]

Ford did say they are transitioning to Focus Active and Mustang over the next 2 years so all the other cars will be gone in 2 years. Do the dates really matter since they are all subject to change anyway?

[rmc523]

 

 

The problem is that everyone has read into Fords statement, Quote:

 

 

 

Ford gave no details-and everyone read into it and provided them in news stores-they didn't give any specifics (for better or worse) about when products are going away specifically.

 

Oh I know. That's my complaint about how they handled it. Rather than, yup, we're dropping these models, but look! Here's what we're doing instead, it was just "yup, we're dropping them, we'll have more later, see ya!"

[bzcat]

funny...all the fuss and the fusions remaining around for 2 more years....a LOT can happen in that time.

 

Exactly... let's wait until we see MACH 1 and other EVs coming out.

 

Some of them will probably have a trunk and about 190"/4.8m long...

[Fordowner]

Three things seem apparent, 1) Toyota is the behemoth that can stay in every segment they desire through cyclical changes in tastes and fuel prices. 2) Soothsaying posters are more full of BS as the voracity of their statements increase. The mostly departed Mr Jensen berated, for years, anyone who suggested that there could be rational business cases made for new generations of; Expeditions, Navigators, Broncos, Rangers, RWD's, and for the platform we now know as the CD6. 3) Having flexible enough platforms to adapt to shifting market demands and energy prices is smart design and economics.

I was impressed by the review of the New Toyota Corrollas composite hatch and all of its Tech features. Though the interior and exterior styling is still totally uninspiring.

 

As to the Fusion I wonder, For Fusion sales over the next 2 years (if in fact it is 2 years), does making it sound like Ford is leaving this segment hurt sales of the Fusion? I would think with so many years left they would would describe its demise 2 years in advance.

Edited May 1, 2018 by Fordowner

[fordmantpw]

I was impressed by the review of the New Toyota Corrollas composite hatch and all of its Tech features. Though the interior and exterior styling is still totally uninspiring.

 

As to the Fusion I wonder, For Fusion sales over the next 2 years (if in fact it is 2 years), does making it sound like Ford is leaving this segment hurt sales of the Fusion? I would think with so many years left they would would describe its demise 2 years in advance.

 

I would wager that 95% of the car buying public has no clue that Ford made this announcement, therefore it won't make a dent in sales.

[grbeck]

 

I would wager that 95% of the car buying public has no clue that Ford made this announcement, therefore it won't make a dent in sales.

 

I won't try to predict the impact on sales, but I wouldn't say that most people are unaware of this move.

 

We visited my wife's aunt and uncle this weekend, and they specifically asked me what I thought about this move by Ford. And they are not car enthusiasts.

 

Edited May 1, 2018 by grbeck

[jpd80]

Daily rentals are now buying more utilities so demand for cars is dropping.

[akirby]

I’ve heard several people in public places say Ford is no longer selling cars. It’s been widely reported on the news and social media.

[630land]

Most car guys live in a bubble, reminiscing about their HS dream cars. Do they actually buy brand new cars? Or just want to "see them on the street"?

 

Can scream and yell online, but it's not the 60s through the 80s. 90s saw the rise of trucks.

 

Can't afford to do style changes on products that require low prices and huge rebates. Average buyer is will to spend more for a "truck". Car buyers grind to the last penny. Can't just build for car guys to "dream about", but don't shell out cash.

 

Gas will go up and then down again, if history is supposed to "repeat".

 

They will not build "manual transmission diesel wagons, in brown" just for enthusiasts wishes that others should buy.

Edited May 1, 2018 by 630land

[630land]

Also, some car fans claim, "Cars will comeback any day now". When?

 

Get out of the bubble and talk to regular folks. Younger one like Jeeps, pick ups, not 2 doors like old Thunderbird or Cougars.

 

It's like 1997 when MN12 was dropped, thinking "everyone I know likes them". But not outside your little circle.

[bzcat]

Daily rentals are now buying more utilities so demand for cars is dropping.

 

Check out the sales for Dodge Journey this month...

[rperez817]

Nothing today can be compared to yesterday, that much I've learned about the auto industry.

 

Yes sir. The past few years more than ever. In addition to Ford's strategy for regular automobiles, their commitment to autonomous vehicles, mobility services, and other initiatives outside cars, crossovers, and trucks is promising. For example, Ford is the only automaker that is a member FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee. This is to help with their research on drones. https://medium.com/cityoftomorrow/why-a-car-company-is-looking-to-the-skies-a-glimpse-into-fords-drone-research-8365b4c97833