I think you're seeing a lot of people, mostly older people, who've always seen Ford run a certain way, and who are now seeing Ford pivoting in a drastically different direction, and it can be hard to understand why Farley is doing what he's doing.
Here's how I'm seeing it, Ford's focusing more on vehicle segments that turn a profit, and that will always have a future. People will always need commercial vehicles to serve the needs of their business, and people will always aspire to own vehicles like the bronco and mustang.
These super specialized commercial segments that Fords never gonna be a leader in, like semi trucks, and generic transportation pods, they just aren't worth Ford's time. Do things that generate a profit and/or boost the reputation of your brand.
I would love to see Ford expand the F6/750 line into the Super-C RV arena. The F600 is taking some of that market, but I think it needs the slightly larger chassis to compete with the Freightliners. Would also love to see the PowerStroke into the F53 motor home chassis. Give the class A folks an option for a diesel that's not a super costly diesel pusher.
Why does it have to be one of the other? Ford can make something like the GTD, or something like this off-road supercar, a Ford GT for the dirt so to speak. But they can also make a transit, and a super duty, an f-150 all for commercial buyers. Then they can also make hybrids for explorer and expedition owners, and affordable EV trucks, SUVs, and cars for people who just want really reliable, affordable, yet fun vehicles.
There's so much a brand like Ford can, and is doing, and it's the best thing about them as a brand. I love how you can walk into a Ford dealership, and on one side, you have a bronco and mustang gt, then a maverick and bronco sport in the middle, and then a transit work van. There's so much diversity.
As for these large big rig style trucks, I see what Ford doesn't invest a ton of resources into them, because most of the other brands in that segment, that's all they do, large semi sized commercial trucks. They're always gonna have the brand loyalty and competitive advantage over Ford. Ford dominates commercial, but commercial on a smaller scale, different brands do different things.
International might sell way more semi trucks, but if international or caterpillar ever tried to make an f-150 rival, they would get destroyed.
It's rather clear at this point that the MDs aren't a priority, and that yes, "commercial trucks" does prioritize everything underneath the segment.
Getting in an uproar now about how MDs aren't a priority, when they really haven't been for some time, is odd....
Well an article last week in WSJ was entitled; "Detroit Quickly Pivots as America Rediscovers Love for Gas Guzzlers".
In that article Mr. Farley goes on to say..."This is a multibillion dollar opportunity over the next couple of years". The article goes on to say Farley said to analysts...Ford was scaling back EV plans and looking to leverage demand for its big SUVs and commercial trucks.
Really? And in the last day or two I've heard/read of his new plans to consider an off road supertruck! Not being content to pour money into Formula One, Mr Farley looks like he has another-at least in my opinion- desire for speed by dumping money into another pet project- or rabbit hole!
All this while claiming commercial vehicles are a priority. Or does Mr. Farley think "commercial trucks" is limited to Transits??
If so Mr Farley, please spend a few bucks to engineer an air compressor into gas powered 650/750 so you can continue to sell some medium duties on the west coast, as well as offering buyers in the rest of the country, the lowest cost medium duty conventional truck with gasoline/LPG capability with air brakes.
Now to beat others to the punch, no, such a Ford may be less attractive to an International or a Paccar in the same weight classes, but to a large number of buyers where the truck is a necessary vehicle to their primary business as opposed to it being the primary reason for their business, such a Ford would own that portion of the market IMO.