Ford sells more full size trucks than any company. Ford has been for a really long time. The F150 has been the best selling full size pickup for a while, and for a reason. Ford has made other models that sold well. The Ford Ranger was quite popular for some time. Nevertheless, the Ranger is being retired after next year. The only other pickup offered by Ford, the Sport Trac, is ceasing production this year. All brands and autos under the Ford banner are being done away with, and soon only the F series will stay.
Sport Trac is no more
As of October 2010, there will not be an additional Sport Trac made by Ford, as outlined by the Courier-Journal. The model is being retired, after performing dismally the last few years. Because of the lack of more than a small following, the model just is not justified to keep producing. It was first offered in 2000, and sales were steady at about 60,000 for a few years. However, after 2005, sales kept declining. This year, less than 6,000 have been sold. Smaller trucks have actually been non-performing. Only two percent of sales for the entire vehicle industry are for small pickup trucks. Though the models cost less at the dealership than the F150, it would cost more to keep making the Ranger and the Sport Trac. The F150 out performs them in sales too well.
Cleaning house by Ford
Ford Motor Co. is getting rid of every brand and vehicle that does not sell well. Ford is paring down the models the company makes by a lot. As outlined by Automotive News, the company is trimming the lineup to fewer than 30 automobiles. Ford offered up to 97 as just lately as 2006. Since then, Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin and Land Rover were sold. Mercury will stop existing at the end of the year.
Slim and mean
Ford isn’t going to waste cash on making automobiles that do not sell. Ford is also redesigning cars to share more parts. Take the Fiesta, which has 10 variations offered worldwide. About 65 percent of the parts of that vehicle are shared with other cars. Ford is also getting rid of pickups that don’t sell. After 2011, the smallest pickup Ford will offer is the F150, and the business will be emphasizing the turbo V6.
Articles cited
Courier Journal
courier-journal.com/article/20100925/BUSINESS/309260013/1008/NEWS01/Ford to end Sport Trac production in December
Auto News
autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100927/OEM04/100929868/1257
