1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Featured Ford to stop selling most cars in North America

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by wjtracy, Apr 25, 2018.

  1. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/ford-stop-selling-every-car-205243027.html

    Yikes!
    Guess Prius won't have Fusion Hybrid much longer as a drag on sales.

    "Ford also today reaffirmed its commitment to bringing hybrid-electric powertrains to the F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Escape and upcoming Bronco....

    With this big hybrid push on the SUV side, Ford expects to go from second to first-place in the U.S. hybrid vehicles market by sales, surpassing current leader Toyota by 2021, thanks also to the forthcoming hybrid Mustang and F-150."

    OK the battle begins......:eek:
     
    pilotgrrl and Merkey like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    until gas prices go up. that would be extremely short sighted.

    it's amazing how poorly they have done with hybrids and plug ins. and now they are going to hybridize large vehicles?:confused:
     
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Please elaborate.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    apparently, they are not happy with small medium and large car sales, so they are canning everything except mustang, suv and trucks?do you think the current market will never change?
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Imagine Steve McQueen in a Mustang hybrid?
    We're finally talkin' cool factor.
     
  6. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    2,447
    1,695
    0
    Location:
    Rocklin, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    ----USA----
    How does Ford pull this off and achieve CAFE standards? Hybridizing those giant single utilizer vehicles (SUVs) and solo commuter trucks gonna get them there? Not venting here, no not at all.:mad::cry::(
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  7. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I think there are CAFE standards for SUV's just not the same as cars.
    Probably easier to meet.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced and Merkey like this.
  8. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    2,447
    1,695
    0
    Location:
    Rocklin, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    ----USA----
    But doesn't the fleet still have to average "54.5 mpg" by 2025 if current rules continue? Of course there are credits for certain vehicles and trades and handwaving involved (maybe I am mixing some CARB stuff up in there, although that would still be a problem for Ford)...maybe @Trollbait can shed light on this.
     
  9. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I hope they are successful.
     
  10. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,066
    15,372
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    SWAG:
    1. Ford is about to have some major management change(s).
    2. Ford is playing an 'electro-political' game to blackmail/tease some concessions from 'the powers that be.'
    3. Ford's sedans will get a suspension 'lift kit' and relabeled with SUV.
    Bob Wilson
     
    HPrimeAdvanced and vvillovv like this.
  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    No I think the 54.5 MPG was a varying number, based on an assumed %cars and %light trucks.
    So I think it gets down to 50-52 CAFE MPG already based on the current %cars
     
    iplug likes this.
  12. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2015
    1,945
    1,785
    0
    Location:
    Southern MN
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    I checked some of the Ford forums after this news broke and lets just say there are some not-so-happy people there. Seems very risky to alienate part of your customer base like this.

    If true...this "throw out everything that isn't extremely profitable" management approach seems extremely short sighted. However, it has been done in other industries...with extremely mixed results.

    As Bob mentioned above...I'm also thinking they are just 'playing games' and this will not be as bad as the article says. (y)
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  13. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Ford's statement is to get out of sedans. They aren't ditching the tall wagon crossovers, nor are they going to stop selling the smaller versions of those. Just caught an ad for the new Ecosport, which is a size smaller than the Escape.

    Ford's hybridization plans, which includes PHEVs and BEVs, extends to those smaller vehicles.

    The 54.5mpg number is a set target. It was based on a projected mix of car to truck sales. The actual mix is more trucks than in the projection, but I think the 54.5mpg still stands. Calls to relax that target are really calls to just adjust the target for the mix people are actually buying.

    Yeah, the 'white space' designs sound like Ford is pulling a Subaru.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced and iplug like this.
  14. tada

    tada Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
    73
    77
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Just my opinion, but Ford is making a big mistake along with the other US manufacturers. Changing production lines over that produce fuel effecient cars to produce gas guzzlers that have higher profit margins. All under the guise of consumers want more SUVs. Automakers want higher profits! Gas prices are rising almost daily. Wait until gas goes above $3/gal and see how fast those SUVs are moving.

    If Ford can shift them to hybrid, that’s great. But I have a feeling most of the sales will come from regular internal combustion engines.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  15. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    2,447
    1,695
    0
    Location:
    Rocklin, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    ----USA----
    So apparently Ford will still have a lot of work to meet CAFE targets:

    ...That leaves the automaker heavily reliant on trucks and SUVs, with crossovers to pick up most of the small-car detail for most shoppers. While future fuel-economy regulation policies are very unclear, Ford’s big bet on trucks and crossovers comes with a similarly big bet on electrification and widespread cost-cutting measures to make those cars affordable and popular.

    In other words, small-car fuel consumption will largely be left to small crossovers—with or without electrification—and those crossovers have a way to go today....

    ...If left in place, the current corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards would require Ford’s SUVs, crossovers, trucks, and Mustang to average roughly 35 to 37 mpg, after exceptions.

    Cars out at Ford, small crossovers and SUVs left to take up efficiency banner
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  16. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Maybe FORD wants BEV to be mandated to make up for ICE/HEV CAFE MPG shortfalls.
    Ford is planning 16 BEV models/6 for USA.

    That's my story...I see it like ethanol, autos probably want mandates required to force BEV sales, and leave them alone on ICE MPG...throwing in the towel.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  17. iplug

    iplug Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2012
    2,447
    1,695
    0
    Location:
    Rocklin, CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Yep, every company seems to have and push its own special interests.
     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  18. LasVegasaurusRex

    LasVegasaurusRex Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2016
    234
    110
    0
    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  19. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,590
    11,212
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    The Escape, like the Rav4, is rated 30mpg highway before you start hybridizing it. Basic start/stop systems, which are standard on all the F150 engines, get a bonus on CAFE. Then plug ins get a bigger credit there

    The Model X has a window sticker MPGe of over 90; the value for CAFE is higher without the binus credit in effect. Whatever their exact plug in offerings will be, Ford won't need a mandate to sell enough of them to pull up the pick up truck numbers. The current incentives are working well enough, and Ford isn't approaching the tax credit cut off amount yet.

    ICE numbers will continue to improve. We are coming to the point where the majority of such vehicles sold will be a hybrid to some degree.
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    we've seen this play before. the reason toyota, honda, et al, are doing so well in this country is because u.s. manufactures have always ignored smaller, more fuel efficient cars.