Ford increasing SUV production

They all build what sells and try to foresee what will sell next year and place their bets.

BB_TX wrote:
They all build what sells and try to foresee what will sell next year and place their bets.

Yes, but they are also forced to build to suit the EPA and the mileage requirements. Ford had some meetings with Trump, and has started moving some operations back to the US. Could it be that they know something is coming?

What changes other than CAFE for larger vehicles do you foresee, wandering?

The rate at which those changes happen is slow enough that it would be foolish to suddenly base such a decision on the current administration. I think it sounds like wishful thinking.

BB_TX wrote:
They all build what sells and try to foresee what will sell next year and place their bets.

I agree with this, and to add Trucks and SUV’s provide a bigger profit margin then cars do. Small cars are much less profitable and getting harder to make any money on them which is why they got shipped to lower cost countries or states in the first place.

There is a lot of directions car companies have to deal with such as electric cars, self driving cars, people NOT buying cars and opting for UBER/LYFT or the like. To me it makes sense to lean towards what sell.

I don’t think you will see a reduction in CAFE stds, but the costs of fuel may stabilize or decline as more oil comes available from increased production here at home.

We have a couple of big sedans . But I note that generally wherever I go, big 4 door sedans are getting pretty scarce. SUV's seem to be everywhere and alongside pickup trucks are the most popular type of vehicle out there....at least by my informal 'eye' survey.

I like a large sedan, but I can also see the advantages of an SUV over sedans...AWD/4WD...yawning big entry for awkward items through the rear hatch door(s.) I do know that you can get AWD on some sedans.

But many feel a SUV has more advantages over a sedan and I'm starting to agree with them.

That Ford has increased their production of SUV's over sedans...no surprise.

I like Ford's big sedan the Taurus, but I have to say that if it weren't for the police package Taurus, the Interceptor, I think Ford would be questioning continued production of this car, not because there's anything wrong with it (nothing wrong Ican see)...but that people are not buying cars like this much anymore.

One of our cars is similar to the Taurus...a GM version, a newer Impala...not the old body style, but the Opel designed Upsilon platform, Great car, has a lot of punch (305 hp/ 3.6 liter DOHC V6), handles well, brakes well, comfortable, roomy, etc...but nowadays it doesn't matter how good larger sedans are...either GM or Ford or others...people want SUV's and other body types.

I think their time has come and gone.

I'm sure they have measured their web activity, showroom sales and determined that this is what's going to sell given the probable future. When gasoline is plentiful and the economy is strong bigger vehicles sell better, always have. To be honest I prefer a big SUV over a tiny little car. It's more comfortable for a full grown adult. When mom was dying I drove back and forth to Tennessee, sometimes twice a week, in a Honda CRV (the toad). It was miserable. Then I drove my uncle's F-150 and it was SO much more comfortable, huge difference. The CRV seats were built for small people and cut me halfway up my thigh. The F-150 and my Suburban have full sized seats and elbow room. So, when it's feasible a whole lot of people will want the bigger vehicles.

I'm not one of those people who check gas mileage. I just know how often I get gas and how much I'm paying. The 5 liter V-8 isn't having the financial impact that I expected. It actually does pretty well. I guess they tune them pretty lean. The CRV got around 20 - 22 around town and some interstate. The Suburban seems to get in the high teens in mixed driving.

So, Ford is making a good call I'd say. They build excellent trucks and SUVs.

Remember Isuzu? Remember how they stopped selling cars and only sold SUV's? Remember what happened when gas spiked in the early 2000's? Where is Isuzu today? Throwing all your eggs into one basket for short term profits is not good for the long run.

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
Ford has announced they are decreasing production of cars, and increasing production of trucks and suv's.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2018/01/16/ford-plans-more-suvs-fewer-cars-plans-billions-shareholders/1037855001/

After moving some manufacturing back into the US they seem to be going even further toward larger vehicles. Could this be an indicator that CAFE standards may be rolled back and possibly even more on changes for larger vehicles?

Not just Ford but SUV'S are now a Global phenomenon

mikebreeze wrote:
Remember Isuzu? Remember how they stopped selling cars and only sold SUV's? Remember what happened when gas spiked in the early 2000's? Where is Isuzu today? Throwing all your eggs into one basket for short term profits is not good for the long run.

Doing exceedingly well outside the US. You see their light trucks in the US as delivery vehicles but their SUV's and Pickups are pretty popular outside the US