Fusion/Mondeo future in doubt

[Brazen]

Fusion production to be ceased in North America.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2017...s-china-mexico

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. plans to end North American production of the Fusion midsize sedan at the end of the decade, Automotive News has learned, casting doubt about the future of the nameplate in the U.S. as consumers shun cars for crossovers and SUVs.

The automaker has begun informing suppliers that it will not build the next-generation Fusion at its plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, where the car is currently made, according to sources familiar with the discussions. It’s unclear whether Ford would stop selling the Fusion in the U.S., replace it with a different vehicle, or build it elsewhere. A spokesman declined to comment.

The car will not be shipped to the United States from China, Ford said Wednesday, denying a Reuters report that the automaker would consolidate global production of the Fusion and Mondeo sedans in China. Ford currently builds the Mondeo in China for that market as part of its joint venture with Changan Ford, and it makes the European Mondeo in Valencia, Spain.

“We have no plans to export the next-generation Fusion/Mondeo from China to North America and Europe,” Ford said in an emailed statement. “Fusion / Mondeo are an important part of the Ford car lineup. We will have more information to share about the next Fusion/Mondeo at a later date.”

Ford planned to begin building the third-generation Fusion in 2020 for the 2021 model year, one source told Automotive News.

Permanent shift

Ford executives have said they believe the shift among U.S. consumers from cars to crossovers and SUVs is permanent. The Fusion would be the highest-volume car to go out of production in North America as a result of the crossover boom, marking a dramatic twist in the life of a nameplate that was key to Ford's turnaround after the recession that ended in 2009.


As recently as last year, Ford was building the Fusion in Michigan and in Mexico.

Suppliers have been told Ford also plans to stop producing the Mondeo at a plant in Valencia, Spain.

Ford is in the midst of reviewing its entire product portfolio under new CEO Jim Hackett. Executives in October said Ford would offer fewer car nameplates but did not offer specifics.

“Every good business, over time, should be pruning its portfolio to make room for new stuff and remove some things that are past their time,” Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of global operations, said at the Automotive News World Congress in January.

It’s unclear what vehicle would take the Fusion’s place at Ford's Hermosillo plant. The automaker also builds the Lincoln MKZ, which shares underpinnings with the Fusion, on the same assembly line. Ford last week revealed plans to build an electric crossover at its other Mexico plant, in Cuautitlan, where it currently makes the subcompact Fiesta.

Thorny issue

Ford said earlier this year that the North American Focus would be imported from China, which is now the world’s largest vehicle market, instead of Mexico, where it had planned to build a $1.6 billion plant. The end of Focus production in Michigan became a thorny issue for Ford when President Donald Trump repeatedly attacked the plan to assemble it in Mexico during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Ford has said moving the Focus to China will save about $500 million. Cost cuts have been a priority under new CEO Jim Hackett, who has vowed to reallocate $7 billion of capital from cars to light trucks in the coming years.

Ford has sold more than 2.7 million Fusions in the U.S. since its introduction in 2005, but this year will mark a third consecutive decline in volume since annual sales peaked at 306,860 in 2014, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

U.S. Fusion sales are down 22 percent this year through November, vs. a 16 percent slide for the midsize segment overall.

And overall U.S. car deliveries are on track to decline for the fourth straight year in 2017.

[Wretched]

Interesting

Ford is in the midst of reviewing its entire product portfolio under new CEO Jim Hackett. Executives in October said Ford would offer fewer car nameplates but did not offer specifics.

Trucks/Utes and SUVs it is then. :(

[Brazen]

I suspect we arnt even seeing the true loss of demand for sedans, I reckon carmakers are throwing bucket loads of cash at the cars to keep them moving off lots.

In a way Im suprised sedans have lasted this long.

[solarite_guy]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Fusion production to be ceased in North America.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2017...s-china-mexico

...after the recession that ended in 2009.

That, right there is the biggest joke I have heard in a long time.

[jpd80]

For the Americans the GFC recession did end in 2009 with increasing work,
we were out of step thanks to a resources boom heading our way and the
eventual bust that started in late 2014.



There's an interesting back story to this,
Flat Rock AP was originally set up as a CD4 Fusion overflow plant alongside the Mustang but when sales
declined, production of Fusion production stopped and the line changed to building CD4 Continental

So while production at Hermosillo may be drawing to an end, it wouldn't be hard to restart Fusion
production at Flat Rock along with the companion Lincoln MKZ , Continental and Mustang.

Ford officially denied that Fusion production would switch to China so maybe consolidation at Flat Rock?

[Vesper Martini]

As an SUV owner, I have no interest in owning a mid to large size Family Sedan, so news like this doesn't come as a surprise to me.

[simon varley]

I get that a CUV/SUV can carry the passengers and luggage that a medium/large sedan can, but they don't drive anywhere near as well. We are all getting beiged out by Mr Average

[jpd80]

And you have no better example of that than what is happening at Holden with the AWD Commodore,
Holden thinks that enough people will like this therefore, job done.

All the high end buyers will be offered a converted Camaro for +$80K , again job done.

[Syndrome]

All part of the new plan.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by simon varley

I get that a CUV/SUV can carry the passengers and luggage that a medium/large sedan can, but they don't drive anywhere near as well. We are all getting beiged out by Mr Average

What do you mean by the don't drive anywhere near as well?

IMO my Territory is a better drive than a Falcon. has a better view of the road ahead, is easier to park and reverse a trailer.

[Brazen]

Yeah with Cars being so capable nowadays and travel speeds slower than what they were 50 years ago, I enjoy driving SUVs more.

Great visability, smaller footprint due to upright body, some extra clearance they are actually fun.

[solarite_guy]

Originally Posted by jpd80

For the Americans the GFC recession did end in 2009 with increasing work,
we were out of step thanks to a resources boom heading our way and the
eventual bust that started in late 2014.

That perception was more another smoke and mirrors act by the administration. E.g. one day you are a software engineer, the next you are flipping burgers at MacDonalds in a 32hr/week part time job. Yet, this practice lowered the unemployment numbers.

That is just one example. I saw it happening. I am in the states.

We can talk more, but should probably have a separate thread in the Bar or something.

[roddy1960]

I used to care once about stuff like this . Not any more . Fossil fuelled cars of all types are buggered anyway . Saw a report the other day that within 3-5 years there'll be a huge shift to outright electric and hybrid motive power. Even SUV's and pick up style trucks are going to slide big time before most of us turn up our toes.
Fifty years from now museums will be the only place you'll see anything resembling internal combustion stuff.
Wondering if heavy duty haulage , aircraft , cargo shipping etc will be about all that uses fossil fuels and such .

[Trump]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

I used to care once about stuff like this . Not any more . Fossil fuelled cars of all types are buggered anyway . Saw a report the other day that within 3-5 years there'll be a huge shift to outright electric and hybrid motive power. Even SUV's and pick up style trucks are going to slide big time before most of us turn up our toes.
Fifty years from now museums will be the only place you'll see anything resembling internal combustion stuff.
Wondering if heavy duty haulage , aircraft , cargo shipping etc will be about all that uses fossil fuels and such .

Unless a revolution in battery tech happens in the next three years, internal combustion engines aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

[rjk74]

https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/solid...-cars-further/
Next Generation

[lra]

Originally Posted by Trump

Unless a revolution in battery tech happens in the next three years, internal combustion engines aren't going anywhere anytime soon.

What happens when they run out of lithium. I think that they will run out of that before running out of oil/petrol.

[Junkyard-Dog]

I was feeling pretty bored so I made myself a coffee. I haven't even drank the coffee yet but just knowing it's there ready to be consumed makes me feel a lot better.

Everything is going to be okay guys.

[roddy1960]

Originally Posted by rjk74

https://www.4bc.com.au/podcast/solid...-cars-further/
Next Generation

And predictions like this , as well as the one I saw the other day in a news article . https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...emand-in-2030s . Like to think the old I/C engines will be around a lot longer though but the cards are getting marked all the time it seems. On a Foxtel doco also recently there was a story about this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP0_yNGmsNo

There's this major oil field in the Gulf of Mexico where they have to go 8,000 feet with this to the sea bed , then drill to get at the oil . Huge cost to design and build . Guess as time passes the difficulty and cost will eventually make it less viable to access at a price to make sense unless technology keeps up with need to keep going deeper to find oil.Sadly for us all , oil companies will draw the line and pull the pin when there's no profit in it for them.

[janddbone]

I like a sedan and I like a van the thing in the middle does not interest me...

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

I used to care once about stuff like this . Not any more . Fossil fuelled cars of all types are buggered anyway . Saw a report the other day that within 3-5 years there'll be a huge shift to outright electric and hybrid motive power. Even SUV's and pick up style trucks are going to slide big time before most of us turn up our toes.
Fifty years from now museums will be the only place you'll see anything resembling internal combustion stuff.
Wondering if heavy duty haulage , aircraft , cargo shipping etc will be about all that uses fossil fuels and such .

3-5 years?
I think put a 1 or maybe a 2 before that number and I'll believe it.


As for the thread, yeah doesn't surprise me.
SUV's have advantages over sedans that regular commuters actually care about.
The average drivers doesn't care that they can't doing 60km/h though a roundabout or turn left at 40km/h into their residential street in their SUV.
I like sedans, but I think SUVs in general are more practical for most people.

[ken1939]

I just see a bit of overlap on the US Ford Market. Taurus and Fusions are similar in offering, and the Focus remains a good size vehicle. So if you want a hatch, you get the Focus, if you want the sedan get the Taurus. I was surprised they built the Flex as long as they did, another vehicle without a real purpose.

I went to a local Ford dealer to look over a 2011 Taurus to replace my 05 Focus, saw a new King Ranch, sticker price 75K.

Thats a decent hours around here.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by ken1939

I just see a bit of overlap on the US Ford Market. Taurus and Fusions are similar in offering, and the Focus remains a good size vehicle. So if you want a hatch, you get the Focus, if you want the sedan get the Taurus. I was surprised they built the Flex as long as they did, another vehicle without a real purpose.

I went to a local Ford dealer to look over a 2011 Taurus to replace my 05 Focus, saw a new King Ranch, sticker price 75K.

Thats a decent hours around here.

Flex /MKT was part of the UNIFOR agreement in Canada, Flex sells are strong in California
and the combined average transaction price of Flex + MKT means Ford eeks out a small profit
every month by doing nothing and keepng UNIFOR happy.

A rumor from the US is that NG explorer/Aviator is going RWD/AWD (fairly reliable)

NG Focus grows in size, what's the bet that Ford wants to do something
to merge Fusion and Taurus sales by offering something slightly different...

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

I used to care once about stuff like this . Not any more . Fossil fuelled cars of all types are buggered anyway . Saw a report the other day that within 3-5 years there'll be a huge shift to outright electric and hybrid motive power. Even SUV's and pick up style trucks are going to slide big time before most of us turn up our toes.
Fifty years from now museums will be the only place you'll see anything resembling internal combustion stuff.
Wondering if heavy duty haulage , aircraft , cargo shipping etc will be about all that uses fossil fuels and such .

To add to my other quote above.
Heard today from CarAdvice.com that BMW said by 2030 they think electric and hybrid will only account for 25% of their sales.
They are still investing more money in developing new ICE engines than electric ones right now and will continue for a while.
It's believed that 2050 will be the time when electric complete starts to take over road vehicles.

Interested in know where this report came from that said petrol will be dead by 2020.
Probably from someone who has a financial interest in electric

[axe]

Saw this the other day and as far as I can see it is the big question about electrics. How do our current power grids and generation keep up with electricity demand if large numbers of vehicles switch to electric.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/charging-...-1-hour-33073/

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by axe

Saw this the other day and as far as I can see it is the big question about electrics. How do our current power grids and generation keep up with electricity demand if large numbers of vehicles switch to electric.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/charging-...-1-hour-33073/

A few things with this,

Australia is not the US, our power grids are quite different with their own unique challengers.

The rollout of electric cars and trucks will happen a lot slower that people are being told

Most retail buyers will home charge when they can get off peak rates

Commercial electric trucks requiring faster charging rates will require special lines and circuits,
an opportunity for power companies to identify and charge new volume consumers.

[Ben73]

On the topic of electric trucks, people need to look at the video on YouTube by "Real Engineering" called 'the truth about the Tesla truck'
Interesting to hear some of the possible figures that Musk happened to leave out of his electric truck reveal.

[IanC]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Most retail buyers will home charge when they can get off peak rates

They may home charge if they have a garage or a driveway. What about people in apartments? Cars parked in the street overnight?

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

What do you mean by the don't drive anywhere near as well?

IMO my Territory is a better drive than a Falcon. has a better view of the road ahead, is easier to park and reverse a trailer.

https://youtu.be/yAPa3flxuG8

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

https://youtu.be/yAPa3flxuG8

Rubbish quote / post.

That doesn’t show a Falcon or a Territory.

Territory was / is a great drive.. period.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

Rubbish quote / post.

That doesn’t show a Falcon or a Territory.

Territory was / is a great drive.. period.

Obviously you know nothing about centre of gravity lol.