Ford’s CEO has solid doubt on the way forward for the mid-sized Escape SUV.
“We aren’t going to be enjoying within the two-row commodity SUV market as a result of Ford’s tried that within the ICE enterprise [and] it did not actually work out for us,” stated Ford CEO Jim Farley in an earnings name.
“We need to play our hand, our power, [in] business, truck, bigger automobiles on the class aspect.”
For extra Motoring associated information and movies try Motoring >>
His remarks counsel the Escape might be on the chopping block, together with the bigger Ford Edge (previously bought right here because the Endura) and its Lincoln Nautilus platform-mate.
Ford Authority stories the present Edge and Nautilus will exit manufacturing after the 2023 mannequin yr, though they will obtain replacements within the Chinese language market.
Manufacturing of the Edge and Nautilus will reportedly finish at Ford’s Oakville meeting plant in Canada in favor of all-electric variations of the bigger Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator.
It is unclear what Mr Farley’s remarks imply for the Bronco Sporta mid-sized SUV associated to the Escape that was developed for the North American market and launched in 2021.
The Escape is presently in-built China, the US and Spain, with delicate variations between the Chinese language, North American and European-market fashions; the Escape wears the Kuga nameplate in Europe, and Australian-market fashions are sourced from the Spanish plant.
A facelift was revealed for the North American Escape last year, however a corresponding replace to the Spanish Kuga/Escape has but to be revealed. It is unclear when it will come right here.
Escape gross sales have been up by 30.2 per cent in Australia final yr, though with 2179 gross sales it was nonetheless outsold by the Renault Koleos (2552 gross sales) and Volkswagen Tiguan (2658 gross sales).
Ford Australia president Andrew Birkic instructed CarExpert final yr the Escape has been hobbled by provide chain points however that these were easingsaying the corporate was “fairly assured with that car”.
Ford introduced final yr it deliberate to have 4 electrical SUVs in Europe by 2024: the prevailing one Mustang Mach-E; an electrical model of the Puma; and two automobiles primarily based on Volkswagen’s MEB structure.
The 2 MEB-based fashions are understood to be mid-sized just like the Escape, and are additionally understood to be for the European market solely.
The corporate says it would not count on its EV vary to be worthwhile till the second technology with CFO John Lawler stating “within the close to time period, our EVs won’t be, on a bottom-line foundation, EBIT (earnings earlier than curiosity and taxes) constructive”.
Ford Australia has confirmed it’s going to launch 5 electrified automobiles by 2024, although has solely confirmed two of those to be EVs: the E-Transit van, right here this yr, and the E-Transit Custom van due subsequent yr.
MORE: Everything Ford Escape
