Farley: Ford's Global Growth Driven By Crossovers
Though the F-150 rules over Truck Mountain and North America with an aluminium fist, Ford marketing boss Jim Farley told reporters in a meeting that crossovers are driving his employer’s sales growth all over the globe.
Automotive News reports Ford’s shifting focus to crossovers is thanks in part to the popularity among the automaker’s global audience for the particular body style, as Farley notes:
“Most people think the F series drove our top line unit growth. The No. 1 vehicle was the Escape/Kuga. No. 2 was EcoSport. Together they had about half-million-unit growth for us. The F series was a distant third.”
Farley expects global crossover sales to reach 20 million units by 2018, with 90 percent of the sales — led by the massive hit EcoSport — to be gained outside of the North American market. The aforementioned EcoSport was developed for Brazil, only to see sales jump 220 percent in 2013 upon launch in Europe, India and China.
Speaking of China, the nation is the biggest driver of the global growth now being experienced by Ford, where not only are subcompact crossovers are doing well as are exported North American mainstays Edge and Explorer. The Blue Oval aims to continue the trend when Lincoln’s MKC luxury compact crossover takes the global stage in June against the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Land Rover Evoque.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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My S.O. drives an Edge (Sport). A podesque station wagon for sure. Very roomy, a bit hi tech for me, drives nice. Good power, giant freakin' wheels (22's) and sometimes I'm thinking I'm in Sleeper or 2001:A Space Odyssey. Maybe there's some old Taurus wagon DNA creeping through. While I'm driving it (occasionally) I get the distinct impression it's driving me.must.be.the Borg.I.must assimilate.must.assimilate.assimilate.
The only thing the F150 rules over its absolute mediocrity.
Ford wants to focus on crossovers? Great. I think the MKC looks very handsome and will fare well here, and maybe even in China. But I'm going to be downright pissed if the Edge and MKX end up using that same bodyshell *again*....
Kenmore is correct - it is the cars of recent decades that are the aberrations. Crossovers, SUVs and tall wagons all achieve the same thing - by seating passengers in a more upright manner you need less vehicle length to carry a given number of people. Try this in your chair at home or work - slump down with your legs strectched out and see how much more floor area you cover than if you sit up straight in your seat. Cars from the earliest days were taller and often shorter than today. The long and low look of the 60s and 70s is an inefficient use of roadspace. Now that congestion is increasing there is a stong driver for taller, shorter cars again. Having said that, I still want a long, low sportscar with a laid-back driving position!