Mulally: Ford To Reduce Lineup From 97 To As Few As 20 Models

by Paul Niedermeyer

Published: September 27th, 2010

mulally ford to reduce lineup from 97 to as few as 20 models

Maybe Henry Ford’s conquest of the automotive world with one model in one color is a little too ambitious a goal to repeat, but Alan Mulally is determined to take Ford further (back) in that direction. From 97 unique models in 2006, Alan’s goal is to keep reducing the body count: “there will be less than 30, on our way to 20 to 25”.

Selling off Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin obviously play a big part in that reduction. And killing Mercury didn’t hurt either. In an article at Automotive News [sub], Mulally said: “fewer brands means you can put more focus into improving the quality of the engineering”. And its not just about reducing models, but increasing the degree of component sharing globally. According to Mulally, the Fiesta now shares 65% of its parts worldwide.

“It helps all of our distribution, Ford store owners, suppliers, employees and consumers to know exactly what they’re getting,” Mulally said.

Paul Niedermeyer

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6 of 35 comments

Dr Strangelove on Sep 27, 2010

Just so long as they make one of the 20 models a decent station wagon - oh wait, they couldn't even manage that when they had 97 models. Never mind.

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- NulloModo on Sep 28, 2010
  
  There might be a 2012 version of the Focus Wagon, we'll know more after the Paris auto show, but the rumors are it could come to the US. The Flex is the best full size+ wagon on the US market. Yes, it is sort of a CUV, but it is the ideological successor to the Country Squire of old, and if you need to move a lot of people and a lot of stuff, there is nothing more comfortable to do it in for the price. I wouldn't get excited about the chances of a midsize sport wagon, the US market just doesn't seem to buy them. Don't blame Ford, blame your fellow auto shoppers who would rather buy a sedan that blends in than a wagon that is more practical and more stylish.
  
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- Grrr on Sep 28, 2010
  
  The "One Ford" plan is about to kill off one of the few good wagons Ford did make. The Falcon. It's a pity the plan will almost certainly eventually kill off the Falcon completely - the range offers everything the US market seems to want, a decent mid-size RWD sedan, wagon, and utility. The appeal should work on the same levels as the Holden Commodore and Statesman (Chevy Caprice, Pontiac G8).
  
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Dr Strangelove on Sep 28, 2010

Focus wagon ecoboost would be nice - just about all the car I need.

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Wsn on Sep 28, 2010

20 is still too many. Honda has 15 and that is still too many: Fit, Civic, Accord, CRV, Element, Pilot, Ridgeline, CRZ and Insight CSX, TSX, TL, RL, RDX, MDX, ZDX 10 should be about right for any auto maker.

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Matt51 on Sep 29, 2010

Mulally is the worst Ford CEO since Nasser. Except this time, Ford won't be able to recover. The man is kissing a car, what a loser.

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