Cash Headed to Dealers as Ford Tries to Clear Slow-selling Models

The Blue Oval is dolling out Big Green to dealers in an attempt to clear stubbornly unsold 2016 models from its inventory.

The plan could see Ford dealers collect bonuses of up to $6,000 per vehicle, a new report states. As you might have already guessed, the languishing models are certainly not of the truck, SUV or crossover variety.

According to dealer sources who spoke to Automotive News, Ford plans to wipe seven 2016 models — representing 16,000 vehicles — from its inventory the only way automakers know how: by flinging money at the problem.

That means sweet deals could soon be found on these models if you happen to live near a participating dealer. Blame the public’s unrelenting attraction to utility vehicles. While Ford’s inventory levels sat at a healthy 74-day supply on March 1, the unwanted items show that traditional passenger cars and technological exotics remain a tough sell.

The automaker will offer dealers $5,000 to take C-Max, C-Max Energi plug-in, Focus Electric and Fiesta models, the sources claimed. The full-size Taurus sedan, Focus compact and Fusion Energi plug-in should each garner $6,000.

We all know where full-size sales are headed, but the slowdown in traditionally popular compacts remains jarring. Last year, Focus sales saw the steepest decline since the model’s post-recession peak in 2012.

AN reports dealers needn’t “keep the vehicle for 12 months and/or register them when reported sold to themselves” to get the incentives, though the automaker claims the vehicles are bound for customers and won’t qualify for loaner status. That means the bulk of the vehicles won’t show up in monthly sales charts while remaining on the dealer lot.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]