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]
I assume that doesn’t include the ST models ie the only thing from Ford I’m remotely interested in….?
My local Ford dealer was offering $6k off any Focus including the ST last month
Maybe you’re thinking of the RS? I’ve seen plenty of sales on the Focus and Fiesta ST.
Personally I’m hoping their are some good sales on the Edge. My wife needs a new car.
Since they’re selling well enough on their own, I would not expect to get as great a deal as you would on something with a trunk.
Lord almighty, six grand off a Focus.
That wouldn’t begin to cover your incurred chiropractor bills.
Well there is also $5000 off the C-Max for those with spinal challenges.
The C-Max is the hidden deal of the decade. Footprint of the Focus with greater utility, more efficiency, and less parts to break – and a better warranty.
“The C-Max is the hidden deal of the decade.”
Perhaps because it’s not Japanese and the shinto hoodoo is just too strong in many of us Boomers.
C-Max C-Max C-Max
The problem Ford has with selling new C-Max is the used ones have terrible resale value. 2013 models with less than 40K miles are now below $10 grand. Probably the best bargain in America.
Wow, that’s really cheap for a vehicle with so many grilles.
If I was able to, I’d get a low mileage C Max and go all Uber/Lyft with it.
Do Lyft cars *have* to carry that stupid pink mustache?
A local used dealer is in possession of a 2013 C-Max Energi with 77K miles. It’s at $9500 and has been on the lot since last summer.
C-Maxes seem very hard to move. I went to the local Ford dealer yesterday and there wasn’t a C-Max to be found. But if you want an F-series, Edge or Escape, they’ve got you covered.
“Do Lyft cars *have* to carry that stupid pink mustache?”
No, that was dropped a long time ago, along with the stupid fist-bumping routine, and suggesting that passengers ride in the front seat.
There was a fist bump routine?
Actually, I liked the seats in last Focus I drove. The first-gen, though…
Well, I wrote and submitted a review of the current Focus, but I guess it wasn’t good enough to be published.
The seats were okay, just lacked lumbar support. I mean to say it lacked enough of it for a guy with a horribly bad back, like yours truly.
Otherwise, 1200+ miles in two days driving wasn’t the worst experience I’ve had. But then again, I drove* a 1994 Kia Sephia from Toronto to Atlanta, so I have a pretty low baseline for comparison. Lol.
I would take a road trip in the Focus, even with its PowerShhuuuuddddeeerrr transaxle, over my parent’s previous car, a 2008 Grand Marquis LS Fleet. The floaty ride in that car caused me to tense up, and in no time I was begging for a mercy killing. It was a horrible car, the seats were awful, the driving dynamics made the last Caprice box car I’ve driven feel like a Miata in comparison, and the interior quality made my 1998 Lumina feel like a S-Class (not meaning feature content, obviously).
*the Kia trip was 10+ years ago.
*previous, not precious lol
(It isn’t giving me the option to edit.)
I fixed it.
Thank you, my friend.
Seriously. The DCT may be palatable at that point. It may be almost six years old at this point, but I still like the way this Focus looks.
Aside from the DCT, it is a very competent compact, handles very well, and feels as solid as anything in its price class could hope for.
It gets even better if you want one of the real odd leftovers. I am putting together a deal now on a ’16. I was quoted under $15K on a car with a sticker price over $22K.
Yes, but how does this translate into customer incentives?
Good question, SCE. Doesn’t matter much if $2,000 of it lines the dealer’s pockets.
Focus is in a popular segment, but it’s one of the oldest entrants now, and it’s got the sales liabilities of lousy CR reliability ratings and that problem transmission. I personally find it an appealing car yet wouldn’t touch it for those reasons.
The C-Max, though. Jeez. If I were in the market for a practical second car, you could get the price on one of those low enough to get me interested. This is a really great time to shop for a hybrid. The Niro looks like a really good value, the Prius can be had for less than its mechanical worth because it’s so amazingly ugly, and the C-Max has been pretty well debugged by now. Gas won’t be cheap forever.
Armed with this information, I bet every penny.
Besides, its not like any particular dealer wants a lot full of last year’s cars, especially when car sales are in the toilet and they need more room for S/CUVs and pickups that do sell (and return a profit when they do).
How else will dealers bring prices down to levels customers will pay for?
Does this include the Taurus SHO? My arm wouldn’t need to be twisted too much to consider one of those.
That photo really highlights the worst angles for the Taurus.
Makes me want a nice, hot bubble bath!
If only the sides of my tub were as high as that beltline.
After the death of the W-body the “I bought this sedan based on the per-pound price” people had to have something to buy.
124 Taurus V6 & SHO within 300 miles of me. Lowest advertised price $21,386 for a plain Jane SE model, cheapest SHO listed at $34,483 (leftover 2016 model).
I think they’re just trying to keep the lights on at the assembly plant at this point.
Dan, that plant also builds the Explorer, so it’s humming along churning out crossover blobs.
Sorry, yes cramped things sell as long as they come in a CUV wrapper.
No walk in shower OMP?
STOP putting that image in my head!
“No walk in shower OMP?”
Hmmm… Chinese manufacturing and materials for something containing maybe 60 gallons of water with a door that opens 4″ from the bottom, on the upper floor of my house… what could go wrong?
Well damn, I just traded in my Accord for a GTI. Apparently, GTI’s are cheaper to insure than Ford’s ST/RS brothers in California.
I believe this is for 2016 stock only. I haven’t seen ANY 2017 stock that was discounted as much in my area.
And no matter what the discount on 2016 models, they’re still sold for MORE than they are worth in the real world. So not a good deal IMO.
OTOH, if you just gotta buy an American-brand car, Ford is the only brand left in America unencumbered by bailouts, handouts and nationalization.
They’ll discount 2017 models later in the year. The priority is last year’s models still sitting on the lot.
The car is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Even RWD Cadillacs that are rebadged FWD Opels.
GM exited the last of the bailout in December 2013, FYI.
Why doesn’t Ford make this cash a direct rebate to buyers instead of letting dealers decide how much to apply and how much to keep?
I suppose they’re throwing a bone to the dealers, while at the same time applying pressure to them.
If the dealer receives $6000 from Ford to move a dud, and the customer squeezes less than that from the dealer, the dealer makes money.
But if the dealer wants to purge their inventory, they’ll pass these deals along with advertising.
How much is needed to move a given vehicle, varies from market to market. Giving local dealers a freer hand, allows them to optimize the incentive mix for their particular situation.
I think Ford’s bigger problem is the age of its fleet. Fusion? 5 years old. Focus? 6. Fiesta? 7. Taurus? 8! As much as I love the Mustang its a bit of a resource hog.
What’s the difference? And why would any car need a complete redesign after just 4 years? Was it done wrong? Aren’t they trying to limit your choices of used and aftermarket parts anyway?
I’ll gladly take a ’16 Taurus with a design been around 8 or 9 years “unchanged”, over a ’17 or ’18, especially if I’ve got the last of the generation/platform. Added rebates/cash are icing on the cake!
Mike, it’s only a problem for automakers not named Toyota.
All paid for with F-Series, Explorer, and Escape profits.
Would love to have a C Max for second car pretty much like alot of others here.
I’m gonna get one for my next car, just have to time it right with the end of the VW buyback window.
I’m waiting for Ford to put HUGE discounts on the F150 and HD’s since I have it on good authority that aluminum bodies and turbo V6’s suck!
Thank you for this article! I got a 2016 Fiesta SE hatchback, moderately optioned up, for $12700 out the door in CA. There are plenty of 1.0 ecoboosts and ST’s available with similar discounts available. I saw a automatic sedan with a $10988 asking price in San Diego, and a manual sedan for $9500 (also San Diego).
Good for you! I am scheduled to join Club Ecoboost later this afternoon.