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.
I’m starting to believe that crossovers are the “pods” that everyone thought we would drive back in the 50’s.
I really liked the Eagle wagons, and was disappointed when the Cherokee took over in ’84. But then a friend bought a Cherokee (with stick even), and I became an admirer. I think we’ll see more tall-wagons and compact CUVs – they’re just so darn handy, especially in combo with a utiliy trailer.
At some point the tide will turn on Crossovers, it did for the station wagon and the mini-van. When it happens there going to be one hell of a fire sale
Au contraire, I think what we’re seeing is the tide having turned on the dreamy American longer-lower-wider sedan ethos from a ’50-’70s apogee of road quality, cheap fuel and safe, sparsely used highways.
Those things invited luxuriant, laid-back cruising. Today we don’t cruise, we clinch.
I’m more of a schlepper then a clincher
These things have been around for two decades. This is not just a fad, it’s a paradigm shift.
Of course, we all know that selling a compact pickup in the US could completely reverse this course (hack, hack, cough, cough)…
I see what you did there.
@Lie2me
I think your 100% right. Farley and Ford have put too many of their eggs in one basket.
Yep, just like fullsize crew cab PU’s will not continue to enjoy their success forever.
There wasn’t much “crossover” with the FWD GMC Terrain we rented in Orlando. Nothing remotely truck about it, sans the styling. It really was nothing more than a tall station wagon/car. With that vehicle I’d say the US is pretty much back to the station wagon for the most part. Although station wagons I grew up with could tow the family RV or boat and I’m not sure I’d try towing anything with that Terrain
I think the crossover is supposed to a SUV-esque sedan on stilts, not an SUV/Truck.
” It really was nothing more than a tall station wagon/car.”
Which is what a crossover is. You get more “truck” in an SUV
I’m not rooting against Ford but I will enjoy much schadenfreude when the trend of these things is supplanted and certain OEMs are left holding the bag.
That’d be assuming that demand for CUVs plummets over night. Believe it or not, OEMs do forecast trends and have a pretty good idea what will sell 4-6 years from now. CUV trendiness will almost certainly die off eventually (as trends do), but I highly doubt any competent OEM will still be heavily invested in CUVs when that time comes.
Was I asleep for the 2015 ford edge debut? That’s it, isn’t it?
It’s the Edge concept. The next Edge won’t look much different though.
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*….
@Kyree S. Williams,
More profitable vehicles than crossovers around. Need to develop another strategy , otherwise Ford will join the likes of Studebaker and Packard.
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!
I hope you live where there’s some wide open space, because the view from such a car will consist of bumpers and the center hubs of 22″ wheels
Australia! And if Cars get any higher I will be able to see under them :)