Early demand and the promise of more eager customers flooding dealers has Ford ratcheting up production of its new midsize Ranger pickup. Starting in February (probably next week), the company’s Wayne Assembly plant will put the pedal down.
Kumar Galhotra, head of Ford’s North American operations, says the automaker anticipates “massive overtime.”
Speaking to Bloomberg on Wednesday, Galhotra said the Ranger, which started production in late October and hit dealer lots earlier this month, is selling well out of the gate. The company unloaded 1,200 examples after two weeks on lots, he said.
“The demand is going to be so strong, that starting in February, just in a few days, our Wayne Assembly plant where this product is made will be going into massive overtime,” Galhotra said. “That is fantastic news.”
Ford believes the early demand isn’t just owners of 2011 Rangers eager to swap into something new. For what it’s worth, the company recorded expressions of interest from 300,000 would-be buyers.
Midsize pickups had a very good year in 2018, with the Toyota Tacoma posting an annual sales gain of 24 percent. General Motors’ midsize twins, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, rose 19.3 and 4.3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the ancient Nissan Frontier ended the year up 7.1 percent. Buyers want trucks of any size and description, at the expense of fast-declining car models.
It’s no wonder, then, that Ford now pumps 90 percent of its capital expenditure into trucks, SUVs, and crossovers. The automaker celebrated 2018 by ditching all passenger car models save for the Mustang.
[Image: Ford]
Slow clap for the success of a vehicle being built in a factory here in the US of A.
Anybody have a Monroney Sticker comparison for Ranger/Colorado/Tacoma/Frontier to see which has the highest American parts content?
That’s a good question, I know when I was looking at small trucks last year I was surprised that the Colorado had less domestic content than a Tacoma, although I don’t remember the exact numbers.
My money is on the Frontier having highest American content–being that the Tacoma is mostly coming out of Mexico, and the GM & Ford have had supply chains existing throughout Asia for these models for years so it’s hard to believe they found reason to rebuild the entire supply chains here.
I know that SavageGeese when climbing under a Colorado was dismayed to see how much “Hecho in Mexico” was stamped on so many parts, and quite prominently.
My ’95 F-150, built in Claycomo, Missouri (Kansas City Assembly) had “MADE IN MEXICO” stenciled on the leaf springs. It had lots of Mexican content, including stuff like the wiring harnesses. The radio was a Delphi part, made in Brazil.
Probably the Tacoma wins. Even if it’s US built, all Tacoma beds are hecho en TJ.
The final assembly for Tacomas is still in San Antonio, a plant it shares with the Tundra.
Actually split between San Antonio and Tijuana.
So when Trump slaps a 25% Tariff on Autos and Auto parts coming from Japan. Toyota should be just fine. It’s GM and Ford that will be on trouble.
“SARCASM”
Peter, I hope that President Trump will get the trading relationships he wants. I believe once settled, we all would enjoy fair and equitable trade. Big one is China this week.
For decades past, ever since the Marshall Plan was enacted, America has always been at a trading disadvantage, acting like a sponge to absorb the products of other nations while America’s goods were shunned or tariffed.
If President Trump cannot find agreement with the other trading partners, I believe he should levy the same taxes and tariffs as those trading partners levy on American-made goods.
Looks like the America-Mexico-Canada agreement is tolerable for all three parties involved.
I don’t know of any problems or rejections. Do you?
Personally, the amount of American parts content is irrelevant; it’s only a talking point.
I have multiple issues with this truck, not least of which is that this is a first-year model AND is going into ‘overtime’ production already; I can hardly imagine the coming recalls. Add to this that we’re looking at an engine that is too small to •reliably• handle the stated maximum capabilities, especially because it is turbocharged, and I expect to read about even more recalls and blown engines and who knows how many more problems within this first year. The 3.7 EcoBoost would have been a much better choice, even if I question it’s capabilities as well–at least it wouldn’t be stressed as deeply if put to the same tow/haul specs.
Oh, it will be successful, I’ll give them that. Odds are the first year sales will blow away the Ranger’s last-year sales in ’11 and shoot right back up to the top slot in the mid-sized market. I just wouldn’t trust even one of them with my life any farther than I could throw it bare-handed.
Second-year? Third? Maybe then I would trust it… somewhat. By then the new Courier will be coming out and that’s going to be a MUCH more interesting truck.
It is better to avoid 1st year of production of any vehicle. Don’t you think so?
@ILO: Some say yes and with this Ranger I especially say Yes! However, there are exceptions.
In my own case, a 2002 Saturn Vue that, unlike the 6-cylinder version using a Honda drivetrain, ran a very solid Opel drivetrain that lasted over 130,000 miles on its original clutch plates and only required one major repair–under warranty replacement of a McPherson strut. The advantage was that it was a long-established drivetrain designed for high performance and durability rather than a farmed-out project to Honda for that 6-cylinder engine/transaxle combo where the transaxle was a continuing maintenance nightmare. I kept that Vue for 11 years.
My 02 Vue AWD 3.0 was JUNK. Loved that failure proned thermostat that required removal of the intake manifold to change. Loved that low teen mpg too. And the wiring issues. Junk. I was a Saturn apostle until that car. I probably have 3/4 of a million miles between the S series cars I had. This was crap.
As has been pointed out, not a new platform or motor. Still, I have a 2015 F150 (first year body) with the 2.7 Ecoboost (first year engine). 70k, no issues and 2 recalls (door latch and seatbelt tensioner) so I’d roll the dice. The 2.7 is pretty far from marginal in that truck…it’d be a rocket in the ranger. 2.3 eb is plenty of motor for this. I think the only ecoboost that has seen any issues is the 1.6, of which I also own one and beat the crap out of daily without issue but it’s still too early to call that one.
You’re not refuting my statement, Art. I’ll admit I got lucky but I intentionally chose the 4-cyl engine because it was an established one; the Honda engine was… well, let’s just say it was a failed experiment. I didn’t trust a combo that was essentially a first-time mating of a non-GM product to a GM product. Opel had been a long-time GM brand and had a pretty good reputation for reliability, even if they were a little weak. Certainly the Opel engine had enough power to move the Vue smartly along, considering it was little more than a big, empty box.
I’d never buy a first year vehicle myself but I’d worry a little less on this one because hasn’t most of this truck been in production for several years? The engine too?
Yeah a lot of it is the same as what they have been making for many years, just not in the US. So it is far from a first year vehicle.
Based on an existing vehicle does not make it an existing vehicle. The 2.3EcoBoost has been riding in cars like the Mustang, not a truck set up to tow 6500 pounds. And while the truck that serves as the design for the new Ranger has been built in SW Asia for several years, the safety equipment is different, along with other design aspects; or have you forgotten the claims about how this engine is shoehorned into that body?
I won’t argue that there may be enough commonality to reduce the odds of first-year issues but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any; even a significant redesign of an existing vehicle tends to have first-year woes–as has been argued on these forums multiple times over the years. I, personally, wouldn’t trust this first-year Ranger simply because it’s a Ford, first, and a first-year model second. I’ve never had any luck with Fords. Others swear by them.
But to be quite blunt, I was willing to consider the Ranger instead of the Colorado I did buy, until Ford announced which engine was going into it. I would have been far more willing to accept the 2.7Ecoboost over the 2.3.
I look forward to the off-road versions and the inevitable Raptor.
They have an off road package:
• Off-Road Tuned Suspension
• 17-inch or 18-inch Off-Road OWL Tires
• Electronic-locking Rear Differential (3.73)
• Exposed Front Tow Hooks
• Exposed Steel Bash Plate
• Off-Road Screen in Cluster – provides feedback on pitch and roll, plus steering angle
• Front Air Dam Delete
• Skid Plates – Fuel Tank, Transfer Case, and Front Differential
• Terrain Management System™
• Trail Control™
Not a Raptor equivalent, but not bad either.
We’re not going to see a Raptor equivalent until it gets it’s redesign, which I understand may be relatively soon.
Much obliged, BRN. That is pretty nice, especially the plate armor and the locking rear diff.
Remember when Ford refused to update the Ranger due to lack of demand and said people should buy a Fiesta instead?
Way to read the market Ford…..
And everyone screaming for the money you should just get a full size F-150.
Regardless of the price per pound thinking that seems to dominate US truck sales I refuse to buy a brand new anything that won’t fit in my garage. None of the current full-size trucks will clear the top of the door opening – an Ace of Base Ram 4×2 MIGHT clear if the online specs are accurate (73.3” would give me a couple of tenths of inch clearance). Yeah, I’m aware that my early 70s built cheapy tract house has a rather low garage door opening but paying for a brand new vehicle that has to sit outside in northern Ohio weather is a nonstarter. Now if all the smaller truck detractors want to take turns stopping by to warm up my truck, clear the snow and ice and hold an umbrella for me on rainy days maybe I’ll change my mind…
Really, didn’t Ford go kicking and screaming in bringing back the Ranger? Good one, Ford, you decided to build what half the world said they wanted. Not exactly the same reception as the Edsel, huh?
I thought it was a bad business decision for Ford, GM and Dodge to discontinue their midsize trucks. This left the field open to primarily Tacoma (which lumbered on without upgrades) and secondarily Frontier.
All we need now is for Dodge or RAM to announce a midsize truck as direct competition in this segment, and I recommend a Pentastar V6, 8- or 9-speed automatic, coil-over-air suspension and 4-wheel discs, along with a full-time AWD option, or a Trail Ready part-time SelecTrac system like in the Jeep Grand Cherokees.
Awesome! And if they can get all that in the $30K-$35K range, even better.
You are talking about the Jeep pickup, right? Except it won’t be in that price range.
The Jeep pickup is going to be a niche vehicle. With all the removable stuff and conversion possibilities, I don’t see it as direct competition for Tacoma, Frontier, Ranger or Colorado/Canyon.
What I had in mind was a BASIC midsize truck at Ace of Base Trim in that price range, with other trim levels available/optional that will elevate the price to the $50K level, like GM’s midsizers.
FCA announced a mid-sized truck last year. Check out the link:
https://www.carprousa.com/New-Ram-Midsize-Pickup-To-Be-Built-In-USA-Report-Says/a/392
Thank you. I was aware of that, but, frankly, I’ll believe it when I see it. IMO, there was a terrible battle of ideas (and ideals) at the top echelon of Fiatsler and the Jeep trucklet clan won.
Fiatsler has a limited amount of funds that they can speculate with, as in R&D, and I believe there is more money to be made on each individual Jeep trucklet.
But the Jeep trucklet does not compete head-to-head with Tacoma, Frontier, Ranger and Colorado/Canyon. It is in a class all its own.
A niche if you will; there is nothing else like it since AEV ceased ops.
Better late then never on the little Ram
Like I said, I’ll believe it when I see it.
“I thought it was a bad business decision for Ford, GM and Dodge to discontinue their midsize trucks.”
Yeah, but they were not profitable enough like sedans.
I meant not as profitable as sedans. But now since sedans are killed they have to replace them with something more popular. Compact pickups are sedan replacement. More utility.
God, that’s pretty! Just like it is.
I remember once upon a time, the combined sales of Chevy and GMC Silverados were greater than F-150.
Now their combined sales are way behind…but if GM adds Colorado/Canyon, then GM can say they sell more pick-ups than Ford (I think..not sure).
Anyway, my point is that I think GM’s smaller trucks, which have sold “well” (well meaning at volumes equal to, maybe higher than, what GM expected) have probably cannibalized GM full-size sales to some extent, and had fewer Toyota/Nissan conquest sales than GM would have liked.
I think the Ranger might do the same.
We will see.
The combined sales of GM (Silverado & Sierra) only has surpassed the F-series 3 times in the last couple of decades.
The last time was in 2015 model year as Ford was getting the new all-aluminum F150 ramped up.
It was not a regular thing.
There is no market for Ford Ranger. Why is Ford increasing production of a vehicle no one wants?
quote Ford ““Ford has conducted research that shows that the majority of Ranger buyers don’t purchase the vehicle because it’s a pickup,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s Vice President of Global Product Development, in an interview with Autoblog. “Instead, they come into the showroom looking for the least expensive, most economical Ford available.” Kuzak also mentioned that the automaker hopes those looking for cheap transportation will opt for the Ford Fiesta, while shoppers who want big utility in a small package will consider the Transit Connect.”
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/best-cars-blog/2011/06/why-ford-is-discontinuing-the-ranger
The only entity saying there wasn’t a market for the Ranger was Ford.
People were begging for them to make it and they got their wish with the amazingly mediocre 2019 Ranger.
If Chevy hadn’t come out with a midsize, Ford never would have
That’s for sure! GM beat Ford to the punch so Ford had to hastily adapt a foreign-market trucklet for US of A use.
Aren’t the GM twins foreign market based? The Frontier was for the foreign market too, allbeit a decade ago. The Tacoma is I believe the only midsize truck designed for the US Market.
That was in 2011. It’s now 2019. Markets change.
Eh’ they blew it when they killed the flathead you know.
From an outsiders prospective, volume ramp-up seems awfully slow. 3 months into production and Dealer inventory is practically non existent, and they have sold 1200 in 2 weeks … which extrapolated our to a year would be 30k.
That’s a pretty normal ramp-up schedule. The first few thousand take an incredibly long time to produce as they get everybody trained, get the kinks worked out of the production line, and make sure everything’s getting made properly. And this process is occurring all the way up the supply chain.
The campaign to bring back an updated Crown Victoria starts in 5… 4… 3…
“updated Crown Victoria”
What an acidic oxymoron. Count the ways they’d ruin it.
They would just debadge a Continental which is a colossal failure.
Ford couldn’t figure out how to make a desirable vehicle if their life depended on it.
“Ford couldn’t figure out how to make a desirable vehicle if their life depended on it.”
I desire a couple Ford vehicles so I shall spare their lives.
“I desire a couple Ford vehicles so I shall spare their lives.”
Have fun when you’re stranded!
If it’s based on 2020 Explorer chasssis, RWD, 3.0L V6 with 350HP plus then call it Crown Victoria, call it Falcon, call it anything you want.
The last thing Ford needs is another half arse auto attempt, if they do that make it V8 or don’t try.
And the 60s are over Hummer.
Haters gon hate I suppose.
Well, they were going to call it a Continental and frankly if you can get them to reconsider and build it after all I’ll pay MSRP plus “market adjustment”
“The campaign to bring back an updated Crown Victoria starts in 5… 4… 3…”
… and it will probably be badged as a four-door Ranchero.
A Crown Vic Eco Boost would be as useful as a boat made out of cake.
Not sure I’d want a vehicle assembled in the 12th hour of a 6 day/week shift (the American equivalent of a British car assembled on a Monday after a soccer championship game).
I was one of those 300,000 would be buyers. I was excited about a midsize truck that would meet my needs as a weekend warrior. I love the full size trucks, but cannot justify the much bigger size and garage space they take. I liked the Ranger when I saw it at NAIAS and Chicago last year, but it wasn’t available to touch or feel. Last weekend I finally had a chance to spend some time in one and was horribly disappointed. It felt like a 10 year old truck. The doors sounded cheap when they shut and nothing felt refined like the larger trucks. I feel the same way about the GM Twins. The Frontier is just old… the Tacoma has no backseat legroom for my kids after I put the seat where I need to be as a guy my height. Hopefully Ranger 2.0 is better than this version. Until then, I’ll be waiting to see what the Gladiator is like.
Yea Motor Trend came to the same conclusion. Basically the Ranger is a hack job. An ancient truck with some modern touches.
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/ford/ranger/2019/2019-ford-ranger-first-test-review/
It’s no where near as ancient as the Tacoma. Also, these modern touches include one heck of a drive train.
It looked like a 3rd world hack job the entire time, I can’t understand what everyone was thinking, same issue with the ecosport.
Yessss….YESSSSSSS!!!!! Let the butthurt floooow through you. Give in to the butthurt!
Hahaha. Ok this one really made me laugh.
Yeah. He sounds like a Pandaran from World of Warcraft.
Not really sure who your speaking to, as for me I’m not butt hurt, I’m just pointing out how cheap the design is. Your welcome to defend Fords every action as if they can do no wrong. I prefer to take a practical view and call crap what it is.
Sorry, Hummer. I was referring to Art’s statement because of the kind of personality the Pandaren carry in that game. A certain Brewmaster sounds almost exactly the way Art wrote that.
Still hoping for a turbo diesel option, and a six-foot bed with the SuperCrew.
After the redesign. Don’t expect a lot of variance until that happens.
Nice its built in the US, but Thai made content would have to be pretty high.
The bottom 2/3 of these comments can best be summed up as “Haters gon’ hate”
I actually like it, I’d just like to see some more options. I like the 6′ bed on my Tacoma DoubleCab, and would like to see it on the Ranger. The Colorado/Canyon offer that, but I’d rather have the Ranger.