Shortly, the littlest of Ford Trucks will be the F150

Ford sells more full size pickup trucks than any company. Ford has been for a really long time. The F150 has been the best selling full size pickup for a when, and for a reason. There have been other truck models that have sold well in the past. The Ranger was popular in its day, however the model is being retired. Also retiring is the only other truck made by Ford, the Sport Trac. All brands and cars under the Ford banner are being done away with, and soon only the F series will stay.

Sport Trac will cease to remain

By the end of October, 2010, Ford won’t make one more Sport Trac, as outlined by the Courier-Journal. The model is being retired, after performing dismally the last few years. The Sport Trac has a cult following, however not enough to justify continued manufacture. After holding steady at 60,000 units sold from 2000 to 2005, sales kept dropping. Fewer than 6,000 have been sold so far this year. Trucks smaller than full size are down as a total market segment, making up only two percent of sales for the entire auto industry. Though the models cost less at the dealership than the F150, it would cost more to keep making the Ranger and also the Sport Trac. The F150 out performs them in sales too well.

Clearing out the cobwebs

Brands and models that do not sell are facing the firing line. Ford will offer less than 30 different models worldwide, according to Automotive News. In 2006, Ford offered 97. Ford has additionally been selling off brands it had acquired. Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin, and Land Rover all belong to someone else now. Mercury will stop existing at the end of the year.

Slim and mean

Ford is not going to waste cash on making automobiles that don’t sell. The business is making some other changes. Vehicles will even me sharing more parts in common. The Fiesta, which has 10 versions offered worldwide, shares 65 percent of its parts with other Ford automobiles. Ford is also getting rid of pickups that do not sell. After next year, the smallest pickup Ford will offer is the F150, and also the company can be emphasizing the turbo V6.

Information from

Courier Journal

courier-journal.com/article/20100925/BUSINESS/309260013/1008/NEWS01/Ford to end Sport Trac production in December

Auto News

autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100927/OEM04/100929868/1257