Remember when Ford said it was letting go of its hatchbacks, wagons, and sedans? They made that announcement a few years ago, and have since discontinued most of its vehicles that weren’t SUV or pickup-shaped.
That said, not all of its non-SUV and pickup models have been discontinued. One shining example of that is the Mustang, but other sedans, wagons, and hatchbacks are few and far between.
Now, it seems that Ford might backtrack on that decision. In an interview with Autocar, the automaker’s kin, Willian Clay Ford II, mentioned that the company needs to bolster its passenger car lineup.
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“On the passenger car side, we realize we’re not as robust as we need to be. We’re working on our future strategy right now. But I think you’ll be surprised – pleasantly surprised – by what’s coming,” said Ford.
With that in mind, Ford might already be ready to roll out new sedans, hatchbacks and station wagons. Of course, they’re not saying what cars will come out soon, but it might be safe to say that there is some development work going on already.
While its crossovers, SUVs, and pickups have been doing well for the most part, the lack of passenger car models have left an open goal of sorts for other automakers to fill in the gap. It’s likely the reason why Ford is, at the very least, considering to return to segments it abandoned.
Models such as the Ford Fiesta and Focus were decent sellers over in Europe. While there was a decline in later years, those models still catered to customers who still preferred these vehicles over subcompact and compact crossovers. The Fiesta was discontinued a few years ago, while the Focus will end production by the end of 2025.
That said, Ford might have been right to discontinue its midsize offering in most countries, the Mondeo. Also known as the Fusion in North America, it’s the brand’s car for that segment, available in liftback, sedan, and station wagon body styles. Midsize vehicles simply don’t sell anymore, although it’s still alive in China and the Middle East as the Taurus.
It will be tough for Ford to return to the segments it once occupied. As mentioned, rivals have plugged the gap that the American automaker had left. If the company wants a grand return to those classes, the products need to bring something special to the table.
