Ford to Exit the Minivan Market?
Each of the car blogs lately have been speculating within the direction the Ford Motor Company requires from the wake of declining sales and stiff competition. We know that Ford has an excessive amount capacity and now we realize that the business will be closing some key plants and reducing an up to now being determined volume of employees. What hadn’t been clear is which models would be cut in the lineup. Now, it appears that Ford will exit the lucrative minivan market. You heard that right, Ford apparently will stay with building cars, trucks, and SUVs, by leaving the minivan sell to additional players.
From the time that the Chrysler Corporation invented the minivan market during the early 1980s having its type of “K-car” derived minivans – the Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, as well as the Chrysler Town & Country – Ford has become playing get caught up. Indeed, several forgettable “star” named minivans were served up by Ford and summarily rejected by consumers: the Aerostar, Windstar, and the Freestar. Later, both Honda and Toyota got out their unique entries and Ford, as well as Chevrolet found themselves trailing badly inside an overcrowded segment. Indeed, several GM divisions sell minivans, as also does Kia and Nissan, making the market industry especially tight.
Should Ford decide to go ahead with offers to ditch the minivan market, it would not become a complete retreat. For starters, many consumers choose the automaker’s popular Ford Explorer SUV while its all wheel drive Freestyle wagon/crossover competes well too. Finally, another vehicle – the sting – will soon make its debut and likely pull many minivan customers over. The side will probably be an additional crossover vehicle – somewhat of a SUV/wagon hybrid – and fill the need for consumers.
Yes, Ford appears willing to ditch the minivan market. No loss to consumers and doubtless an intelligent move to the beleaguered automaker.