May 20th, 2008 by Liz Opsitnik
Ford’s full-size pickup sales have plunged about 23 percent in the past three years, due to record gas prices and a decline in the construction industry. Full-size trucks are big profit makers. So what is Ford to do?
The company’s gas-friendly Focus has seen great sales numbers recently, but is not as much of a source of profit. Because of a consumer shift toward smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles and soaring gas prices, Ford is planning to revamp its U.S. truck lineup, reports the Detroit News.
The Ford F-150 could soon have a smaller, lighter alternative.
Ford has not yet commented on the new trucks being developed, but apparently the company is developing a smaller, lighter version of the F-150. The F-series is the best-selling vehicle in the United States, even with slow sales this year, and the full-size F-series pickup is the best-selling vehicle for Ford overall.
The Detroit News reports that a possible model is based on a modified F-150 platform and is known internally as P525. The truck will be about 10 percent smaller and much lighter than the F-150. Ford will most likely use a thinner and stronger steel frame and more aluminum in the body.
It seems Ford is finding a way to bring back those buyers who had no choice to abandon their massive trucks for small, gas-friendly cars. Hopefully the new lighter, smaller trucks will cost much less to fill the tank!
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Great post! I have to admit it is really sad to see what has happened to Ford of all companies. I mean, they used to be an American icon and now they are but a mere shell of what they once were. When you take into consideration that the F150 accounted for nearly 25% of their total sales (per http://www.forddieseltrucks.net) the issue is magnified. Now, we are in a situation where they can’t even move what they have on the lot and for that matter, good luck trying to trade in a F150 or any other truck/SUV these days. You are looking at 1/2 KBB 🙁 Sad times to come, sad times indeed!
It is indeed sad how much of a lack of foresight there was over at the blue oval. Ford was too busy being all high on itself to see what was coming. The results of this are plain to see everywhere. Hopefully, this will be a learning period for auto manufacturers to see that they can’t just make cars to make money and that they have a social responsibility to provide us with vehicles that don’t affect the health of the environment we live in.