Jun 20th, 2008 by Liz Opsitnik
Ford is delaying the launch of its 2009 F-150 truck by two months, reports USA Today. In an announcement today, Ford also said it is cutting more production due to a decline in sales of trucks and SUVs.
The 2009 F-150 will go on sale in late fall instead of late summer, its original target. Once the most popular vehicle in the U.S., the F-150 was dethroned recently by smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.
The truck had also been Ford’s biggest seller and most profitable vehicle.
“Our plan all along has been to introduce the new F-150 after our dealers had a chance to sell down inventory of the existing model,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s President of the Americas. Given the market environment, Ford thought it best to wait, Fields said.
On the other hand, Ford said it will increase production of its Focus small car, as well as the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape small SUVs.
“We view the move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles as permanent, and we are responding to customer demand,” Ford CEO Alan Mulally said.
Photo courtesy cars.com.
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