MENU
SEARCH
Ford Motor Co., as expected, is dropping the Ranger compact pickup from its U.S. lineup after the 2011 model year, Automotive News reported.
Ford is consolidating its global pickup truck platforms from three to two with the introduction of an all-new Ranger to be sold outside North America next year.
The new Ranger will be unveiled at the Sydney auto show in Australia next month.
Demand for compact pickups has been shrinking in the United States. Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer said the automaker decided several years ago to invest in and market a wider range of F-150 pickups, including V-6 versions.
The new Ranger is also closer in size to the current F-150 sold in the United States.
The compact Ranger debuted in the United States in 1982 and later spawned the Explorer SUV.
Ranger demand peaked in 1999 at about 348,000 trucks, but sales dropped to 55,600 last year.
Ford previously announced plans to close the St. Paul, Minn., plant where the Ranger is assembled but never confirmed whether the Ranger would be continued.
The Ranger also has been popular with fleet customers, and Shirmer said Ford hopes to convince some users to consider the Ford Transit Connect van when the small pickup is discontinued.
Dealers should aim to build a positive work environment, helping employees execute an efficient experience, from their online research to the final delivery of the vehicle.
Read More →
A cloudy April forecast was expected due to last April’s sales surge in anticipation of U.S. trade tariff-inflated prices. Meanwhile, automakers pumped up incentives to address today’s consumer wallet woes.
Read More →
A recent price spike due to several larger market forces, though it hasn’t dulled demand, is pushing more consumers to efficient models to squeeze in buys.
Read More →
A group out West picked up the major D.C.-area collection, putting it in the upper tiers of private automotive groups in the U.S.
Read More →
Lenders loosened access for subprime borrowers, and consumers with negative equity reached a record high, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Read More →
Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.
Read More →
Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.
Read More →
Cox Automotive research shows both the opportunities and the challenges in turning consumers’ growing affordability needs into increased fixed-operations revenue.
Read More →
The partner you choose for growth and expansion is key, because better is the ultimate goal instead of growth for growth’s sake.
Read More →