9 ms·

Ford to end almost all US car sales, focusing on SUVs and trucks

28 points by artsandsci 9y ago

macinjosh 9y ago
Interesting move. I think they see the writing on the wall for the car indicating a commoditized future of self-driving cars as a service and therefore the meat of the consumer facing auto business will be in vehicles used for recreation and utility.
- ChrisLTD 9y ago
  If that is the case, and I’m not saying it is or isn’t, then why wouldn’t Ford say that?
- combatentropy 8y ago
  That may have something to do with it. But it just reminded me that U.S. drivers prefer trucks and SUVs, https://www.npr.org/2016/05/09/477301486/why-americans-are-buying-more-trucks-and-suvs-than-cars https://www.npr.org/2016/05/09/477301486/why-americans-are-b... --- which is another reason I feel so out of step with American tastes. Even the Civic to me is a boat. Just give me my MGB.
squozzer 9y ago
This news rhymes a bit with events from the mid-2000s. That said, I can see a future where most "full-line" automakers have 1 or 2 economy car models (e.g. Toyota Yaris and Corolla), a couple of crossover SUVs to occupy the mid-range, and a pickup / full-size SUV. I don't see Toyota ridding itself of the Camry for now, or BMW trashing its 5-series. People who have reached a certain age probably find getting into and out of crossover SUVs easier because the ride height doesn't require as much bending and lifting oneself. In my case, a Honda CR-V is much easier to use than a Mazda 3.
dublinben 9y ago
This is a duplicate of https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926050 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926050 from yesterday.
dmoy 9y ago
Many manufacturers only sell small cars as a way to get average fleet emissions numbers within complaince. If they can do that with bigger more profitable vehicles instead, this makes sense.
amorphid 8y ago
Maybe cars actually are on the way out, but I am reminded of a quote. I can't find the original, but it went something like this... Executive: "Think about how much we'd save if we close a few factories!" CEO: (with sarcasm) "Think how much we'd save if we close all the factories!"

28 points by artsandsci 9y ago

Interesting move. I think they see the writing on the wall for the car indicating a commoditized future of self-driving cars as a service and therefore the meat of the consumer facing auto business will be in vehicles used for recreation and utility.

ChrisLTD 9y ago
If that is the case, and I’m not saying it is or isn’t, then why wouldn’t Ford say that?
combatentropy 8y ago
That may have something to do with it. But it just reminded me that U.S. drivers prefer trucks and SUVs, https://www.npr.org/2016/05/09/477301486/why-americans-are-buying-more-trucks-and-suvs-than-cars https://www.npr.org/2016/05/09/477301486/why-americans-are-b... --- which is another reason I feel so out of step with American tastes. Even the Civic to me is a boat. Just give me my MGB.

squozzer 9y ago

This news rhymes a bit with events from the mid-2000s. That said, I can see a future where most "full-line" automakers have 1 or 2 economy car models (e.g. Toyota Yaris and Corolla), a couple of crossover SUVs to occupy the mid-range, and a pickup / full-size SUV. I don't see Toyota ridding itself of the Camry for now, or BMW trashing its 5-series. People who have reached a certain age probably find getting into and out of crossover SUVs easier because the ride height doesn't require as much bending and lifting oneself. In my case, a Honda CR-V is much easier to use than a Mazda 3.

dublinben 9y ago

This is a duplicate of https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926050 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16926050 from yesterday.

dmoy 9y ago

Many manufacturers only sell small cars as a way to get average fleet emissions numbers within complaince. If they can do that with bigger more profitable vehicles instead, this makes sense.

amorphid 8y ago

Maybe cars actually are on the way out, but I am reminded of a quote. I can't find the original, but it went something like this... Executive: "Think about how much we'd save if we close a few factories!" CEO: (with sarcasm) "Think how much we'd save if we close all the factories!"