Ford to discontinue all except two cars from the United States market

Big trucks and SUVs generate more dollars per unit than cars, indeed Dearborn predicts that, by 2020, 90 per cent of its range will be "trucks, utilities, and commercial vehicles".

First quarter adjusted earnings rose to 43 cents a share, topping analysts' average estimate of 41 cents.

Ford's revenue worldwide increased 7 percent to $42 billion for the quarter. Lincoln now sells the mid-size MKZ and full-size Continental, and they share the same sedan platforms as their Ford counterparts. That is on top of about $14 billion in efficiencies the company had already promised to achieve in the next several years.

"We have seen the trend go where Ford and even preowned sales are gearing towards the truck and SUV more so than the sedan". "It's a little bit of everything, and I don't think they're done yet".

The Torrence Avenue plant, Ford's oldest in continuous operation, will end production of the Taurus and Police Interceptor sedans by March.

GM said raw material costs were $200 million higher and it expects those costs to continue rising, which it will offset with cost cutting measures.

Company officials said the shift was based on declining demand and profitability, but Ford reported $1.7 billion in profit for the first quarter in 2018 - a 9 percent increase compared to the same period previous year. Fiat Chrysler did away with the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 more than a year ago.

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The auto segment of automotive sales has been shrinking since 2012, while sales of sport utility vehicles have grown over the same period - a trend that's expected to continue.

Ford has announced it is dropping all but two of its passenger cars in a move to cut costs and meet the demands of consumers that increasingly opt for larger vehicles.

US sales of large cars have declined by 34 percent in the last five years, and there is "significant unmet demand" for Explorer as consumers abandon traditional sedans for SUVs, she said.

Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for AutoPacific, Inc., called the move bold but also not surprising. "Obviously, this has done well for brands such as Subaru".

The all-new 2019 Focus will drop its sedan variant (and most likely the regular five-door hatch) when the Wayne, Michigan, plant stops production of the current generation and makes room for the Ranger pickup next year.

Shanks said Ford is “unleashing the creativity of the teams to challenge norms, challenge conventions.” Cuts and efficiencies are not done yet, he said. And in every region of the world, Ford reported either a decline in profits or a loss.