Ford is moving towards ending North American production of the Fusion sedan by 2020, leading to speculation that it will no longer be offered in the United States after the current generation runs its course.
According to Automotive News, Ford is telling suppliers not to expect production of the next-generation Ford Fusion at its Hermosillo, Mexico, manufacturing facility. This led to speculation from Reuters that production of the Fusion would be shifted to China for 2020 and beyond, but this was quickly shot down by a Ford spokesperson:
“We have no plans to export the next-generation Fusion/Mondeo from China to North America and Europe. Fusion/Mondeo are an important part of the Ford car lineup. We will have more information to share about the next Fusion/Mondeo at a later date.”
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According to a source speaking with Auto News, Ford’s original plan called for the third-generation Fusion to be built at Hermosillo in 2020 for a 2021 model-year launch. The decision to terminate production plans suggests that the Fusion may not have a place in the automaker’s future product portfolio as it moves increasingly toward emphasizing crossovers, new dedicated EVs, and autonomous hybrid vehicles.
Though it remains Ford’s best-selling car to date, its sales declines in 2017 are reflective of the overall struggles of sedans across both the Ford brand and the auto industry at large. Ford has thus far sold 192,179 Fusions in the United States this year, far more than any other car in its lineup but still down 22.1% year-over-year from sales of 246,708 Fusions the year prior.
Sales of the Fusion have fallen every year since its 2014 full-year sales record of 306,860 delivered. Overall US car sales will likely decline for a fourth straight year at the conclusion of December sales.
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News Sources: Automotive News (subscription required), Reuters
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