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Ford to Focus on Small Cars and Hybrids

Automaker continues to lose billions

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 24, 2008
Ford Motor Company will add six small European vehicles to the U.S. sales lineup and re-tool three large truck and SUV plants in the U.S. to produce small cars, as consumers turn away from big trucks and SUVs, a major profit center for the automaker.

Ford also confirmed the company will continue production of the Ranger small pickup truck through 2011. Ford had previously announced plans to halt production of the Ranger in 2009.

Ford also plans to step up production of four-cylinder engines in the U.S. and double production of the Ford hybrid vehicle lineup by 2009.

Ford announced the changes following an $8.7 billion quarterly loss, the largest in the history of the company.

Ford executives are unable to say when the automaker will return to profitability.

Ford executives do not expect U.S. automobile and truck sales to improve significantly until 2009. "It's just so volatile right now," Ford CEO Alan Mulally said.

Ford announced that the Mercury division will produce a new small car in 2010 and that a new European small vehicle will be brought to the U.S. in 2010.

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