Why is Ford getting rid of the EcoSport?
|
Sep 10, 2021 at 4:15pm ET Show The Ford EcoSport will get the axe from the automaker's American lineup, The Detroit Free Press reports. The Blue Oval will close the factory in India that builds the little crossover. The vehicle will continue to be available in the US through mid-2022. Production for Europe will still take place in Romania, and the EcoSport will remain in the model range there. The EcoSport has not been a sales leader for Ford. The company delivered 60,545 of them in 2020, which was down 6.4 percent from 64,708 units in 2019. As of August 2021, Ford has moved 32,697 them – a 22.3 percent drop from the same time last year. In comparison, the Bronco Sport is already outselling the Ecosport with 69,518 deliveries of the Baby Bronco in the first eight months of the year. Gallery: 2018 Ford EcoSport: First DriveThe EcoSport didn't last very long in America. It debuted in November 2016 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, although sales didn't start until early 2018. At launch, the little crossover was available with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The larger powerplant was available with all-wheel drive. Getting rid of the EcoSport opens up Ford's American lineup to make an even bigger gap for the upcoming Maverick pickup. At a base price of $19,995, the little truck's cost already narrowly undercut the crossover's price. Ford EcoSport News: There are also economies of scale by prioritizing the Maverick over the EcoSport. The truck rides on the same platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport, meaning Ford can focus investments on these three, similar products. There are already indications of the Maverick being more of a sales success than the EcoSport. As of late August, Ford has 100,000 reservations for the tiny pickup. Most of them are coming from California, Florida, and Texas. The automaker expects to move 110,000 units of them a year. Source: Detroit Free Press
Ford Ecosport Active It's also important to note that while the India plant will finally shut down at an unconfirmed time later this year, it is only the entry-level Ambiente model that has a knock-on effect at home. Ford SA reckons they've ordered thousands of cars that will still see enough stock run into 2023. It also means that Ford will still receive the rest of the EcoSport models from other markets (namely Europe), so there shouldn't be any assumption that the vehicle will no longer be sold in South Africa at all. READ | Just in time to intercept the Volkswagen Taigo - Ford launches new EcoSport Active SUV The EcoSport is almost a decade old since it was launched in 2013. Since then, Ford has sold a total of 75 000 of these compact SUVs up until April 2022. It also means during this period; it has claimed a 21.3% share of the mini-SUV segment. If there's one thing about South Africans, we sure love a "special edition" model. It's the reason why Ford created the EcoSport Black in 2021. The limited-edition model was only supposed to be a six-month special, but because customer demand for this model was so high, the automaker decided to let it run for the rest of 2022. The EcoSport Black is based on the 1.5-litre Ambiente model, and Ford has already sold 1 204 units in the past year. And it's for this reason another special edition model has been added to the range in the form of the new Active model because customers want something a little different from the norm. The Active is based on the Trend 1.0-litre EcoBoost auto model and, like the Black edition, also offers unique styling and feature enhancements.  Ford Ecosport Active So what's new? The Active looks sportier and more rugged than the standard range models. Features include black mirror caps, 17" Active Black alloy wheels, LED headlights and LED daytime running lights, a lower front and rear skirt, and more black treatments, including the grille, headlight surround, and foglight bezels. There's also fender cladding, Active badging around the vehicle, and embossed logos on the partial leather seats. Another standout is the black roof and the black roof rails. Under the bonnet, the same 1.0-litre engine is good for 92kW and 170Nm mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. Pricing for the EcoSport Active model is R393 700, including a four-year or 120 000km warranty, a four-year or unlimited-kilometer Roadside Assistance, and a five-year or unlimited km corrosion warranty. At the same time, service intervals are annual, or at 15 000km - whichever one occurs first. Why does our EcoSport not look as good as the European model? Many local Ford fans also want to know why our EcoSport still has the full spare at the back of the car, as it hinders the looks compared to the European version. Customers feel the model without the spare looks much better than ours. However, Ford says South African EcoSport customers drive on much more gravel roads than others anywhere else in the world. "The European model has no full spare and only a run-flat," says Ford SA, "And this just won't work for local buyers." So, we're stuck with that spare on the rear, but it's for the right reasons. Ford Ecosport Active Will the Puma ever reach SA? It's not that Ford doesn't want more products available in their local line-up. The automaker is genuinely trying to expand product availability in South Africa. They're trying hard to bring in the Puma and even the Mustang Mach-E. Still, because availability is such a global problem right now, SA gets the short end of the stick, and our market just doesn't stand a chance against other significant markets worldwide. All we can do is pray to the Ford gods and hold thumbs that something will give for the Blue Oval brand's mothership to bring in more new cars to our local range. EcoSport is a critical product for Ford SA; it's their best-selling passenger car in a tiny portfolio, especially as most automakers are battling product supply due to the global chipset shortages. In May, Ford sold 674 EcoSport models in SA, and they've seen similar numbers every month before that. This compact SUV does incredibly well for them and carries the brand in the passenger market so there's no reason they'll discontinue a vehicle that's moving such great numbers in the current economy.
An unbundled Ford Protect Service Plan is available to customers via Ford Finance and Insurance for a four-year or 60 000km service plan at an additional R7 532.50. It's important to note that Ford Protect product offers are only available at the first point of vehicle sale or less than 30 days from the warranty start date and less than 500km. Ford Protect also offers several alternative time and distance options on Service
and Maintenance Plan products available only at the point of sale. Ford Ecosport pricing Why is the EcoSport discontinued?The EcoSport has only been available since the 2018 model year and spent all of its time toward the bottom of Edmunds' SUV rankings. And since little SUVs don't sell as well, it's no surprise Ford is dropping it. It's the brand's smallest and most inexpensive SUV.
What is going to replace the Ford EcoSport?Ford Fiesta (2017-2022)
Ford has not specified when the new compact SUV will be unveiled, but a launch is expected within the next two years as the Ecosport has been available in its current form for six years.
Is Ford EcoSport being discontinued?Ford has announced that it is canceling the EcoSport. The last vehicles will be sold by the end of this year. The small SUV was never a big seller, and Ford has been losing money on it for some time.
Will there be a 2022 Ford EcoSport?As Shown $28,990 8. 2022 Ford EcoSport® Titanium shown in White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat (Extra Cost Color).
|
