Ford and General Motors may cut several sedans and small
hatchbacks from their lineups, as Americans continue flocking to hotter-selling
crossovers and SUVs.
A report in the Wall Street Journal cites sources at the
two automakers saying they will discontinue certain models within a year or
two. On the chopping block are large sedans like the Ford Taurus and Chevrolet
Impala and subcompact sedans and hatches including the Ford Fiesta and
Chevrolet Sonic.
The automakers won’t speak on official record, but the
news isn’t far-fetched. Crossovers and trucks typically account for more than
60 percent of U.S.
light vehicle sales. According to WardsAuto, through March dealers stocked 34
percent of their inventories on just crossovers, compared to 29 percent a year
ago. Traditional sedan buyers have instead switched to similarly-sized
crossovers, lured by a higher seating position, more cargo space, and the wider
availability of all-wheel drive.
Traditional sedan buyers have switched to similarly-sized
crossovers, lured by a higher seating position, more cargo space, and the wider
availability of all-wheel drive.
The Taurus hasn’t changed in any significant way since
the 2010 model year, but the Chevrolet Impala completed a major makeover for
2014. Still, sales in 2017 were simply so-so. The Taurus, at 41,236 sold in
2017, is propped up by its popularity among police departments. It’s been on an
annual decline since 2013, the peak of this generation’s sales, when Ford moved
79,960 units.
Save for a small bump in 2010, the Impala has been on a
much longer decline, from a high of 311,128 cars in 2007 to just 75,877 last
year. The Fiesta and Sonic have been crowded by other small crossovers in their
own lineups, like the Ford EcoSport and Chevrolet Trax. Sonic sales dropped to
30,290 cars in 2017, a 68-percent drop from its all-time high three years
earlier. The Fiesta, at 46,249 cars, has lost 27 percent of its volume in the
same time.
But for savvy new-car buyers, seeking these less popular
models is one sure way to strike a good deal.
