There are multiple reasons behind Ford’s decision to can its US saloons and hatches, but the reality is that the company has fallen behind rivals in responding to the significant extra demand for utility vehicles, especially those based on car platforms.

Ford readies all-new electric crossover but axes US cars 

In many ways, it is to Ford’s credit: remember, Ford was the only one of the Big Three that didn’t go bust in the post-2007 recession and, to save the company, it cut back on new model programmes and focused on ‘One Ford’, a global efficiency strategy.

However, One Ford didn’t generate sufficient creative and management energy to expand Ford’s range of car-like SUVs, so now Ford is playing catch-up.

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The irony of a company whose Explorer almost invented the utility segment in the US in the mid-1990s falling behind on SUVs will not be lost on Ford’s managers and engineers.

Hard decisions await in Europe, for example, where there are four seven-seat or 5+2 models on sales – Ford C-Max Grand, Tourneo Grand, Ford S-Max and Ford Galaxy – but no 5+2 SUV.

Ford to ditch Fiesta and saloons from US line-up by 2020