[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

Not in big quantity isn't the same thing as none at all.

Ford started eliminating North American sedan models while they were still selling several hundred thousand (total of four model lines) every year. Which seems like enough reason to hang onto one sedan model somewhere in the middle, separate from the ponycar Mustang.


Norm

But you have to take into account the segment the vehicle is sold in as well as other vehicles in the portfolio that can contribute to share. When Ford decided to axe Fusion, it was still selling more than a hundred thousand a year. But it was trending down. Not drawing the type of volume Accord and Camry were drawing. Ford could have kept it, just as GM kept Malibu (for now) which sells even less. That’s just a question of whether in addition to a noticeable reduction in sales, was Fusion making money.

For Camaro, it made sense since it shared platform with Cadillac sedans and helped reduce their costs. When they go electric (by 2025) one key factor for Camaro remaining is gone.

For Corvette, the scale of the operation is such that it can still make money in the 40 - 60,000/yr rate. Fusion probably needed to be in the 200,000 a year range and Alpha (Cadillacs plus Camaro) probably needed to be in the 125 - 150,000 range to support the manufacturing infrastructure (Lansing plant plus suppliers).