Ford Brand to Add 9 Nameplates by 2023

Ford Motor Co. tells reporters the company’s Ford brand will add nine nameplates in the U.S. by 2023, offsetting six that are being phased out.

The five-year plan will result in a net increase in Ford brand nameplates to 23 from 20, according to product development chief Hau Thai-Tang.

Ford announced in March that it is realigning its U.S. product lineup by phasing out its C-Max multipurpose vehicle, Fiesta minicar, Flex crossover, Fusion midsize sedan and Taurus large sedan, and reducing the Focus small car to a single wagon model.

Thai-Tang says seven of the nine replacement nameplates will be SUV/crossovers and pickup trucks. He told analysts last week that the company also is moving from nine vehicle platforms to only five modular architectures, all of which will be able to handle conventional and hybrid powertrains.