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Ford: No Plan for U.S.-Built Focus Crossover Model
Ford Motor Co., which last month canceled plans to import a crossover version of its Focus small car from China, says it makes no economic sense to make the car in the U.S. instead.
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Ford Motor Co., which last month canceled plans to import a crossover version of its Focus small car from China, says it makes no economic sense to make the car in the U.S. instead.
Ford dropped the import scheme on worries about likely U.S. tariffs on such vehicles. That decision prompted President Donald Trump to declare that the Focus Active model (left) could be built in the U.S., thereby sidestepping the tax.
Not so, Ford quickly responded. The company says that projected U.S. demand for the five-door hatch—about 50,000 units per year—isn’t great enough to justify the cost of local production. Ford also cites strong competition in the U.S. sporty crossover segment.
The company reiterates that it will simply omit the model from its North American lineup. Ford also debuted the Focus Active in Europe earlier this year.
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