Ford quietly begins production of new small pickup in Mexico

Ford Motor has quietly started out generation of a new pickup in Mexico that is anticipated to be more compact than its current Ranger product, in accordance to info unveiled by the automaker.

The new truck was disclosed to traders Wednesday in the automaker’s regular monthly production data as a “C-Decide Up” that’s currently being manufactured at its Hermosillo plant. Only 21 automobiles were being assembled in February, likely indicating early prototype versions for testing. A spokesman for Ford declined to remark outside of what the organization disclosed in its month-to-month production report.

“C-Select Up” is anticipated to stand for compact pickup, which would grow the firm’s highly lucrative truck company below its present-day midsize Ranger pickup. Auto analysts assume the truck will be sold in the U.S. and in other markets these types of as South The us exactly where smaller pickups have ordinarily been extra preferred.

When Ford CEO Jim Farley was top the automaker’s world-wide markets, he explained Ford was “investing in far more inexpensive versions” of the firm’s truck company. He mentioned to “hope new nameplates down below exactly where we compete now.”

“When you consider about Ford, we have a dominant truck franchise globally, that’s vans, pickups, and now we’re likely to dramatically increase our utility lineup all around the world,” he stated for the duration of a Deutsche Bank investor conference in January 2019. “And which is what is actually going to travel collectively our international profitability around the upcoming couple a long time.”

2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Ford

The pickup is staying generated at the plant along with the firm’s new Ford Bronco Activity SUV, which could mean the pickup will share the vehicle’s system and underpinnings. Auto enthusiast and trade publications have claimed a compact pickup — likely named Maverick — is envisioned from Ford by the conclusion of this calendar year.

Creation commencing at the plant is a possible indicator the car or truck is forthcoming. It took about 9 months for the Bronco Sport to raise manufacturing from 29 models to extra than 8,000 in November, in accordance to Ford. Factories bit by bit ramp up output ahead of the automobiles shipping and delivery to sellers.

Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ executive director of insights, said the vehicle sector wants much more inexpensive pickups, as some bigger types these kinds of as the F-Series can major $100,000. But she doesn’t be expecting the car or truck would sell substantial volumes in the U.S.

“It can be extremely tough to locate a effectively-priced truck that is to some degree new,” she stated. “I assume for Ford it definitely can make feeling, especially because they have bought rid of a ton of their passenger vehicles. So, they surely need a thing that is heading to be at a reduce cost position for shoppers.”