| <No.738> |
| Sedans Take Back Seat to SUVs, Trucks at 2019 Chicago Auto Show |
|
A special preview for members of the media at the annual Chicago Auto Show is a chance for manufacturers to show off their latest and greatest products about to enter the market.
But what is notable about this year's show is what some manufacturers aren't showing off -new sedans.
"So, over 10 years now, there has been a consistent movement of customers in the United States and around the world, but even more so in the United States, moving away from sedans, more traditional passenger sedans into more utility vehicles."
Joe Hinrichs is president of Ford Motor Company's Global Operations.
"They like the ride high, seating height, the utility of the vehicle.
And now, we can give them the fuel efficiency that they used to get in sedans.
So, that's where customers are going.
Nearly 7 out of 10 vehicles sold today are trucks or SUVs in the U.S. market, and we continue to go where the market's going, where the customers are."
But while Ford is giving new options for consumers, it is also taking away models of the Focus, Fiesta and Fusion cars, ending production later this year.
"Well, we've been planning our business to incorporate the expectation that some of those cars will go away, and then bring in new products to the market."
The prominence, and choices, of SUVs, crossovers and trucks in General Motor's current lineup stands in contrast to its perennial auto show attraction in recent years, the Chevrolet Volt.
The Volt was the top-selling electric plug-in vehicle of all time, but the recent sagging sales have led GM to cease production of the Volt in March.
"Volt was a great product for us, had a great run - two generations.
But what has happened is as the ability to produce pure electric and the kind of cost configuration and range of what people are looking for, Volt had its time, but was a great stepping stone for us to lead to the future, which was pure electrification."
Chevrolet does plan to keep making a similar sounding car, the Bolt, all-electric vehicle, and the midsize-sedan Malibu, among a few other options.
"So, we're not abandoning the car market completely.
We're right-sizing our portfolio.
We're reacting to what the consumers are looking for."
What they are looking for are trucks and SUVs, which made up about 70 percent of the 17 million vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2018, a trend expected to continue this year.
Kane Farabaugh, VOA News, Chicago, Illinois
|
|
|
|
