Ford bolstering line-up to prepare for European recovery
Ford will bolster its European line-up with all-new and new-generation vehicles in an attempt to put the company in a strong position as the market recovers in the coming years.
Ford of Europe head of product development Barb Samardzich says the company will employ the same product-focused strategy that helped its US division emerge from the global financial crisis and recession at the end of last decade.
“It's the same exact strategy as in North America: to make sure that our portfolio was the best ever when the economy turned around,” Samardzich told Automotive News Europe.
Ford of Europe president Stephen Odell confirmed the blue oval brand has increased its planned portfolio expansion from 15 all-new and new-generation vehicles to 25 over the next five years.
Ford USA has added the latest versions of the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion (Mondeo), C-Max, Taurus, Escape and Explorer to its range since 2008, highlighting the brand’s heavy emphasis on strengthening its passenger vehicle offering in the wake difficult financial times.
Samardzich says the company’s global One Ford powertrain and vehicle platform strategy makes the process of bulking up and refreshing its line-up easier than ever.
Odell reaffirmed Ford’s ambition to record a profit in Europe in 2015, with new product and an 18 per cent reduction in production capacity fundamental to achieving that goal.
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