Tick, Tick, Tick. Ford Misses Big On Explorer And Heads Will Probably Roll

Ford Motor Co.’s Jim Hackett and Wall Street analysts started this year frustrated with one another. Sure, the automaker had been underperforming, but the chief executive appealed for time to show he was fixing things. He assured them the redesigned Explorer SUV rolling out months later would be a proof point.

But rather than help the earnings results Ford delivers this week, the Explorer will be a hindrance. Sales have plunged as a plant plagued by personnel problems has struggled to get the new sport utility vehicle out the door. Thousands have been shipped 270 miles away to another Ford factory for rework.
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Car4life1 - 10/22/2019 6:48:57 PM

+6 Boost

Hmmm...SUV’ s are at their most lucrative and fiercely competitive point in history with EVERYONE on their A Game across the pond including the Japanese, Koreans, and Germans...

Yet Ford chooses now to let shit hit the fan for their Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator, 2 products that should have been massive for the company...

Throw the whole management team away

mre30 - 10/22/2019 7:56:12 PM

+4 Boost

Wow - this is inexcusable. So much for "Quality Is Job One!"

In the NY area, there are lots of new Cadillac XT6 on the road and very few Explorers and ZERO Lincoln Aviators. The Cadillac looks great on the road and I think the tech and mechanicals are proven (which is what the demo cares about).

It will take Ford a while to recover from this one.

xjug1987a - 10/22/2019 5:46:17 PM

0 Boost

UAW strikes again!

MDarringer - 10/22/2019 8:29:01 PM

-2 Boost

The demand is there but we can't get stock.

runninglogan1 - 10/22/2019 8:39:46 PM

+5 Boost

Incredible how bad initial quality has been on these. You would think Ford would be more careful with one of their most important models.

Plus, the Telluride and Palisade are simply better and cheaper too.

MDarringer - 10/22/2019 10:20:13 PM

-3 Boost

The Explorer is a miss.

The fact that some initial production had to be rerouted for getting to dealers is inexcusable. Having lived with a Telluride, it is much better than the Explorer. The stale styling only makes the Explorer that much more of a missed opportunity. The old Explorer was no beauty and they made the new one look like it. The new Explorer is at least 10% overpriced for what it is.

The new Escape is a great product, but they wrapped it in Dullsville.

The powers that be at Ford are pretty rudderless.

Dealers are clamoring for a V6 Ranger because the 2.3T is NOT well received. Ford says a V6 won't fit. How in hell is that possible?

The Mustang is getting long in tooth. Where are the new prototypes?

There is a new Fusion coming (as a wagoncrossover), but why submarine the Fusion's sales by announcing its demise only to come back to market with a Fusion?

MDarringer - 10/23/2019 8:40:45 AM

0 Boost

#WRONG

The 2015 and 2005 Mustangs were launched exceedingly well.
The 2013 Fusion was launched well.
The first Edge was launched well.
In history, there are numerous examples of good launches by Ford.

Tiberius1701A - 10/23/2019 12:27:24 PM

+2 Boost

Matt is correct (sorry downvoters) but the take all of Ford Faux pas introdutions has to be the 2002 Thunderbird..hands down. On another note, The Hackster must go..
"Ford Motor's calling, Al Mullaly, Alan you'd know what to do...' (With apologies to the boys in the band Chicago)

dumpsty - 10/24/2019 3:05:06 PM

+1 Boost

These are the normal pains of running a major automaker.

It sucks to have spent billions for renovations & to complete a tech overhaul and now the CEO & execs have to deal with labor issues that negatively affect production & assembly. All of this ahead of their labor union contract negotiations.

But their marketing for the new Explorer has been bad too. This is a major update to the ever-popular SUV. Haven't seen much. The Interceptor Utility version is slick.