Ford Fusions were a car released in 2006, designed to be a medium-sized sedan that offers solid performance. However, Ford decided to stop producing the Ford Fusion in July 2020.
You may be wondering why the Ford Fusion got discontinued. We looked up the facts, and here is what we learned about the matter!
Why Was The Ford Fusion Discontinued?
1. Declining Sales
One of the main reasons the Ford Fusion got discontinued was that the sales for the Ford Fusion were constantly declining.
Initially, the Ford Fusion got a peak in sales back in 2014, where the Ford Fusion sold roughly 306,860 units, but that was the best it was going to get.
Basically, the sales of the Ford Fusion were steadily declining, especially in 2018, when only 173,600 units of the Ford Fusion were sold that year.
After 2018, the Ford Fusion sales continued to drop, and while the Ford Fusion is not in production anymore, just over 11,000 units were sold in 2021.
While the huge decrease in sales may not be the main reason Ford dropped the Ford Fusion, it was a big contributing factor to discontinuing the model.
2. Focus On Making Trucks And SUVs
Another huge reason why the Ford Fusion was discontinued is that Ford decided to focus on creating SUVs and trucks.
Generally, the North American market during 2018-2020 was more interested in owning SUVs and trucks.
As such, Ford decided to put more money from the budget into creating SUVs and trucks, so the company had to drop the Ford Fusion.
3. Same Design
One of the main factors that attributed to the downfall of the Ford Fusion was that it usually had the same or similar design, so people were less inclined to buy it.
Also, after the peak of sales for the Ford Fusion in 2013-2014, Ford did not care to update the exterior design of the Ford Fusion.
On the other hand, rival brands like Honda and Toyota decided to change up their designs, which intrigued customers.
Additionally, the interior design was not as modern as other cars made by Ford’s competition.
4. Family Sedans Are Not Popular
Another reason Ford decided to stop creating the Ford Fusion was that family sedans are not as popular in the market.
Back in 2010, family sedans were all the rage as most people were settling down and looking for reliable family cars.
Nowadays, more people are living a more on-the-go lifestyle, with most Millennials and Gen Z deciding to stay child-free,
As such, most of the younger market is not looking for a car suitable for a family and instead opt for sleeker and sportier cars.
5. Expensive
As stated earlier, a major reason why the Ford Fusion stopped being produced was that the sales were declining, which was likely due to the Ford Fusion’s price.
Depending on the condition of the Ford Fusion, the 2019 Ford Fusion could go up to $40,000, which made it a pricey car compared to other cars on the market.
As such, most people decided to look for alternate car models that were cheaper, causing the Ford Fusion sales to drop further.
6. Prone To Problems
Another big cause the Ford Fusion lacked sales and eventually got discontinued is that most drivers believed that the Ford Fusion was prone to issues.
For instance, it has been well-documented that the Ford Fusion was more likely to experience engine stalls, leaks, loss of acceleration, and more.
Naturally, when customers hear that a car model is likely to experience problems or require repairs, they will not buy the car, causing the Ford Fusion sales to drop promptly.
7. Competitors Flushed It Out
A big factor why Ford decided to cut the Ford Fusion from its production line is that competing car brands flushed out the Ford Fusion.
For example, while the Ford Fusion was constantly repeating a similar car design at a hefty price, competing brands like Honda and Toyota were constantly upgrading their cars.
So, when the market found they had cheaper and more unique car models to choose from, they stopped going for the reliable and stagnant Ford Fusion.
For instance, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are both popular and affordable mid-size sedans that people often choose instead of the Ford Fusion.
However, Ford also decided not to reinvent the Ford Fusion despite the competition, so the company chose to focus on other car models.
8. Renewed Line
Despite technically discontinuing the original line of Ford Fusion, Ford has decided to keep the name of the Ford Fusion but reinvent the car lineup.
Generally, the Subaru has a sports wagon called the Outback that has been extremely popular.
As such, Ford has decided to make a car design similar to the Subaru Outback while retaining the Ford Fusion name, but the car will not be the sedan that the Ford Fusion used to be.
9. Business Decision
Generally, most businesses discontinue a product when it is no longer interesting to the market, which is what happened to the Ford Fusion.
With the other Ford cars like the Ford Mustang and Ford Ranger being more popular, Ford did not see a reason to keep producing Fusions since it was a weak-selling car product.
To know more, you can also read our posts on Ford Focus horn not working, Ford Escape AC not working, and Ford Sync USB not working.
Conclusion
While the Ford Fusion used to be a popular family sedan back in the early 2010s, the years have not favored the Ford Fusion as a car.
Ford initially decided to continue the Ford Fusion as a family sedan but is currently in the works of creating a sports wagon while retaining the Ford Fusion name.