Ford increases Edge sales projections to 120k yearly
When we drove the Edge in San Francisco last year, we came away rather impressed by Ford's newest entrant into the highly competitive CUV market. Apparently, we're not alone.
Consumer demand for the Edge has continued to increase since its launch, causing Ford to raise its sales forecast from 100,000 to 120,000 sales annually. Case-in-point: May saw the highest number of Edge sales so far, with 12,701 units sold. If those numbers remain constant, Ford should be able to exceed its revised sales goal, if only by a couple of hundred vehicles.
Knowing how important the Edge is to Ford's success, this is good news for the Blue Oval boys. Let's just hope it can be sustained.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Marvelous 8:06AM (6/04/2007)
This is truly good news for Ford. Nothing negative can be said about this.
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Chris 8:30AM (6/04/2007)
Actually, ford stated they have revised their projections to 120,000 for this year alone, meaning that they should be able to sell close to 150,000 units next year if sales keep up at the current levels, not bad at all, congratulations Ford, it seems they finally have a big hit on their hands.
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Mr. Oak 9:11AM (6/04/2007)
Ford, take a page from Toyota's play book. HYBRID a slightly more powerful setup that the Escape. Toyota has a hybrid model of almost half their products. Why is Ford being so timid on Hybrids. You already have the technology.
Granted I won't buy one, but obviously this has been good business for Toyota. Ford you guys are asleep at the switch.
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The Other Bob 9:25AM (6/04/2007)
"Granted I won't buy one... " Hence why Ford may not build a hybrid version. People say they want hybrids but will they actually buy one? If Ford's research determines people are all talk - like you - why waste the R&D to build it?
roadside observer 10:01AM (6/04/2007)
"Toyota has a hybrid model of almost half their products."
Really?
Toyota offers the Prius, the Camry, the Highlander, the GX, and the RX as hybrids - five models.
The last time I checked, Toyota offered a total of 32 models, including hybrids, under its three brands sold in the US(Toyota, Lexus, Scion).
Since when did five become "almost half" of 32?
Would you care to tone down your hyperbole a bit? We're not totally stupid here.
Mr. Oak 9:37AM (6/04/2007)
That fact that I am personally against this technology, doesn't mean I don't recognize what's good for business. If plans on staying in the car business, they had better get with it.
BTW: I currently drive a Ford product.
The reason I won't buy a Hybrid is because I took the time to research the process that goes into making the Li batteries for these things.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20070404_Hidden_cost_of_driving_a_Prius.html
But hell why should Toyota get a free pass. I will not buy a HYBRID vehicle, but look at the numbers that Toyota is doing in Hybrids. Build the damn thing, there are enough lemmings out who would like to think they're "saving the Planet".
Guenther 9:34AM (6/04/2007)
It's definitely nice to hear some good news. Hopefully they can get to breaking even by years end.
Even if they don't implement a proper parallel hybrid, a mild hybrid, like GM has could certainly help. It's only good for 10-20% (at the most) but 10% is still 10%. With $4 fuel being a reality, it makes more and more sense.
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whathe? 8:12PM (6/04/2007)
Increasing volumes is some desperately needed good news in Fords sea of trouble and sea of sameness among their lagging products. One can only wonder how many more they may be able to sell if their marketing weren't so inept.
They spend millions trying to offend no one and in the process come off like the engineers and finance people doing marketing that they are. Maybe one day they'll stop condescending to their potential customers and stop spelling everything out for them literally and realize that people in America are smarter than Ford management compadres in Dearborn and don't require literal, logical messaging. You can't rationalize your way into people's hearts. Hopefully it won't be too late for Ford to catch up to where everyone else in America is - Ford doesn't dictate the terms of marketing anymore, consumers do and Ford is still mired in their "we rule the world from Dearborn" point of view, or worse, the dealers rule the world.
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The Other Bob 10:51AM (6/04/2007)
Hopefully Ford and other automakers will put their scarce R&D dollars into technology that will replace the internal combustion engines, not put a bandaid on it with hybrid technology.
Toyota loses money on each Prius it sells, and I am guessing the hybrid drivetrains are also unprofitable. Ford canot afford to lose money on gimmick cars.
In a sense, we somewhat agree.
Mr. Oak 9:39AM (6/04/2007)
CORRECTION: If FORD plans on staying in the car business, they had better get with it.
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Mr. Oak 9:45AM (6/04/2007)
BOB: What R&D? They are already in the HYBRID business. Where is the Fusion Hybrid? Edge Hybrid?
Hell, stuff a Hybrid setup into the Crown Vic. and sell it to cab companies. You pretty much already have that market cornered. FORD for once, be a leader, not just an also ran.
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Mustang2005cs 5:06PM (8/09/2007)
Both will be coming out in the near future, actually. Trust me buddy, if demand for hybrids was that great, you would see more on the roads today.
Julius 9:52AM (6/04/2007)
Mr. Oak:
Most auto manufacturers lose money on selling full hybrids, that range in the high 4 digits, low 5 digits. Battery packs of these sizes range almost $4000-6000, and that cost is certainly not ALL passed on to the consumer.
But back to the post: This is certainly positive news for Ford. A realized increase in sales will hopefully have an impact on the bottom line as development costs are paid off, and more shared architectures are realized from the development of the Edge.
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mr.ed 10:04AM (6/04/2007)
If Ford didn't have Mazda engineering to adapt, they'd be in deeper yogurt than they are. As you know, this is basically a Mazda6, complete with its huge turning circle.
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Snark 10:09AM (6/04/2007)
"What R&D? They are already in the HYBRID business. Where is the Fusion Hybrid? Edge Hybrid?"
Fusion hybrid is coming.
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Andre 10:13AM (6/04/2007)
I wonder what the figure would like like if adjusted by sales incentives - like for like comparison; I would venture to assume that the Ford figures are much less impressive
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Devin 10:49AM (6/04/2007)
So Toyota can get away with putting sales incentives on it's models to push their numbers, but Ford can't? If I remember right, Toyota is offering a ton of cash back on the NEW Tundra, just so they can keep in their dreams the magic 200k. I don't know about the rest of the country, but right now, the Prius is loaded up w/ incentives. I'm not saying Ford and GM don't do it, but they surely aren't the only offenders.
Back to the post, this is really good news, and I agree with the other post that Ford needs to offer a hybrid version of the Edge, especially if they want to start building a greener image. They could also put it on a 300-500 lb. diet, and that would surely improve gas milage too.
Hanh 10:51AM (6/04/2007)
Even though the Ford Edge had a good month in May, one also needs to take into consideration how the Explorer's sales have decreased. The Edge's success is simply a matter of retaining Ford sales, not conquesting imports. Funny thing is, not too long ago the Ford Explorer was Top 5 in sales but now it's nowhere near that level. I am cheering for the Big Three just as much as I support American autoworkers, but let's be cautious on not getting our hopes to high.
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C. McFeeny 11:01AM (6/04/2007)
mr. ed -- I dunno how many times it's been said but, here goes:
Mazda=Ford
Ford=Mazda
It's been like this for years and it will remain this way for a very long time.
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The Other Bob 11:18AM (6/04/2007)
Actually its more like Ford = 30% of Mazda, which is the Japanese legal limit on foreign company ownership.