djc Posted June 20, 2017 Report Share Posted June 20, 2017 Apparently Ford has decided to move production of US market Focus cars to China, rather than Mexico. The labor saving (plus excess capacity there) offsets the increased transportation costs. It is not clear if this shift includes electric Focus, or will include future hybrids or EVs built, like the C-max, on the shared platform: https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2017-06-20/ford-to-import-focus-small-car-from-china-in-2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raadsel Posted June 20, 2017 Report Share Posted June 20, 2017 Apparently Ford has decided to move production of US market Focus cars to China, rather than Mexico. The labor saving (plus excess capacity there) offsets the increased transportation costs. It is not clear if this shift includes electric Focus, or will include future hybrids or EVs built, like the C-max, on the shared platform: https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2017-06-20/ford-to-import-focus-small-car-from-china-in-2019 My understanding is that the C-Max is not moving, that production will just be discontinued when the move occurs. If it were to continue, I believe the C-Max would move to Mexico since that is where the powertrain is assembled. If a C-Max replacement uses that same powertrain, it would also likely be produced in Mexico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djc Posted June 20, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2017 Right, the C-max ends with the end of its Michigan production run. What is not clear (to me) is if there will be a hybrid / EV car based on the next-gen Focus platform, and if so whether it will be produced in China, along with the bulk of Focus models to be sold in the US. Apparently some smaller-run versions of the new Focus will come to US from Europe starting 2019; that could include EV models. As I remember Ford's announcements of hybrid/EV plans in January 2017 included Mustang, F-150, Connect, a small pure EV SUV, and 2 police cars. What seems to be missing is a small hatchback or wagon hybrid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djc Posted June 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 Well apparently there will be a plug-in hybrid Escape, appearing just as the C-max disappears (speculated to be late 2018, early 2019): http://insideevs.com/ford-escape-energi-plug-hybrid-spy-photos/ d. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raadsel Posted June 23, 2017 Report Share Posted June 23, 2017 Well apparently there will be a plug-in hybrid Escape, appearing just as the C-max disappears (speculated to be late 2018, early 2019): http://insideevs.com/ford-escape-energi-plug-hybrid-spy-photos/ d. It looks like the Escape is currently assembled in Missouri. It will be interesting if the Escape hybrid is assembled there, as well, or if they make it in Mexico. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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