Ford Claims That Abandoning Sedans Was 'Definitely' the Correct Decision, Yet They May Reintroduce Them.

      Ford

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      It's been six years since Ford removed all sedans and hatchbacks from its U.S. lineup, and the company stands by that choice, according to Andrew Frick, who oversees the Ford Blue and Model E business units that include all of the automaker's passenger cars, in a recent interview with Automotive News. However, he did not rule out the possibility of Ford returning to sedans.

      Ford discontinued all cars from its U.S. lineup post-2019, retaining only SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans. When asked if, with the benefit of hindsight, he considered this a wise choice, Frick responded with an emphatic "absolutely."

      “In some vehicle lines, we were merely competing for the sake of competing,” Frick explained, adding that they redirected that capital into products where they have a better chance of success. He noted that without these changes, there would have been no Bronco, Maverick, or Bronco Sport, nor some product lines such as Tremor, and they wouldn't have been able to expand Raptor as they have.

      Frick acknowledged that Ford might still see an “opportunity” in areas beyond their mainstay pickups and SUVs, but noted that the sales performance of these vehicles doesn’t leave him longing for the days of the Focus, Fusion, and Fiesta, despite many others feeling that way.

      “I would choose the way some of our vehicles are currently competing over how our cars were competing any day of the week.”

      It's easy to understand Frick's perspective. In its peak year (2014), the Fusion recorded 306,860 sales, which was 81,514 units less than the Honda Accord and 121,746 fewer than the Toyota Camry. This figure represented only about half the sales of F-Series pickups that year. In light of those truck sales, sedans are relatively insignificant to Ford. As Frick indicated, Ford is focused on succeeding in the truck market, where it struggled to consistently compete against Japanese automakers in the sedan segment.

      However, there might be more to consider. The last-generation Fusion was visually appealing and enjoyable to drive, despite having less interior space than some rivals. Rather than addressing this issue, Ford postponed a redesign until the Fusion fell out of the competitive landscape. This delay was due to the costs associated with redesigns, which take longer to recover with sedans, as these generally sell for less than comparable SUVs and often yield lower profit margins. The situation is even more challenging for entry-level cars like the Focus and Fiesta.

      Nevertheless, Ford and other Detroit automakers appear to be recognizing that rising new-car prices might affect sales, thus acknowledging that sedans could become necessary again. At the 2026 Detroit Auto Show, Ford CEO Jim Farley described the sedan market as "very vibrant," while also noting, “we just couldn’t find a way to compete and be profitable.”

      In response to Farley’s remarks, Frick echoed a similar sentiment. He stated that for a sedan to be viable, it would need to be "very cost-effective for us," and it would probably derive from "a family that we may already offer." He also mentioned that “we look to expand on the Mustang family as we move forward.” Therefore, it seems possible that a new Ford sedan could bear the pony car's emblem, should it occur at all. Ford’s current focus is on achieving 8% profit margins by 2029, which likely indicates continued emphasis on more expensive versions of their existing trucks and SUVs. Additionally, Ford's highly anticipated $30,000 electric vehicle will be another pickup.

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