Ford to revive Bronco SUV, Ranger pickup and make them in Mich.

Nathan Bomey
USA TODAY Published 9:05 a.m. ET Jan. 9, 2017 | Updated 12 hours ago


DETROIT—Ford Motor plans to revive the Ford Bronco sport-utility vehicle and Ford Ranger mid-size pickup truck in a strategic bet on a surge of American nostalgia, hefty vehicles and low gasoline prices.

Ford CEO Mark Fields told USA TODAY that the automaker would make the two vehicles at its assembly plant in Wayne, Mich., to replace production of the Focus sedan, which is moving to Mexico, and preserve 3,600 jobs. The company will make the official announcement at the Detroit auto show.

The move marks the second Ford announcement this year on locating manufacturing in Michigan after facing sharp criticism from Donald Trump during the presidential campaign over Mexican expansion plans. The company will still move production of the Focus sedan from the Wayne, Mich. operation to Mexico, but it will be located at an existing assembly plant instead of a new $1.6 billion factory, which was canceled.

The Ranger, which is currently available in some foreign markets, will hit U.S. showrooms with new styling and powertrain options in 2019. The Bronco will return to dealerships in 2020.

"The bottom line is we have these two iconic nameplates in two segments that are growing," Fields said in an interview, describing the decision as "part of our strategy of keeping our core business healthy."

The Bronco's revival is aimed squarely at generating a groundswell of buzz among enthusiasts who never lost passion for the rugged SUV and among new customers clamoring for big vehicles amid low gasoline prices.

"There is so much love out there for the Bronco," Fields said. "If you look at that rugged SUV segment, over the last five years it’s like the second-fastest-growing segment within SUVs."



Thanks Trump!

Trump didn't build that. I had a weed grow in my yard. I'll give Trump credit for that though.

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Now if Ford could somehow find a way to build a reliable vehicle all would be right with the world.

Now if Ford could build the new Ranger actual Ranger size instead of "mid size" all would be right in my garage (and my gasoline charge card).

America says Thanks! Wrote:
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> Now if Ford could somehow find a way to build a
> reliable vehicle all would be right with the
> world.

I hope it is the same Ford Ranger that they sell overseas. The overseas Ranger is meant to compete with the Toyota HiLux.



https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/


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Bronco - what a POS that vehicle was. Just in time for higher gas prices too. Brilliant.

Just in time for higher gas Wrote:
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> Bronco - what a POS that vehicle was. Just in
> time for higher gas prices too. Brilliant.


But it's made in Murica so that doesn't matter

eesh Wrote:
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> I hope it is the same Ford Ranger that they sell
> overseas. The overseas Ranger is meant to compete
> with the Toyota HiLux.
>
>
>
> https://www.ford.com.au/commercial/ranger/
>
>
> -


So disappointing that they tried to copy the Toyota styling and failed. Ford was a great company.