Ford has reportedly canceled the upcoming redesign of the Fusion. This seemingly puts the future of the American automaker's midsize sedan in limbo.
According to The Detroit News, Ford made the announcement in a November letter sent to the new Fusion program's suppliers. The automaker stated that the upcoming North American redesign — codenamed CD542N and slated for the 2020 model year — had been canceled.
Though no specific reason was given for the redesign's cancellation, reports noted that Ford's decision may have something to do with the declining sales of midsize sedans in the United States. In recent years, customers have developed a preference for SUVs and pickup trucks.
Compared to sales in 2016, sales for Ford's midsize sedan in 2017 was 21.1 percent less. Additionally, the Fusion also faces stiff competition from other midsize sedans in the market such as the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. In 2017, the Fusion only sold 209,623 units compared to the Camry's 387,081 and the Accord's 322,655.
It should be noted, however, that the Fusion redesign's cancellation does not mean that Ford is discontinuing the nameplate in the United States. The nameplate is the automaker's best-selling car so this recent development might only mean that they are reevaluating plans for the midsize sedan.
Ford spokesman Mike Levine said in a statement, "Fusion remains an important part of the Ford lineup for years to come with even more new fresh features on the way. We will have more news to share in the future."
Ford CEO Jim Hackett is said to be working to shift their product lineup in order to cut production costs. The executive hinted at a bigger silhouette for the Fusion, which would then put the future of another Ford vehicle in question. It was previously reported that the larger Ford Taurus might be discontinued by the end of this year.
