Ford spent years letting General Motors slowly consume a large majority of the full-size SUV market, but it wants that to change with the 2018 Expedition and 2018 Lincoln Navigator.
The completely new SUVs are off to a hot start, too, though GM still holds a very comfortable lead in the sales race. Ford announced last Monday that it will invest an additional $25 million into its Kentucky truck plant to speed up production of both SUVs. Lincoln reported that Navigator sales rose 97.5 percent in January and the SUV spends just seven days at the dealership before finding its way to a new owner’s driveway.
Despite the Navigator’s early success, internal data from Cadillac has shown the SUV isn’t swaying its buyers. Most of the Navigator’s conquest buyers have come from Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover thus far. Meanwhile, Escalade sales rose last month, as did the SUV’s transaction prices.
Ford’s investment will help speed up the factory’s assembly line to churn out more SUVs than before. The automaker has boosted production targets by 25 percent with the latest investment.
Comments
Ford has one thing Chevy/GMC does not…… DECENT SIZED MIRRORS! The current Tahoe/ Suburban/ Yukon mirrors are way too small, especially when towing. At the very least, they could put the mirrors from the Silverado on these SUVs like the last gen.
Also, I myself would never buy anything but a Caddy, but after sitting in the new navigator at the auto show; I was blown away. I had a hard time believing that it was even a Lincoln. Little things like USB ports in, and a reclining 3rd row were very impressive, in addition to the massive sunroof. Honestly, how hard would it be for GM to put the XT5 sunroof in the Escalade along with 2 extra USB ports in the back?
Cadillac still has one thing that Lincoln does not……. Super Cruise.
THANK YOU. I’ve always thought that the mirrors on the Tahoe/Yukon were small and disproportionate to the vehicle. Reminds me of T-Rex arms. They just look so off.
Rant over
Interested to see what GM pulls out of their bag o tricks to keep the triplets running strong.
I smell a 3.0 diesel offering in the future perhaps? Definitely an advantage over the competition, and the first diesel full size SUV since the Excursion and the 6.5 powered GM twins.
2020 can’t come soon enough for GM, especially with the next generation Suburban/Tahoe and Yukon/Yukon XL coming down the pipeline. But Ford did bring their A game and is ready to for a fight.
I have seen three new Expeditions (two Platinum) on the road this week. It looks fresh and refined in person.
2020 feels like a long way off to give away market share in such a profitable segment.
I have owned two Tahoe’s and have always preferred the size, ruggedness and athleticism over the Expedition. I just don’t want GM to get lazy in this segment- “show off” everything you’re capable of the way Lincoln has with Navigator and earn my money.
Ford dealers took in $200k that my local GM dealer didn’t based on those three Expeditions.
The new GM SUVs may be out by late spring next year, along with independent rear suspension.
The new Expedition and Navigator have now put an end to the deep discounts Ford had on those older models for many years. This actually takes some pressure off of GM to meaningfully increase discounts, any time soon.
Ford/Lincoln did announce a 25% increase in output for these new models. However, the increased volume will only total 20% of The SUVs produced at GM’s Arlington, Texas plant, which is around 360,000 units, with weekend hours.
Looking at what GM did with the new pickups, I’d say the new SUVs will also surprise everybody.
Both companies will continue to do well.
It is not just the large SUV segment that is hurting Ford. The damage is really being felt by the new SUV and CUV models GM has just come out with in the last two years.
Also the cost cutting measures GM has been working on along with increased ATP has really hurt Ford.
Ford spent most of their time and money on the F150 Aluminum project. This did not turn out as well as they had hoped. The change over really hurt as they were down for a long time before they got the production up to speed. GM needs to watch this on their trucks now.
They also are now faced with much higher cost involved with the Aluminum as prices have gone up.
Ford stock is at nearly an all time low and they are now trying to cut cost, add more EV models and more SUV models. Not sure how much of it will work. By the time they catch up will the status still be the same in the market.
They really need to get cost in line.
Ford needs to focus on profitability to turn things and a little luck. As the market slows making more per unit is going to be key.
For once GM was lucky and did the right thing at the right time.
The new Cadillac XT4 will take away sales from the Lincoln MKC (based on the Ford Escape), as the present Chevy Equinox has done for years to the Ford Escape. Only the cheaper and lower quality Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue sell more.
GM sells about 300k fullsize SUVs yearly. I don’t even think the Expedition/Navi sold 100k (could be wrong) last year. Ford has some catching up to do. then again I hope GM really brings their A game with these SUVs considering the amount of profit that comes from Truck/SUV sales. I really hope the Escalade gets the proper treatment for what it should be. No 90k luxury SUV should have column shifters and a Solid rear axle. It needs an Independent Rear suspension it needs a Mercedes S class rivaling interior and it needs the Bi Turbo V8 that’s been promised. Mostly though it needs to share less Sheet metal with a Tahoe. An Escalade with the Escala themed design cues ecspecially the nose would create an SUV with a presence like no other
Yes definitely cut the solid rear axle and the 4 wheel drive on the escalade, it gives such a rough ride, I spill my latte all over the place every morning. And the column shifter, stupid reminder of a rugged truck. It’s a 90 thousand dollar car, I want to have to go into the menu screen to change gears.
I’ve never driven an Expedition, but drove my first Surburban. We rented it for a day and spent 4 hours in it. Loved the size, good power, looks good too…
Rode like crap, had it in 4×4 in the snow and was not impresed at all. Couldn’t get the Android auto to project half the time. Ended up using On Star. That worked pretty well. Kids loved it. Wife hated it. Everybody enjoyed the Wi-Fi
The thing was just OK, the Ford must be really bad to sell that little compared. I really don’t get it.
GM don’t have nothing to worry about as long each generation models have substantial improvement with minor to modest refresh for each life cycle to retain market share where they are at currently. Based on sales volume for each, Lincoln and Ford, the volume is still lower than GM twins at its early stages. The end of the year is more telling.