General Motors Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group also have been caught in the shift away from trucks and SUVs to smaller cars and crossovers as consumers seek better fuel economy.
GM CEO Fritz Henderson announced that GM would "make the customer the center of everything" and commit itself to "building more of the gorgeous, high-quality fuel-efficient cars, trucks and crossovers that consumers want and getting them into the market faster than ever before".
For his part, Mr. Farley appreciated Mr. Mulally's plan to streamline and stabilize Ford, then expand the business with new cars and crossover vehicles that consumers really wanted.
Our history is constantly whitewashed to crossover to mainstream consumers, so seeing it in its essence spoken from the pioneers' own lips, sweat, and playful shade in the movie is powerful.
Ford's new lineup, including redesigned Taurus and Fusion sedans and its Escape crossover, are proving popular with consumers.
Automakers are working overtime to freshen their fleets with additional SUVs and crossovers to meet the burgeoning consumer demand and will be dropping sedans in the process moving forward.
In a report this summer, government regulators said automakers were on track to meet the 2021 targets, but the 2025 goals would have to be trimmed back to accommodate the consumer shift toward crossovers, sport utility vehicles and pickups.
General Motors is dropping the sticker price of its Buick Regal sedan as it tries to reverse sagging sales at the brand and counter a consumer migration to crossovers and sport-utility vehicles.
And he said the company's new Dodge Journey crossover was being well received by consumers.
As some consumer preferences shift towards crossovers and SUVs, these companies may have to shift their emphasis.
