Ford said to weigh return of Bronco, Ranger output in US - STLtoday.com
, factory that now makes small cars, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing product plans. The company may assemble the Focus and C-Max in Mexico, a person familiar with the matter had said. The return of the Ranger and Bronco, which drew unwelcome renown as O. J. Simpson’s getaway car two decades ago, gives Ford key models to compete with offerings by Toyota and General Motors. The Bronco would also bring back an iconic name that has struck a chord with young buyers despite being out of production for almost 20 years. “It’s a good move,” John Wolkonowicz, a Boston-based independent analyst, said of reviving the SUV. It has become popular with millennials in southern California, said Wolkonowicz, a former product planner for Ford. The new Bronco will be a midsize SUV, like the Explorer, the person said. “The only way this makes sense is if it is more rugged and likely targeted at Jeep,” said Jeff Schuster, an analyst at consultant LMC Automotive in Southfield, Mich. Ford made its last Bronco in 1996 and ended Ranger production in 2011. The Ranger may also find new buyers for the Dearborn, Mich. Late last year, GM brought back the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon as midsize pickups, building the new vehicles at its assembly plant in Wentzville. Source: www.stltoday.com
