Ford’s EcoSport Is Being Dropped In The U.S.

Ford recently announced plans to cease manufacturing in India and that’s having a ripple effect in America as the EcoSport is living on borrowed time.

As noted by the Detroit Free Press, the EcoSport is imported from India so the decision to end production in the country means the US-spec model is also getting the axe.

This won’t happen overnight as the paper says production of the US-spec crossover will continue through mid-2022. It’s also worth mentioning the EcoSport will continue to be offered in other markets as a Ford spokesperson told the publication the Euro-spec model is built in Romania and is unaffected by the changes in India.

Also Read: Ford Stops Making Cars In India Following $2 Billion In Losses Over Last Decade

The EcoSport’s demise in America isn’t the worst thing in the world as the model was often seen as a half-hearted effort that wasn’t competitive. As a refresher, the crossover starts at $20,395 and features a 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine with 123 hp (92 kW / 125 PS) and 125 lb-ft (169 Nm) of torque. Customers can also upgrade to an all-wheel drive variant, which has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder pumping out 166 hp (124 kW / 168 PS) and 149 lb-ft (202 Nm) of torque.

While the entry-level crossover segment is booming, U.S. sales peaked at 64,708 units in 2019. That same year, the Chevrolet Trax outsold the EcoSport nearly 2:1 as the bowtie brand registered 116,816 sales.

EcoSport sales dropped to 60,545 units in the mist of the pandemic and they haven’t rebounded as Ford has only sold 32,697 units through the first eight months of the year. If that trend continues, the Blue Oval will finish 2021 with sales of approximately 49,045 units, which would be the crossover’s worst showing to date.