What was the final year Ford Taurus?
The final model year of the Ford Taurus in North America was 2019.
First introduced in 1986, the Taurus evolved through five generations and a long-running sedan presence in Ford’s lineup. In the late 2010s, Ford signaled a broader shift away from passenger cars toward SUVs and crossovers, and the Taurus’ era came to a close with the 2019 model year.
Final Year Facts
Scope and timing
Below are the essential facts about the Taurus’ final year and its disposition in the market.
- The United States and Canada saw the Taurus marketed through the 2019 model year, marking the last year of sales in these core North American markets.
- Production of the Taurus in North America effectively ended with the 2019 model year; no 2020 Taurus was manufactured for these markets.
- The decision to wind down the Taurus was part of Ford’s broader plan to shrink its car lineup in favor of SUVs and crossovers.
- The Taurus’ departure helped underscore a long-running trend away from traditional full-size sedans in Ford’s North American strategy.
In summary, 2019 was the closing chapter for the Taurus in the U.S. and Canadian markets, closing a chapter that began in 1986 and spanned five generations.
Why Ford Ended Taurus
Market trends driving the decision
The end of the Taurus reflected broader market realities and Ford’s strategic shift. Several factors shaped the decision to discontinue the model after 2019:
- Steady decline in demand for traditional large sedans as consumers pivoted to SUVs and crossovers.
- Competition from mid-size and full-size sedans remained intense, and the Taurus faced strong competition from both domestic and imported models.
- Ford’s corporate strategy prioritized higher-margin SUVs and trucks, aligning with long-standing market trends and profitability goals.
- Maintaining a large sedan lineup was less financially viable as consumer preferences moved away from passenger cars.
The result was a formal wind-down of the Taurus alongside other sedan offerings as Ford redirected resources toward its SUV-Crossover portfolio and electrified vehicles.
What Came Next for Ford’s Sedan Strategy
With the Taurus retired from North American production, Ford redirected its product emphasis toward popular crossover utilities and trucks. The shift reflected a global industry pattern in which sedans faced diminished sales compared with sport-utility options. Buyers seeking larger passenger space and versatile cargo capacity increasingly turned to SUVs and crossovers, a trend that influenced Ford and its peers alike.
For used-car shoppers and enthusiasts, the 2019 Taurus remains a notable relic of Ford’s once-diverse sedan lineup. While new Tauruses are no longer produced, the nameplate is part of Ford’s history as the automaker adapted to changing market tastes and stricter efficiency standards.
Summary
The Ford Taurus’ run in North America ended with the 2019 model year, closing a three-decade era in which the car served as a staple of Ford’s sedan lineup. The decision to cease production was driven by shifting consumer preferences toward crossovers and SUVs, a move that reshaped Ford’s global product strategy. The Taurus' legacy lives on in automotive history as a symbol of late-20th-century and early-21st-century Ford design and market dynamics.
