When did Ford stop making the Ford Ranger?
Ford discontinued the production of the Ford Ranger pickup truck in the United States and Canada in 2011, after over 25 years of the model being on the market. However, the Ranger continued to be produced and sold in other global markets until its eventual discontinuation worldwide.
The Ford Ranger's History and Discontinuation in North America
The Ford Ranger was first introduced in 1982 as a compact pickup truck, filling a gap in Ford's lineup between the full-size F-Series trucks and the smaller Courier model. The Ranger quickly became a popular choice for buyers seeking a more maneuverable and fuel-efficient alternative to the larger pickups. Over the years, the Ranger underwent several redesigns and updates to keep it competitive in the evolving compact/midsize truck segment.
In the late 2000s, however, sales of the Ranger began to decline as consumer preferences shifted towards larger, more capable trucks. Ford decided to discontinue the Ranger in the United States and Canada after the 2011 model year, in order to focus its resources on the highly profitable F-Series line of full-size pickups.
The Ranger's Global Availability and Eventual Discontinuation
While the Ranger was discontinued in North America, it continued to be produced and sold in other global markets, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Ford updated the Ranger design for these international markets, keeping it competitive with other midsize trucks available in those regions.
However, in 2022, Ford announced that it would be discontinuing the Ranger globally, as the company shifts its focus towards electrified and autonomous vehicle technologies. The last Ranger models were produced in 2023, marking the end of the Ranger nameplate after over 40 years of production worldwide.
Key Reasons for the Ranger's Discontinuation
- Declining Sales in North America: As consumer preferences shifted towards larger, more capable trucks, the Ranger's sales in the United States and Canada began to decline, leading Ford to discontinue the model in those markets.
- Shift Towards Electrification and Autonomy: Ford's decision to discontinue the Ranger globally was part of the company's broader strategy to focus on developing electrified and autonomous vehicle technologies, rather than maintaining a diverse lineup of traditional internal combustion engine models.
- Profitability Concerns: The Ranger's relatively low sales volumes and profit margins compared to Ford's larger, more profitable truck models likely contributed to the decision to discontinue the model in favor of allocating resources to the highly successful F-Series line.
While the Ford Ranger had a long and successful run, its discontinuation reflects the changing landscape of the automotive industry and the evolving preferences of consumers. The Ranger's legacy, however, will continue to be remembered as a reliable and versatile compact/midsize pickup that served the needs of many buyers over the course of its four-decade production run.
