Where was the Ford Taurus manufactured?
The Ford Taurus was manufactured primarily in the United States, at several Ford plants including the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, and the Chicago Assembly Plant in Illinois.
Launched in 1986 and running in various generations until 2019, the Taurus relied on a core U.S. production footprint. Over the years Ford also used additional facilities and adapted production to meet market demand, with European models operating under a different nameplate sharing the same platform.
North American production footprint
Below are the main U.S. production sites that historically built Taurus models for the North American market. The list highlights the primary plants most closely associated with Taurus manufacturing across its generations.
- AutoAlliance International (Flat Rock, Michigan) — a Ford/Mazda joint venture that produced early Taurus/Sable models and related vehicles.
- Chicago Assembly Plant (Chicago, Illinois) — produced Taurus across multiple generations for the U.S. market.
The Taurus’ manufacturing footprint reflects Ford’s North American production strategy, centering on Michigan and Illinois sites to support the model’s multi-generational run from 1986 through 2019.
Global context and naming strategy
In Europe and other markets, Ford did not sell a Taurus under that name. The corresponding mid-size sedan in those regions has been the Mondeo, which has been produced at Ford plants in Europe (notably in Valencia, Spain, among others). The Taurus name remained a North American designation, while Mondeo served as its platform-sharing European counterpart.
Concluding paragraph: The Taurus story illustrates Ford’s regional branding and manufacturing approach, with a strong U.S. production presence and separate European branding for similar platform technology.
Summary
The Ford Taurus was manufactured mainly in the United States, with key production at AutoAlliance International in Flat Rock, Michigan, and at the Chicago Assembly Plant in Illinois, from its 1986 debut until production ended in 2019. In Europe, a different nameplate (Mondeo) carried the same underlying platform, highlighting Ford’s regional approach to mid-size sedans. The Taurus’ legacy is defined by multi-site North American production and long-running market presence.
How much did a Ford Taurus cost in 1986?
The Taurus is competitive with European sedans as well. In performance, handling, ride, fuel economy, and utility, it is as good as or better than the Audi 5000S and the BMW 528e. And while the Audi costs $18,065 and the BMW $26,280, the Taurus LX can be had for $13,351.
Where was the Ford Taurus built?
Chicago Assembly
All generations of the Taurus were assembled by Chicago Assembly on Chicago's South Side. Prior to its 2006 closure, Atlanta Assembly also produced both the Taurus and Sable. From its 1985 launch to its initial withdrawal following the 2007 model year, Ford assembled 7,519,919 examples of the Taurus.
Who bought the last Ford Taurus?
On October 27, 2006, the final Ford Taurus rolled off the assembly line in Hapeville, Georgia outside of Atlanta. The car (pictured) was purchased by 85-year- old Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A restaurants, who added it to his collection maintained at the company's Atlanta headquarters.
Why did Ford discontinue the Taurus?
Ford discontinued the Taurus primarily due to declining consumer demand for sedans in North America and a company-wide strategic shift to focus on more profitable trucks and SUVs. Factors like a polarizing 1990s redesign, declining sales compared to rivals like the Camry and Accord, and the high cost of developing new sedan models in an evolving market also contributed to its downfall. The final U.S. Taurus was built in March 2019.
Key reasons for discontinuation
- Shifting consumer demand: The automotive market saw a major shift away from sedans and towards SUVs and trucks, which consumers increasingly preferred for their versatility and space.
- Strategic business decision: Ford made a strategic decision to cut costs and increase profits by phasing out sedans to focus resources on its more popular and profitable truck and SUV lineup.
- Declining sales and market share: While initially a best-seller, the Taurus's sales and market share declined significantly over the years, especially when compared to Japanese competitors like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, which continued to be updated and improved.
- Controversial redesigns: A radical and polarizing redesign in the mid-1990s alienated many loyal customers and is often cited as a key factor in the beginning of the Taurus's sales slump.
- Focus on future growth: The company decided not to invest in future generations of the Taurus for the North American market, instead channeling its efforts into popular vehicles and future technologies like electric and hybrid vehicles.
