1 best of : We Hear: Ford Flex to be Discontinued by 2020

The Ford Flex will be discontinued in 2020, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press. The three-row crossover has occupied a curious niche with its retro styling and wagon-like proportions. Now, it appears the model will be dropped to add capacity for more conventional crossovers.

The news comes from officials from the Canadian auto union Unifor, who said Tuesday that Ford plans to kill the Flex in four years. The revelation came after a tentative labor contract was struck to avoid a strike. Unifor officials said the discontinuation of the Flex coincides with a greater investment in Ford’s Oakville, Ontario, plant that currently builds the Flex, Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and Lincoln MKT. It’s unclear if Ford will also cut the MKT, which shares its platform with the Flex. Ford recently launched new generations of the Edge and MKX, and the Detroit Free Press says the automaker will upgrade those models again within the next few years.

Despite praise from critics, the Flex has never been a big seller. Through October, Ford has sold 18,100 units, up 9 percent from last year. But that’s a drop in the bucket when you compare it to the 111,140 Edge and 180,019 Explorer crossovers Ford has sold so far this year. Given that the Flex has been on sale since the 2009 model year, it’s surprising that Ford plans to continue producing it for another four years. But that could be good news for shoppers that want a boxy crossover with seven-passenger seating and a low ride height, as they still have plenty of time to pick one up.

Source: Detroit Free Press