Ford US may turn to Europe for small cars

By Kathy Jackson, Automotive News

PARIS -- Ford of Europe executives are talking to their U.S. counterparts about small cars they can develop jointly for both markets.

Mark Fields, Ford Motor Co.'s president of the Americas, said recently that the company would aggressively pursue new vehicles from Ford's global B and C platforms - vehicles not now sold in the United States.

Fields did not name specific models. But many of those B and C vehicles, including the Ford Fiesta, the redesigned Mondeo and the new S-Max hatchback, are built and sold in Europe.

"The expertise for B and C cars is predominantly in Europe," Steve O'Dell, vice president of sales and marketing for Ford of Europe, said here at the show. "There is an expectation that (Fields) is looking at European-sourced product."

O'Dell said: "There's a lot of discussion going on between North America and Europe."

He did not give a timetable or talk specifically about European vehicles that would suit the United States.

Meanwhile, Ford of Europe plans to introduce a small crossover in Europe in early 2008. The iosis X, a five-door concept that debuted here, offers hints of the new vehicle.

Will the European crossover come to the United States? A Ford spokesman says that's up to Fields.

From Automotive News Europe (A Crain publication)