Ford has always had a hard on for product line consolidation.
The guys who were junior MBA fly on the wall during the "global Ford" push of the 90s (which was a mixed bag but left them less screwed in 08 than everybody else) are "real decision making authority" now.
I don’t disagree with this but they also went all in on trucks thinking a future would come where they would still get to sell combustion trucks with fat margins. And then Tesla and Co came along, proved EVs were feasible, which allowed nation states to comfortably start setting future new combustion vehicle sales bans.
As the Indiana Jones quote goes, “They choose poorly.” They thought no one would ever hold them accountable to actually innovate, and they may face a corporate death penalty for the hubris and shortsightedness.
They can start making cars again no problem, that their current offerings are scored as light trucks doesn't mean that they are all in. They can stick a mass market electric sedan or compact in their lineup whenever it makes sense.
The guys who were junior MBA fly on the wall during the "global Ford" push of the 90s (which was a mixed bag but left them less screwed in 08 than everybody else) are "real decision making authority" now.