The U.S. automaker Ford is moving to retire the Escape, a nameplate that has been part of the company’s lineup for more than two decades. This shift was reported by motor1.com, which tracks Ford’s product strategy and dealer activity across North America.
According to the source, the final Escape will roll off the assembly line in 2025, after which Ford plans to introduce an electric crossover that will take its place within the brand’s portfolio. The transition mirrors Ford’s broader push toward electrification and an updated product mix designed to align with changing consumer preferences for zero-emission vehicles.
The decision to discontinue the Escape is tied to lukewarm interest from buyers in recent periods. Ford dealers reported sales of 64,839 Escapes through the second quarter of 2023, a decline of 12.3 percent compared with the same window in 2022, when 73,920 units were sold. This sales trajectory underscores a shift in demand as buyers explore newer models and alternative powertrains.
Looking at the Escape’s lifecycle, Ford introduced the first generation in 2001, followed by a second generation seven years later. The third generation arrived in 2013, with the most recent generation debuting in 2020. Over the years, the Escape evolved from a practical compact SUV into a more feature-rich crossover, adapting to market expectations for efficiency, technology, and comfort. The forthcoming electric model is expected to carry forward this lineage while embracing Ford’s ambitions for electrified transportation.
The upcoming phase for Ford does not stop at the Escape. The automaker has signaled that the Edge, another longstanding nameplate, will also be migrated out of production in the near term as part of a broader redesign of its SUV lineup. This strategy aligns with Ford’s plan to streamline offerings and focus investment on electrified variants and newer crossover concepts that resonate with today’s buyers.
Industry observers note that shifting consumer tastes toward electric crossovers often drives manufacturers to retire aging internal combustion models in favor of more efficient, tech-enabled alternatives. Ford’s plan to retire the Escape and phase out the Edge reflects a broader market pattern where legacy models make way for next-generation vehicles that meet evolving safety, performance, and sustainability expectations.
As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, observers in the United States and Canada will be watching how Ford’s upcoming electric crossover performs in real-world driving, charging infrastructure availability, and total ownership costs relative to competitors. This transition is part of a wider move among automakers to align a multidecade product roadmap with accelerated electrification timelines and customer demand for connected, all-electric mobility. The implications for dealers, fleet buyers, and everyday consumers will unfold in the months ahead as more details about the new model emerge and pricing and incentives are announced. These developments are being tracked by industry outlets and analysts who monitor Ford’s strategic shifts and the market response.
Note that information in this article reflects reporting from industry outlets that cover Ford’s product cadence and dealer performance. The narrative above aggregates those insights to present a coherent view of Ford’s upcoming changes and the broader market context. Attribution for the core timing and model changes is provided by Motor1, which regularly analyzes Ford’s announcements and sales data.