Goodbye for Good: Ford Ends Escape Production in 2025

Ford’s iconic compact SUV says goodbye after 25 years to make way for the new electric era. The departure of the Escape marks the end of an era of practical and affordable vehicles within the Blue Oval’s lineup.

Ford officially concludes the production of the Ford Escape at the end of this year, 2025. Currently, this move responds to CEO Jim Farley’s strategy to eliminate “boring” products from the catalog. The company aims to focus its efforts on more profitable and exciting vehicles under the Mustang, Bronco, and Raptor brands. Consequently, the Louisville, Kentucky plant halted the assembly line for this SUV alongside its relative, the Lincoln Corsair.

The Escape held a fundamental place as Ford’s second best-selling SUV for much of its history. In fact, through the third quarter of 2025, the model outsold the entire Bronco family and the Mustang. However, the brand will retool the factory to produce a new mid-size electric pick-up in 2027. Plant employees bid farewell to the last unit built with signatures and messages of affection on the bodywork.

The End of Affordable Practicality

The disappearance of this model leaves a significant gap in the brand’s segment of functional vehicles. The Escape offered a generous cargo space of 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row of seats. Likewise, the vehicle stood out for its efficiency through 40 mpg hybrid options and a competitive PHEV variant. With a starting price of $30,350, it represented the second most affordable option in the entire current catalog.

Concern Within the Dealer Network

Ford dealers have expressed their concern over losing a model with such consistent sales. Some sales managers consider it a strategic mistake to eliminate a vehicle that attracts a very specific buyer. According to experts, neither the Bronco Sport nor the Maverick pick-up fully fills the Escape buyer’s profile. Therefore, interested buyers can still find more than 17,800 new units available at dealerships nationwide.