Love or loath him, Donald Trump has seemingly squeezed great news out of Ford Motor Company. Trump’s harsh and frequent remarks on Ford’s relocation of small-car production from Michigan to Mexico has pushed the automaker to divulge secret company plans on reviving the Bronco SUV and Ranger midsize pickup for the North American market.

Yep, Ford is bringing back the Bronco and Ranger. Trump aside, that’s news we can all get behind. The news comes from the chairman of the UAW local 900, Bill Johnson, in speaking with the Detroit Free Press.

Johnson is quoted as saying, “We hate to see the products go to Mexico, but with the Ranger and the Bronco coming to Michigan Assembly that absolutely secured the future for our people a lot more than the Focus does.”

Wow, clear as day, Johnson confirms Ford is indeed reviving the Bronco and Ranger. His further comments on securing the future for UAW workers also makes perfect sense. The Focus, a low-profit margin vehicle, is moving to Mexico to make room for high-profit margin SUVs and trucks. The Ranger will complete Ford’s F-Series lineup, spanning from the midsize segment up to the Class 7 medium duty commercial segment. The Bronco, on the other hand, will be one of four new SUVs Ford is debuting. These four SUVs likely include at least one model that’s no destined for North American sales, but rather will fall under Ford’s global arm.

Regardless, Ford is indeed bringing back two iconic nameplates. It remains to be seen what design and capability direction Ford will take the Bronco, but we highly suspect the Ranger will be a U.S.-spec version of the global Ranger already on sale around the world.

We expect Ford to make an official announcement or (even better) a debut of either product in the coming months. Auto show season is upon us, and timing is running out before the end of the decade. Will Ford debut the Bronco and/or Ranger this year? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Why It Matters

Donald Trump might be overreacting for Ford’s relocation of its small-car production to Mexico, but the byproduct is something Ford fans can legitimately get excited about. Both the Bronco and Ranger are important nameplates in Ford history and are likely to sell rather well in today’s SUV- and truck-obsessed marketplace.

What’s more, the movement of Ford’s small car production to Mexico does appear to be an easy talking point for Trump, but in reality, it gives Michigan employees much more profitable vehicles to construct. It’s also highly unlikely production of either the Bronco or Ranger will be slowed. That’s a big contrast to the Focus production currently happening at Ford’s Wayne Assembly Plant outside Detroit. Falling fuel prices have slow Focus sales, forcing Ford to slow production.

While it would be great for Ford to build the Focus, Bronco, and Ranger in the States, low labor costs and other factors make investing in Mexican assembly plants a good business decision. This ultimately leads to more company profits, which turn into better employee pay and more funds to develop fun and exciting future vehicles.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

2018 Ford Ranger

Read our full review on the 2018 Ford Ranger here.

2020 Ford Bronco

Read our full review on the 2020 Ford Bronco here.