Ford announced it is closing the Mercury brand, wrapping up production by the end of the fourth quarter this year.
Ford Motor via WieckMark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas, said the company came to the conclusion after going through its annual business review.
While the Ford brand has been gaining market share steadily, Mercury’s has been falling.
The company was selling most Mercury vehicles — there are only four models for sale these days — through employee, retiree, or other discount programs.
There are no standalone Mercury dealers — all 1,712 Mercury dealers are paired with other Ford franchises.
There are 276 dealerships that have just the Lincoln and Mercury brands. Ford says in markets where there isn’t enough demand for just a Lincoln dealership, the automaker will help the dealers either pair with a Ford dealership or buy them out.