This will be a monster year for Ford vehicle launches: The next-generation 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck, the all-new Bronco, the so-called "Baby Bronco," and the Mustang Mach-E are all coming to a dealer near you during that timeframe. This product onslaught is massive in terms of importance. Ford CEO Jim Hackett and his team of senior leaders confirmed some of the timing of these big hitters during a conference call with analysts to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 earnings, which, we'll note, were dismal.

But the call was peppered with hopes for future profitability as Ford spends big to bring some of the most-anticipated new products to market this year. The F-150 full-size pickup is the crown jewel of the company's lineup and the 14th-generation is coming in the second half of the year, confirmed Joe Hinrichs, Ford's president of automotive. It may seem the current rig arrived yesterday, but time flies and a new truck is indeed due. The 13th-gen pickup was introduced for the 2015 model year with its aluminum-intensive structure and body, a switch that required a fundamental redesign of the truck and a complete overhaul of the plants that make it.

Hinrichs said Ford has the advantage of seeing what General Motors and FCA's Ram have done with their pickups and he is confident of continued leadership, given that the F-150 has retained the highest average transaction prices in the segment and kept the sales crown despite its age versus the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500. Ford is investing about $700 million to make the next-generation pickup at its Dearborn Truck Plant.

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Bronco SUV production will begin late in the year, confirmed Tim Stone, chief financial officer. Delivery to customers will start early in 2021. We will finally see the wraps taken off the SUV this spring. It shares its underpinnings with the Ford Ranger, and we can't wait to see it, removable doors, roof, and all. Before that, a smaller, compact SUV nicknamed the baby Bronco will arrive first, although we still don't know the front-drive, Escape-sized model's real name. While its platform mate, the Escape, was designed for driveways and the suburbs, the baby Bronco will try to hit a more rugged note. Ford retooled the Michigan Assembly Plant to make the Ranger and add the Bronco, spending about $750 million to transform a facility that used to make small cars.

And then there's the Mach-E electric SUV, which remains controversial due to Ford decision to slap the 'Stang name on an EV crossover. If that doesn't bother you, orders are being taken now—CEO Hackett said he ordered his last week—but you can't purchase one outright until fall, although the higher-performing Mach-E GT won't arrive until late 2021. They ride on Ford's new electric architecture with a choice of two battery packs. The company will also continue to introduce hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of its nameplates.

On the heels of recent launches including the Escape and Explorer, plus Lincoln's Corsair, Aviator and Nautilus, Ford's development team says 75 percent of the lineup will be new or refreshed by the end of the year. This should help the financial turmoil. On the earnings call, Stone said bluntly, "2019 results were not okay." Ford lost $1.7 billion in the fourth quarter and eked out a $47 million profit for the full year in 2019 compared with $3.7 billion in 2018. The rough final quarter of 2019 reflected high warranty costs and lost volume from a troubled launches of the Explorer and Aviator.

As one analyst noted, Tesla is now valued more than five times the market capitalization of Ford. Regarding another topic of the day, Hackett said the company is monitoring the coronavirus, donating money and equipment, and looking out for the health of employees and the supply chain. The hope is to resume operations in China next week. The CEO said it will take some time to know the financial implications of the outbreak.