Word today is Mazda is suspending production of its version of the Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner SUVs, the Tribute. According to reports the company opted out of producing the Trib (at Ford's Claycomo truck plant) during the relatively short production span of the 2007 model year — May through December — because a new Escape-Mariner for 2008 will hit the line next January. The decision coincides with an 11% drop in Tribute sales between 2004 and 2005, and a near 100% drop in anyone really giving a shit.

Mazda to Suspend Tribute SUV production [via MPH]

Related:
Escape to Brazil: Next Ford Small SUV to Be Variant of EcoSport [internal]

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