Ford doesn't make its own audio equipment. And is the past has used Sony and Pioneer for some of its vehicles audophile systems.
It just happens, in my opinion, that the company Ford uses is not the best and certainly not the best price. I was given a price of $600, supposedly dealer cost, for an am/fm radio with 6disc changer for my wife's new Mariner (same thing as an Escape). For the same money, I installed an Alpine with better specs, an ipod control with displays in the dash and controls in the dash and satellite radio plus the labor.
The aftermarket is not dead. Ford probably wishes it was doing as well financially.
It just happens, in my opinion, that the company Ford uses is not the best and certainly not the best price. I was given a price of $600, supposedly dealer cost, for an am/fm radio with 6disc changer for my wife's new Mariner (same thing as an Escape). For the same money, I installed an Alpine with better specs, an ipod control with displays in the dash and controls in the dash and satellite radio plus the labor.
The aftermarket is not dead. Ford probably wishes it was doing as well financially.