As U.S. demand for larger vehicles reached one of the lowest levels in decades, Ford Motor Co. said it will make more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains while further slashing production of its big trucks and SUVs, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Ford said it would cut truck production by 90,000 over the next few months and delay the launch of its new F-150 pickup until late fall. Ford moved swiftly to overhaul its production plans, cutting shifts at three truck plants and adding shifts at three car plants.

Although the F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in America for 26 years, F-Series sales were down 18.7 percent this year through May. Also, two full-size SUVs, the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, have registered sales declines of more than 20 percent this year.

This is the second month in a row that Ford has slashed truck production. The company first cut truck production on May 22, about a month after Ford announced a surprise $100-million profit in the first quarter. That followed a full-year loss of $2.7 billion in 2007.

High gas prices, a housing and credit crisis, and inflation for everyday items such as food have caused consumers to seek smaller vehicles that are more efficient and affordable.