We're at a time in the automotive industry, where small is the 'in' thing. That has translated to more compact offerings not only in the sedan and SUV segments, but also with trucks.

Recently, the biggest influx in new trucks haven't been from the large variety, but in the mid-size range that has been long forgotten. Coming back in the fold were the General Motors' twins the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which seemed to force Toyota into designing and producing of an all-new Toyota Tacoma in order to keep its long-running lead in this segment.

With all of this buzz surrounding mid-range trucks, Ford appears to be interested in bringing back its Ranger pickup that went away, back in 2011. According to the Detroit News, Ford has been in discussions with union leaders of the UAW, whether they can build the Ranger pickup truck at the Michigan Assembly Plant.

The plan according to the news report is that the Ranger production would begin once the Focus and C-Max concludes in 2018, as production of those vehicles head to Ford's new plant in Mexico. The continuity of a new production line would naturally help American employees sustain their jobs beyond 2018.

“We actively are pursuing future vehicle alternatives to produce at Michigan Assembly and will discuss this issue with UAW leadership as part of the upcoming negotiations,” Ford representatives said in an emailed statement.

The Ford Ranger isn't extinct from the Ford portfolio, it still sells the Ranger in nearly 200 overseas markets.