The Ford Excursion is a heavy duty (Class 2), full-sized SUV that was produced by Ford. The longest and heaviest SUV ever to enter mass production, the Excursion was marketed as a direct competitor of the 2500-series (-ton) Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL. Introduced on September 30, 1999 for the 2000 model year, a single generation was produced through the 2005 model year (a short 2006 model year was marketed for Mexico). Derived from the F-250/F-350 Super Duty pickup truck, the Ford Excursion was almost exclusively sold in Canada and the United States; a limited number were sold for export. Following the discontinuation of the Excursion, Ford introduced the extended-length Ford Expedition EL/MAX; while matching the Chevrolet Suburban in terms of size, the Expedition EL/MAX shifted its chassis commonality from the Super Duty to the F-150. Throughout its production run the Ford Excursion was assembled at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville alongside Ford's Super Duty pickup trucks; the final example was produced on September 30, 2005. Origin For the 1973 model year, General Motors redesigned its Suburban utility wagon (sold by both Chevrolet and GMC). As a central part of the redesign, GM added a fourth passenger door to the model line for the first time; larger than the Jeep Wagoneer, the Suburban was able to compete directly against the similar-size International Harvester Travelall wagon for the first time. Following the 1975 discontinuation of the Travelall, the Suburban became the largest wagon-style full-size SUV (a distinction it would hold for the next 25 years). For 1978, Ford introduced the second-generation Ford Bronco. To compete directly against the Chevrolet K5 Blazer/GMC Jimmy and Dodge Ramcharger, the Bronco became a full-size SUV, adopting the chassis and powertrain of the F-100 pickup truck (in line with its GM and Chrysler counterparts). Ford introduced the Bronco strictly as a three-door wagon with a lift-off hardtop (continuing the most popular design of its predecessor); in contrast, GM offered the Suburban alongside the Blazer/Jimmy, derived from crew-cab pickup truck bodywork. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Ford would market four-door Broncos built as license-built conversions (mating a Bronco body with F-Series crew cabs). For 1991, Ford would produce its first wagon-style SUV, as it replaced the compact Bronco II with the Ford Explorer, introducing a five-door SUV alongside the previous three-door; both the Explorer and Bronco II were derived from the Ford Ranger compact pickup truck.