Ford expects sales of more than 2.4 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2013, making it the best-selling brand in the country for the fourth consecutive year. Furthermore, the Ford brand is expected to widen its lead over Toyota.
For the full year in 2012, the Ford brand lead over Toyota amounted to 329,677 vehicles. In the first eleven months of 2013, Ford widened the gap to 396,041 vehicles. December sales are not finalized.
Retail sales for the Ford brand are up 15 percent through November, compared to 12 percent for the brand overall. Ford brand retail sales are expected to exceed 1.7 million vehicles in 2013, marking the company’s best retail sales performance in six years. Passenger car retail delivereis will surpass 600,000 vehicles – the highest volume since 2000.
Ford said it is seeing the strongest retail sales growth from the western and southeastern regions of the country, traditionally dominated by imports. Ford retail sales are up 23 percent in the West and 18 percent in the Southeast region.
When it comes to models, the Fiesta set a new sales record in 2013, with more than 70,000 units sold, while the Fusion sedan had its best year ever, with sales expected to surpass 290,000 vehicles. Ford utility vehicles are up 10.3 percent, to 621,652 units, led by the Escape with more than 300,000 units, its best-ever year since launching in 1999. Explorer sales are up about 15 percent, with Ford expecting it to be the best-selling midsize SUV in the U.S. for 2013. Overall, 2013 will be the best year for Ford utility vehicle sales since 2004.
With 688,810 deliveries through November, the F-Series pickup remains the country’s best-selling truck for the 37th straight year and the overall best-selling vehicle in America for the 32nd year.
By Dan Mihalascu
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