Ford Focus Upsets Toyota In Race To Number One

The Ford Focus appears to have toppled the long-running global best-seller, the Toyota Corolla. Ford Motor Co. expects to sell 2.2 million Ford brand vehicles in the U.S. when sales numbers are totaled for 2012. It will make this the second straight year Ford has topped the two million mark. Ford is also the only automotive brand to top two million U.S. sales since 2007 – and the only auto brand expected to surpass that mark in America this year.

In addition, the Ford Focus is expected to remain the best-selling global vehicle nameplate, based on the latest available R.L. Polk new vehicle registration data through September, toppling long-time sales king the Toyota Corolla. Meanwhile, the Ford Fiesta is on track to be the best-selling global B-car.

That would position Ford as the leader – if year-end data holds course – in two of the global market’s most critical segments. And the B- and C-car segments are posting significant growth in the U.S., as well.

Jim Farley, the automaker’s Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln, said global Focus new registrations totaled 737,856 through September, making it the world’s number-one selling vehicle nameplate. Fiesta new vehicle registrations totaled 560,061 for the same period.

Despite the move to a globalized product strategy, there are a few exceptions, most notably the big F-Series pickups. While there are select overseas markets, such as the Middle East, where the full-size truck line is sold, the F-Series remains primarily a North American model. For most global markets Ford has concentrated on the latest-generation Ranger, a midsize pickup it does not plan to offer in the U.S.

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