Ford Focus Beats Rivals and Becomes Best-Selling Car in 2012

[Neale]

Info found here
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/45538...st-selling.htm

Newest data showed that the Ford Motor Co.'s Focus model had beaten its rivals in 2012 global car sales. The Focus model became the world's best-selling car due to sharply increasing demand in China. The findings of the survey by R.L. Polk & Co. indicated that three models of Ford Motor Co. were in the world's top six.


On the 9th of April, R.L. Polk & Co. released its survey on global market registration data showing that the Ford Motor Co.'s Focus model undeniably won the title of the best-selling car in 2012 global car sales. The survey indicated that Ford Motor Co. sold slightly over 1 million Focus vehicles, beating substantially its rivals, including the Toyota Motor Corp.'s Corolla compact car. According to the figures, the Ford Focus sales outsold the Corolla, which is said to be its biggest rival, by approximately 147,000 units. However, it should be underlined that the Corolla is sold under other names in different countries unlike the Ford Focus. Therefore the Dearborn-based company is rather careful when it comes to claiming titles, including the title of the best-selling car. Also analysts note that a single name of the model helps in the process of building a brand, not to mention that it does not create unnecessary chaos.

Without a doubt, China's sales very much helped the Ford Motor Co.'s Focus model gain the title of the No. 1 in 2012 global car sales.

Also two other models of the Dearborn-based company, namely the Ford F-Series pickup and Ford Fiesta, were ranked in the world's top six. In fact, analysts are strongly convinced that the US carmaker will be much more interested in the surprising results of those two models which also won their places in the ranking of the best-selling cars in 2012. Interestingly, the F-series pickup won the bronze medal with more than 785,600 vehicles sold in 2012. However, it is widely known that "these" pickups have their main market in North America where in fact a picture of a huge track is natural because of culturally-driven reasons. The findings of the survey showed that their sales in the US and Canada amounted to approximately 1 percent of the 2012 global car sales.

China's market - a success driver
Even though Ford Motor Co. sells the Focus all over the world in over 100 countries, the truth is that the model won the title of the best-selling car in 2012 mainly thanks to its sales in the China's market. According to estimates, the US carmaker sold almost 300,000 Focus cars in China in 2012 which is certainly surprising as the new model of the Focus was launched in the world's second economy only in March 2012. In addition, data released by R.L. Polk & Co. showed that the Chinese registration climbed more than 50 percent in 2012.

Jim Farley, executive vice president at Ford Motor Co., believes that the carmaker's global sales in 2013 will be boosted by recently added capacity. The US carmaker expects to witness strong car sales in China also in the ongoing year. But the fact is that Ford Motor Co. and other carmakers saw their sales in China jump in 2012 due to the territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands leading to slumps in sales of the Japanese car manufacturers.

[Wretched]

awesome news and well deserved, the Focus is a brilliant car and always at the pointy end of the small car field.
whilst i did take note that the article has indicated the corolla figures may not be accurate due to the change in name, the sales of Focus are a step in the right direction for the brand.
We can see it here where Focus is continuing to sell in decent numbers; I see many on the road.

[Neale]

I also found this interesting article stating that the Focus was the its 350 millionth vehicle Ford just produced.



To put it into scale "Producing 350 million vehicles is equivalent to producing one vehicle every 10 seconds for our 109-year history. If placed end to end, the vehicles would stretch to the moon and back - twice," said John Fleming, Ford executive vice president of global manufacturing.

More info on the 350 millionth car here - http://www.thetorquereport.com/2012/..._best-sel.html

[LeadFoot81]

Focus and Fiesta are really landing a hell of a one-two punch for Ford globally. Great stuff!

[Wretched]

it just shows what a "true" world class car can deliver

[Franco Cozzo]

That can't be true because its not RWD and can't tow eleventy million kg?

[Express]

It shows what a great job Ford is doing design wise to have produced three vehicles that have a convincingly strong global appeal in very hotly contested segments of the market.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

That can't be true because its not RWD and can't tow eleventy million kg?

That's what the F series is for, which is right up there too.

[MickyStylez]

........focus...

[Falcman0o7]

Brilliant stuff and bloody deserved!

WELL DONE FORD ;)

[csv8]

Thats great news...FORD ADVERTISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No : 4 is Wuling Zhiguang 768,870 ?????????????
http://chinaautoweb.com/car-models/s...ling-sunshine/

[IDT]

Originally Posted by Wretched

it just shows what a "true" world class car can deliver

It also shows what a world class car needs to be. Sold all over the world. Economy of scale is a lovely thing.

[MethodX]

Hold on how can this be possible?
Its a polished Thai ****.

[Nikked]

Great news!

Sort of on subject, spotted this in Noumea...



Most of the cars there are French (Peugeot, Citroen etc.). But there is a huge amount of American pick-ups, it seems that if you don't have a small euro car, you have a big pick-up, very little in between. Seen a new Raptor there!

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Hold on how can this be possible?
Its a polished Thai ****.

Well, its because its the right car, for the right markets, at the right price.

And its also built in Germany, America, Russia, China. With its design and engendering done in Europe...so its by far the " Its a polished Thai ****" you quite wrongly and incorrectly assume it is...

But, you seem to think everything is "****" any way...

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Well, its because its the right car, for the right markets, at the right price.

And its also built in Germany, America, Russia, China. With its design and engendering done in Europe...so its by far the " Its a polished Thai ****" you quite wrongly and incorrectly assume it is...

But, you seem to think everything is "****" any way...

Well that joke went far...
No i simply dont think everything with a Ford badge is perfect.

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Well that joke went far...
No i simply dont think everything with a Ford badge is perfect.

Nothing is perfect.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Wretched

it just shows what a "true" world class car can deliver

Imagine how good a GRWD platform could be

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Hold on how can this be possible?
Its a polished Thai ****.

What a load of crap.

No one said its perfect, but it must be pretty darn good. But i guess it wouldnt matter badge the best seller in the world was, you would still pick a fault.

[flappist]

Please keep the posts on topic and not deliberately argumentative.

[GK]

Focus is a ripper car!

Well done Ford.

I see a heap of them on the road now. They have certainly penetrated the market here well.

Lots of Fiestas and Mondeos too.

Shame about the Falcon!

GK

[Dave R]

Toyota is whinging. If it's not sold as a Corolla, it isn't a Corolla and doesn't add to Corolla's sales numbers, simple.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/t...cus-worldwide/

[1TUFFUTE]

well done ford..thats what im talking about baby. Not only are they top sellers...but they are top in their classes aswell (in aus at least )

and people who WHINGE that the focus isn't perfect.....well its still better then the rest

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Toyota is whinging. If it's not sold as a Corolla, it isn't a Corolla and doesn't add to Corolla's sales numbers, simple.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/t...cus-worldwide/

They should blame themselves instead of having a sook, its their fault it's not called the Corolla across the globe, no one elses.

[Nikked]

"Corolla Rumion" has nothing to do with the corolla...its a Rukus, based on the yaris platform.

[Bossxr8]

Corolla is called Auris in some markets isn't it?

[Luke Plaizier]

I remember the days when Toyota created the 'Land Cruiser Prado' and claimed it against all Land Cruiser sales. Very deceptive.

It's curious that Australia just doesn't have the same type of buyer as the rest of the world. Where did Focus come in the Australia sales race for 2012?


Lukeyson