November 2013: Ford Motor Company

[William Maley]

FORD RETAIL SALES MOMENTUM CONTINUES WITH BEST NOVEMBER SINCE 2004

• Ford Motor Company U.S. sales increase 7 percent overall in November; retail sales up 9 percent for best November since 2004
• Passenger cars led by Fusion sales increase of 51 percent and Fiesta sales increase of 26 percent, both setting records for November
• F-Series tops 60,000 sales for the seventh straight month
• All-new Lincoln MKZ sales increase 114 percent, Lincoln up 17 percent
• Ford announces 2014 first quarter North American production plan of 770,000 vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 3, 2013 – Ford Motor Company’s November U.S. sales of 190,449 vehicles are up 7 percent overall compared with last year. Retail sales are up 9 percent, for the best November performance since 2004.

The November retail sales performance of 147,021 vehicles reflects broad-based gains, with passenger cars up 6 percent, utilities up 3 percent and trucks up 17 percent. Ford passenger cars achieved the best November retail sales result since 2002, with Ford Fusion and Ford Fiesta both posting records.

“We continued to see sales increases across our full family of vehicles – particularly with our passenger cars and utilities in conquest coastal markets – helping us post our best November retail sales performance since 2004,” said John Felice, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “Fusion and Fiesta were particular standouts, setting November records, and Ford trucks maintained their strong selling pace.”

Fusion sales of 22,839 vehicles for the month are up 51 percent year over year, for the car’s best-ever November sales performance. Fusion sales continue to expand fastest in the western U.S., where retail sales are up 79 percent – including a 101 percent increase in California. Fiesta also had its best-ever November sales performance with 4,642 vehicles sold.

Ford F-Series continued its pace of selling more than 60,000 trucks for the seventh straight month, strengthening its position as America’s best-selling pickup and best-selling vehicle for another consecutive year. Sales of 65,501 F-Series trucks in November represents an increase of 16 percent compared with a year ago.

Lincoln MKZ sales of 2,854 cars represent a 114 percent increase compared with the same period a year ago, leading the Lincoln brand to an overall increase of 17 percent. November MKZ retail sales in California more than tripled for the period.

Ford also announces it will build 770,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2014 in North America. This compares with 784,000 vehicles in the first quarter of 2013. Projected production of 770,000 vehicles for fourth-quarter 2013 is unchanged.

[Drew Dowdell]

Apparently someone noticed the MKZ

I wonder if all of the increase in Flexes was to fleets... but glad to see it surviving.

Fusion continuing to do very well. Not Camry league yet... but certainly worthy territory.

Mustang beat Camaro for the month but Camaro is still ahead for the year.

[2QuickZ's]

I wonder what's up with the Focus this month? Also, It looks like the C-Max hit a wall.

Edited December 4, 2013 by 2QuickZ's

[William Maley]

Fusion continuing to do very well. Not Camry league yet... but certainly worthy territory.

Very much so:

November Sales:

Toyota Camry: 30,386

Honda Accord: 27,093

Nissan Altima: 24,604

Ford Fusion: 22,839

[Z-06]

Fusion is the best Ford in a while. It is the mid-sizer I would get. The balance of poise, design and powertrain are possibly second to none. Yes, some people say Mazda6 is a better car, but Ford has better diversity than the current single engined Mazda6.

[regfootball]

incentives mean so much for many buyers and the mfrs use them to tweak sales month to month. having sold, very very often it is simply an incentive that makes the difference between the choice of a model, or even pulling the trigger on a deal.

Ford is quite the master too. It's just a matter of pulling strings from the incentive guys. The old MKz's......Ford was fine letting them rot all year on the lot because they knew end of year when the new body came out and the old ones were sitting, they knew they could just throw a cheap lease incentive on it or some obscene cash on the hood and BAM, sales guy can switch a buyer out of a more expensive Fusion and into an MKz with a cheaper lease for a nicer car. Or, move someone up a size class. From say a Focus to a Fusion. It even works well in reverse. If the Fusion sells too much, and Focus drags a big and clogs the factory.....put a cheap lease on the Focus and watch em fly out.

[regfootball]

Fusion is the best Ford in a while. It is the mid-sizer I would get. The balance of poise, design and powertrain are possibly second to none. Yes, some people say Mazda6 is a better car, but Ford has better diversity than the current single engined Mazda6.

From my test drives of several of the mid sizers recently, I do very much believe that the Ford is the class champ in that it is the best car for the widest range of buyers.

Mazda 6 is a good car but I don't think it will appeal to or work out well for nearly as many buyers as the fusion. It might be better in terms of sport and a bit of sexy style. But it has limitations elsewhere. I really believe more folks would like a Malibu than a Mazda 6.

1-Fusion

2-Passat 1.8

3-Mazda 6

4-Malibu ( i would put the Malibu in a tie for 3)

5-Altima, Legacy

7-Accord

8-Camry

9-Intrepid

[Drew Dowdell]

Intrepid?

[Z-06]

No Kia and Hyundai on his list.