Ford Focus Extends Streak As Best-Selling Vehicle Nameplate Worldwide through First Half of 2013

• Ford Focus maintains its leadership as the best-selling vehicle nameplate globally, based on Ford analysis of the latest Polk global vehicle registration data for the first half of 2013

• Globally, Focus is up 20 percent in the first half of 2013 compared with the same period last year

• In addition, Ford Fiesta ranks as the fourth best-selling vehicle overall, and is the world’s best-selling subcompact vehicle through June 2013

• Ford is the only brand with two nameplates among the global top five best-sellers

Ford Focus, the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world in 2012, retains the title for the first half of 2013.

In addition, Ford Fiesta ranks as the fourth best-selling vehicle – making Ford the only brand to have two nameplates among the global top five best-sellers, according to Ford analysis of Polk global vehicle registration data.

Ford Focus grew 20 percent in the first half of 2013 from the same period last year, to 589,709 vehicle registrations, driven primarily by increasing demand from customers in China and other Asian countries. Focus in China is up 137 percent from 2012, to a total of 202,380 vehicles, making China the single biggest global market for the car with one-third of Focus sales.

Xiao Bing, a 31-year-old sales manager for an IT company in Beijing, is one such new Focus customer.

“The new Focus looks high-tech and meets my aesthetic expectations,” Bing says. “It has significantly changed from the previous model. The car’s handling is great. When I test-drove it, the new Focus cornered smoothly. Overall, it’s the best combination of looks, performance, value and fuel economy.”

Customers are responding enthusiastically to Focus in other Asian countries, as well. Through September, Ford reports Focus sales are up 193 percent in Indonesia, 72 percent in both the Philippines and Vietnam, and 42 percent in Thailand.

Fiesta also a best-seller

Ford Fiesta joins Focus among the five global best-sellers, and earns the top spot as the best-selling subcompact car globally, with 356,434 units registered in the first half of 2013.

“Fiesta is off to a terrific start, and Focus just keeps getting better – especially in China,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “This is One Ford at its best: great-looking vehicles with great fuel economy, leading quality, technology and fun-to-drive personalities.”

Combined, global registrations of Ford’s small cars – Fiesta and Focus – total 946,143 vehicles for the first six months of the year, representing an 8 percent increase.