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Ford Focus Topples Toyota Corolla As World's Best Selling Vehicle in 2012

6K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  Extreme4x4 
#1 ·
Over 1 Million Sold in 2012
Ford Inside News
March 19, 2013
By: Austin Rutherford


Like the Roman Senate upon Julius Caesar, the Ford Focus toppled the 10th generation Toyota Corolla in global sales in 2012 with 1,036,683 compared to less than 971,601 units*. This amounts to two units being sold every minute. It is most likely the first time a Ford topped the Corolla since the F-Series in 2002.

Helping in this effort was the launching the Focus's newest generation in China and Southeast Asia during the year. The model also saw increased sales throughout the world, except for Europe. The Focus was the overall best selling model in Israel and Ireland, best selling retail model in China, and best selling compact in the UK. The Sino-Japanese dispute over islands in between the two nations that caused Japanese sales to crash to China also helped to play into the Focus's favor. Though not at that high of a volume, the Focus also launched the ST performance version to impressive sales - for its segment - in North America and Europe. For its part, US sales were up 40-% in 2012.

The sales figures are totals gained from the manufactures themselves, auto dealer associations, or auto manufacture associations from most markets with sizable volume. Bestsellingcarsblog.com also contributed sales from select markets. The Corolla figure only(*) includes the current 10th generation, except for New Zealand and South Africa sales where Toyota includes the Auris (Corolla Hatch) and they could not be separated. Matrix sales in the US were thankfully separated thanks to ToyotaUSA. The figure also does not include the 9th generation Corolla, which is a separate model now sold only in China. The Corolla Rumion (aka Rukus in Australia), a rebadge of the Scion xB, is not included as well.

The party at the Glass House might be short lived however. The 11th generation Corolla, launching later this year, will undoubtedly raise sales. In addition, the Corolla and Auris will be remerging after diverging for the 10th generation. This will allow the duo's sales to be combined in 2013. However, playing into the Focus's favor, the Corolla in Japan has diverged from the global Corolla and will be separated. It is tough call to say if it will be the global Corolla/Auris or the Focus that will be the 2013 world's best selling vehicle. Let the race continue!

In the coming days, FIN will release Ford's global 2012 sales included with its competitors. Stay tuned.
 
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#4 ·
so the Focus is sales king

now,
which is more important?
-- new Mustang
or
-- an MCE'd Focus?

I'd really like for *some* Focus model besides the electric to get an Aston-grille
but
think it'd be better to mostly go with a post-modern...I mean post-kinetic theme
AND split off the Titanium&ST with a related Look -- maybe just minor-tweak the ST and give the Tit a version
hmm
wonder if a dash of nextgen 'Mustang face' could set the tone??
 
#8 ·
I see Foci everywhere.

On a side note (and off topic), our local Chevy dealer has Cruze's (sp??) on the front line now, and Malibu's are way in the back. I guess that tells you all you need to know about which one moves better. We do not have 1 new Malibu in town, but there are already 3 new Fusions. For a town of 14K, with a Ford dealer, and a Chevy/Dodge dealer only, that says a lot.
 
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