Ford November 2011 Sales up 13%, Retail up 20%

[BORG]

Well...major wasn't the right term. I should have said important. Ford had a lot riding on the Focus. The (awkward) kinetic styling, the whole "One Ford" thing, etc. The Focus (if I'm correct) is the first vehicle under "One Ford". It's a hugely important model.

 

And it seems that Cruze owners are experiencing much less issues with their car as compared to the Focus:

 

 

 

My link

 

I'm sure more than just a few people are turned off by the Focus because of the buggy launch. That is probably affecting sales along with other things.

 

Global product launches are hard and Ford has a very poor track-record with them, in-fact they have no successful example of one in their recent history. This really is Ford's most ambitious product launch since the Contour and Focus 1G...and none of those were successful launches. In fact, Ford has NO example of a successful global product launch in their recent history, all of them have been well-documented failures fraught with recalls and reputation killing quality problems. This launch has been handled FAR better, but certainly not nearly good enough.

Edited December 2, 2011 by BORG

[AR]

It is frustrating seeing the Focus not gaining traction in the U.S. market. However, I have to wonder if it is fair to compare this year's sales numbers with last year's sales numbers. Last year's Focus was putting up incredible sales numbers, but Ford was also pushing them through rental fleets and pricing them at used car prices. Ford wanted to get the last of that model Focus out the door so it could bring in the new and much improved "global" Focus. With this model being much better and more "special", I don't see Ford using scorched earth tactics to get it to sell. Therefore, the new car is selling on its features and virtues against competitors that are selling their compacts on price. In my opinion, I think it is hard for a new product with hardly any wiggle room in price to match or surpass a model that is/was sold at bargain-basement prices.

 

I also think the Fusion (as mentioned several times above) is cutting into the Focus sales.

 

I also believe Ford is not supplying enough Focus models to its dealerships. The dealer lots in Detroit may be full of them (which is pretty much what I would expect), but the Focus is still few and far between down here in the St. Louis area. Sure, the number of Focus models has increased, but there just aren't that many to choose from at dealer lots. I haven't checked in awhile, but I think the Titanium model is still a rare bird in these parts.

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I think the new Escape may meet this same fate that the Focus is going through. The new Escape may be a massive improvement, but the price (or deal) still trumps a great product in this market, and I think it will be tough selling the new Escape at the same sales rate as the much cheaper current model. Again, I hope I am wrong, but I think a good deal of Americans are price conscience and will buy a cheap product over a much superior product.

[MKII]

Aren't Europeans buying a lot of Hyundais?

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hyundai-motor-targets-higher-2011-europe-sales-2011-09-22

 

No

 

As of October 2011

New Accent (called the i20) sales year to date are 58,000 compared to Fiesta sales 297,000 YTD

New Elantra (called the i30) sales year to date are 84,000 compared to Focus sales 240,000 YTD

 

Hyundai in Europe gets mention regarding warranty and brave styling, but dinged for sloppy driving dynamics & cheap feeling vehicles.(under engineered)

[Moosetang]

Hyundai in Europe gets mention regarding warranty and brave styling, but dinged for sloppy driving dynamics & cheap feeling vehicles.(under engineered)

And yet, MT just gave the Jetta COTY despite it ditching its legacy of competence for precisely those qualities.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

FJM, unlike Europe there is a significant price difference between a Focus/Cruze .

The US market is still predominantly trucks and utilities, cars are still small beer and not as significant.

 

And for all their bluster and bravado, GM sold just over 180,000 vehicles to Ford's 166,000.

 

UK

1.6 Focus Titanium (Gasoline) £18,745 ($29,419)

1.6 Focus Diesel (Titanium) £19,945 ($31,296)

5,400 sales (October)

 

Korean 1.6 Cruze LS Gasoline £13,995 ($21,957)

150 Sales (October)

 

USA (US GM/Ford Website prices)

Focus 2.0 Gasoline $16,500

11,000 sales

Cruze 2.0 Gasoline $16,720

13,000 sales

What price difference JPD?

 

USA Focus is producing the least profit JPD with the lowest price and you getter a bigger 2.0 power plant so that should be the car with 13,000 sales using your logic, the most expensive is the British Focus double the price with a pissie little 1.6 engine that should have the 150 sales according to you logic JPD. The only place there is a massive price variation is the UK the Cruze is very cheap but sells just 150.

Gotta say l am well aware the USA sell a lot of pick-up trucks JPD l look at those numbers every month mate high oil prices in the next decade will decimate pick-up sales now Chinese and India are tucking into black liquid gold in huge growing numbers. You need to have a look get real lok at the peak oil curves and start to need to realise that oil is on the way-out mate. If Ford USA has to rely on 3,500 Fiesta & 11,000 Focus sales a month with absolutely no profit in them at all in the $16,500 price tag they are being given away at the moment.

 

 

 

Ford USA do have a big problem the Cruze is very much rated crap 2 star car the Focus is much better a 4 star car, l am baffled as to why Americans are buying more American made Cruzes than American Made Focus's the Cruze is absolute crap in comparison and cost more according to Ford/GM prices stated on their websites.

 

Maybe you could give us some Aussie made assembled Cruze sales number v Imported Focus sales number JPD, then you might understand [edit] & just a few hundred South African Ranger sales a month in Europe JPD (We love Aussies, Americans (Nick a bit so so maybe, who writes my posts - [edit] are a bit taboo words for Nick to stomach in the land of the free), and Canadians. But not South Africans l can't stand the few that l know) Would love a Aussie assembled Ranger if Ford done it, but no European is one bit interested in South African made Rangers made on the cheap knowing Ford will pocket all the profit at a rip off price.

Edited December 2, 2011 by NickF1011

[Ford Jellymoulds]

Once the new mondeo/fusion arrive sales will improve,

 

 

Lets hope the next version is more Fusion inspired, than more of the same ole the shit boring dull cold Mondeo design nobody wants or buys.

 

Mass produced Mundaneo struggles to beat and has half the sales of low volume quality luxury cars like BMW & Mercedes in Europe.

 

 

EUROPEAN SALES NUMBER Jan-Sep

RWD Mercedes Benz C Class 126,347 sales up +22%

RWD BMW 3 Series 123,390

RWD BMW 5 Series 106,112 sales up +56%

RWD Mercedes Benz E Class 96,969

FWD Ford Mondeo 58,972 sales down -15%

 

Sales numbers on page 53 LINK

 

Quality Auto makers are not supposed to outsell mass produced cars with nearly double the sales are they Biker 16?

Edited December 2, 2011 by Ford Jellymoulds

[FordBuyer]

It is frustrating seeing the Focus not gaining traction in the U.S. market. However, I have to wonder if it is fair to compare this year's sales numbers with last year's sales numbers. Last year's Focus was putting up incredible sales numbers, but Ford was also pushing them through rental fleets and pricing them at used car prices. Ford wanted to get the last of that model Focus out the door so it could bring in the new and much improved "global" Focus. With this model being much better and more "special", I don't see Ford using scorched earth tactics to get it to sell. Therefore, the new car is selling on its features and virtues against competitors that are selling their compacts on price. In my opinion, I think it is hard for a new product with hardly any wiggle room in price to match or surpass a model that is/was sold at bargain-basement prices.

 

I also think the Fusion (as mentioned several times above) is cutting into the Focus sales.

 

I also believe Ford is not supplying enough Focus models to its dealerships. The dealer lots in Detroit may be full of them (which is pretty much what I would expect), but the Focus is still few and far between down here in the St. Louis area. Sure, the number of Focus models has increased, but there just aren't that many to choose from at dealer lots. I haven't checked in awhile, but I think the Titanium model is still a rare bird in these parts.

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I think the new Escape may meet this same fate that the Focus is going through. The new Escape may be a massive improvement, but the price (or deal) still trumps a great product in this market, and I think it will be tough selling the new Escape at the same sales rate as the much cheaper current model. Again, I hope I am wrong, but I think a good deal of Americans are price conscience and will buy a cheap product over a much superior product.

 

Again, with Ford planning on running three shifts at MAP building mostly Focus, and three shifts at LAP building mostly Escape, Ford IS going to have to do something to move them off dealer lots. That is going to mean incentives and a fair number or fleet sales. Remember also, there are lots of Focus, Escort, Escape buyers on road, and Ford will have to entice them out of their old vehicles into Ford's new offerings. And I'm not advocating that Ford go back to old incentive war game as I know they won't anyway, but I'm sure Ford is mindful that with 3 shifts running, they do have a challenge in pushing two very high volume vehicles out the door that will be and are pricier than previous generation of same nameplate. In fact, with new, pricier Fusion coming out later in 2012, Ford has three mighty challenges ahead. The new Fusion will have to be pricier to create more separation from pricier Focus.

[silvrsvt]

I also believe Ford is not supplying enough Focus models to its dealerships. The dealer lots in Detroit may be full of them (which is pretty much what I would expect), but the Focus is still few and far between down here in the St. Louis area. Sure, the number of Focus models has increased, but there just aren't that many to choose from at dealer lots. I haven't checked in awhile, but I think the Titanium model is still a rare bird in these parts.

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I think the new Escape may meet this same fate that the Focus is going through. The new Escape may be a massive improvement, but the price (or deal) still trumps a great product in this market, and I think it will be tough selling the new Escape at the same sales rate as the much cheaper current model. Again, I hope I am wrong, but I think a good deal of Americans are price conscience and will buy a cheap product over a much superior product.

 

I live in MD and the local Ford dealership I drive past every morning has gotten in about half dozen + Foci in the past 2 months or so...I think they've sold or traded one or two of them since I moved down here. In the spring/summer....they seemed like they sold a bit quicker (but I wasn't going past the dealership every day either), but they also only had like 2-3 Foci for sale at the time. The dealership is pretty tiny too..one of the smallest I've seen. Another dealership that is closer to DE has a decent supply of Foci also. The local dealership also has a decent amount of Explorers too (which I was slightly surprised by)...which are "selling well" according to people here.

 

As for the Escape, I fully expect the sales to go down the first year or so due to lack of product as the plant ramps up production. I don't think the numbers the Escape is selling at is sustainable...the current model is fleeted pretty heavily and has really attractive lease and financing rates to retail customers. However, I don't think Ford is worried since the ATP of the Escape should go higher between less incentives and less Fleet sales and not higher prices of the product itself....

[NickF1011]

(Nick a bit so so maybe, who writes my posts - RWD & Classic are a bit taboo words for Nick to stomach in the land of the free)

 

We are also the land of would-you-please-for-the-love-of-all-that-is-sacred-stop-being-so-god-damned-repetitive?

 

We could be talking about refrigerators and you'd find a way to work in a statement about RWD Cortinas. It's just not going to fly anymore. Oh, and neither is your ethno-centric hatred of Korea.

Edited December 2, 2011 by NickF1011

[NickF1011]

EUROPEAN SALES NUMBER Jan-Sep

RWD Mercedes Benz C Class 126,347 sales up +22%

RWD BMW 3 Series 123,390

RWD BMW 5 Series 106,112 sales up +56%

RWD Mercedes Benz E Class 96,969

FWD Ford Mondeo 58,972 sales down -15%

 

You left off:

 

FWD Punto

FWD Padna

FWD Focus

FWD Fiesta

and I'm sure several others.

 

Those all outsold all of those "high demand" RWD vechicles you listed. Your arguments are crap. Move on already.

[NickF1011]

Neither the Fiesta or Focus are cracking into the top 3 on the sales charts in their respective categories.

 

Fiesta had a slightly off month, but I'm still pretty sure it's #3 in the B-segment for the year.

[bobbyd]

Ranger sold over 7000 units in one month. Sales increase of 85%. Maybe Ford should extend that production in Twin Cities. 7000+ is a big number of sales.

 

 

LINK - Ford Media

[FordBuyer]

Ranger sold over 7000 units in one month. Sales increase of 85%. Maybe Ford should extend that production in Twin Cities. 7000+ is a big number of sales.

 

 

Remember, Ranger production ends this month, and probaby reason sales have spiked. I would imagine many of the sales are fleet as they buy the last of the Ranger. And a few individual buyers getting the last ones ever made. Whatever, the Rangers will be around for at least another 10 years on used car lots across the nation. Nameplates never die, they just move onto used car heaven. Want a nice Sport Trac, Ranger, Crown Vic, Milan, Marauder, Town Car, Sable, Montego, Grand Marquis, Mariner, Thunderbird, and whatever else nameplate Ford has jettisoned in recent years, just plug in price, miles, and color into Auto Trader. com and out pops 50-100 of them for you to choose from. The whole fricking auto world is a click away from us at a moments notice.

[akirby]

In Atlanta there are only a few SELs in stock at most dealers. A lot more SEs though. Looks like my daughter totalled her Focus so we'll be looking for a new one.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

You left off:

 

FWD Punto

FWD Padna

FWD Focus

FWD Fiesta

and I'm sure several others.

 

Those all outsold all of those "high demand" RWD vechicles you listed. Your arguments are crap. Move on already.

 

 

As usual you post has nothing to do with poor Mondeo Sales you just try to change the subject.

 

 

Ford UK used to sell 55,000 Cortina's every August here on a good month in the UK , It takes the Mondeo from January to September to sell 58,000 sales to the WHOLE of Europe this days so who has made the one big mistake Nick.

 

 

This August Ford UK total sales of the following cars

Ka

Fiesta

Fusion

Focus

Galaxy

S-Max

C-Max

Mondeo

Transit

Kuga

Transit Connect

Ranger

18,500 sales total

 

Those were the days, when Ford UK could sell 55,000 RWD Cortina's in the UK in August 1 in 3 UK car sales was a Cortina.

Edited December 2, 2011 by Ford Jellymoulds

[FordBuyer]

As usual you post has nothing to do with poor Mondeo Sales you just try to change the subject.

 

 

Ford UK used to sell 55,000 Cortina's every August here on a good month in the UK , It takes the Mondeo from January to September to sell 58,000 sales to the WHOLE of Europe this days so who has made the one big mistake Nick.

 

 

This August Ford UK total sales of the following cars

Ka

Fiesta

Fusion

Focus

Galaxy

S-Max

C-Max

Mondeo

Transit

Kuga

Transit Connect

Ranger

18,500 sales total

 

Those were the days, when Ford UK could sell 55,000 RWD Cortina's in the UK in August 1 in 3 UK car sales was a Cortina.

 

 

Ford used to sell 400,000 Tauruses and Explorers here in U.S. plus 250,000 Rangers and 200,000 Expeditions/year too. So what? That info won't buy you a cup of coffee today. The market moves on as auto manufacturers try to catch up and be with the times. Everyone used to do a lot of thngs back in the day. Now it's called nostalgia/memory. That is all.

[Edstock]

 

Quality Auto Makers now outsell the mass produced

That's why there's an opportunity for Lincoln!

[atvman]

Is it too soon to start thinking that Ford screwed the pooch with the new Focus?

No. Last time I checked, it was doing extremely well on the global market, second only to the Golf.

[2005Explorer]

In Atlanta there are only a few SELs in stock at most dealers. A lot more SEs though. Looks like my daughter totalled her Focus so we'll be looking for a new one.

 

Ouch I hope she is ok. Hopefully it wasn't her fault because an accident can't be good for insurance cost on a teen.

[akirby]

Ouch I hope she is ok. Hopefully it wasn't her fault because an accident can't be good for insurance cost on a teen.

 

Yes, she is (so is everyone else) and yes it was her fault. 2 lane highway, 50 mph, car stopped to turn left, car in front of her stops, she doesn't see car stopped and hit a Yaris from behind and pushed it into the bumper of the car that was turning. I think she got it slowed down to about 25 but if she had swerved either way it would have been worse. I taught her to just hold on, slam the brakes and hit whatever is in front of you and that's what she did.

 

There was absolutely no damage from the engine/wheels back. The firewall, doors, windshield were fine. Hood buckled up and away from the windshield. The front part of the fender broke away preventing the back of the fender from crunching the doors. I thought we were going to be lucky and the engine itself wasn't damaged but it looks like it got moved a little and that's probably why they'll total it. Works for me - I only put $500 down and have gap insurance. We've had Geico for 25 years with no accidents so hopefully it won't be too bad. Not much we can do about it now.

 

Managed to get by with my son for 6.5 years with only a parking lot fender bender to another car. Just signed his focus over to him back in August. We'll get her another one but this is it - she gets one mulligan. If she totals another one she'll be driving something old and cheap - or not driving at all. I told her this was a lesson (paying attention) that everyone has to learn the hard way - sometimes you get lucky and learn it with a near miss or just minor damage. Her lesson was just more expensive ($1000 deductible).

 

Overall I guess we're still ahead of the game and as long as nobody was hurt it's fine.

 

But I was super impressed with the Focus' crash performance.

 

Here is a Euro crash video that shows how the fenders separate upon impact - this will really help in slower speed collisions.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wJDeMWGFTM

[fordmantpw]

Looks like my daughter totalled her Focus so we'll be looking for a new one.

 

That sucks! Hope she is OK!

 

 

Yes, she is (so is everyone else)

 

Guess I should have read the rest of the thread before posting!

 

Overall I guess we're still ahead of the game and as long as nobody was hurt it's fine.

 

That's the important part! Cars can be replaced...people cannot! It's great she can learn the lesson the easy way (only $1k and nobody got hurt)!

Edited December 2, 2011 by fordmantpw

[akirby]

That's the important part! Cars can be replaced...people cannot! It's great she can learn the lesson the easy way (only $1k and nobody got hurt)!

 

Assuming our insurance doesn't go up..........yes. Here's a pic:

 

[jpd80]

Ranger sold over 7000 units in one month. Sales increase of 85%. Maybe Ford should extend that production in Twin Cities. 7000+ is a big number of sales.

 

 

 

 

More like run out prices and perhaps one of the reasons Focus isn't selling as well as most expect?

it was Ford's assertion that most people buy the Ranger because it was cheap transportation....

[fordmantpw]

Assuming our insurance doesn't go up..........yes. Here's a pic:

 

 

Wow, all that at 25 MPH. That's what happens when you make cars safer though...more damage to car, less damage to occupants.

[akirby]

Wow, all that at 25 MPH. That's what happens when you make cars safer though...more damage to car, less damage to occupants.

 

Yep. Just got news it was totalled. I hope the GAP insurance covers my deductible. That would be awesome.

 

Guess we'll be car shopping this weekend.