Fusion, Focus help Ford post car sales gains

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Fusion, Focus help Ford post car sales gains

Posted Monday, Aug 17, 2009, 1:07 pm in Employee News

Steadily, the Ford Motor Co. best known for its Built-Ford-Tough trucks and SUVs is re-gaining ground as a reputable seller of stylish, high-quality passenger cars, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Strong performances this year by the redesigned Ford Fusion mid-size sedan and Ford Focus compact, both of which have been strong sellers under the federal cash-for-clunkers program, have helped Ford’s share of the U.S. passenger car market improve from 10.2 percent to 11.3 percent for the first seven months of the year, the paper said. Ford is poised to do well again in August, thanks to an extension and modification of the clunkers program, as well as an all-new 2010 Taurus sedan that was launched in the first week of the month, the Free Press said.

Next year might be even better for the Dearborn automaker’s car sales, too, as Ford is to bring the sporty European version of its Focus to the United States, along with the Ford Fiesta subcompact, the story said. “At a time when the market is going to be seeing increased activity … they won’t have to play the incentive game, because their product will be new, and will sell itself,” said Michael Robinet, vice president of CSM Worldwide, told the paper. (Detroit Free Press)