Ford Focus World’s Top Selling Passenger Car, Corolla Second

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Ford Focus was the world’s best-selling passenger car in 2012, according to a study conducted by the research firm R.L. Polk & Co. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) had three vehicles ranked among the top six. Ford Focus, which sells in its current design and a previous version is sold in many parts of the world.

Ford Focus World's Top Selling Passenger Car, Corolla Second

According to the study, the Dearborn-based automaker sold a record 1.02 million Focus models globally in 2012, and about 25 percent of those sales came from the United States, while China now accounts for 25 percent of the total Focus sales.

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (TYO:7203)’s Corolla was ranked second with 872,774 units. Thanks to the solid sales in the United States and Canada, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s F-series was the third largest seller vehicle with 785,630 units sold internationally in 2012.

To everyone’s surprise, it was the only truck in the top ten. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) sales analyst Erich Merkle said that the ranking of F-series shows the company’s strong position in the truck market.

The research report is further proof that Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)‘s “One Ford” has been a success. The strategy involves everything from designing to selling vehicles in international markets. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) chief executive officer Alan Mulally repeats the strategy like a mantra since he joined the company in 2006.

Mulally says by adapting the “One Ford” strategy, the company could save money from economies of scale. Mulally thinks a car having a single name globally reduces costs and increases brand equity.

The Chinese carmaker Wuling’s Zhiguang van was the fourth best selling vehicle globally with 768,870 units sold last year and is sold mostly in China. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) (TYO:7203) Camry occupied the fifth spot with the sales of sales of 729,793. Ford Fiesta was the six largest selling car with 723,130 unit sales. Less than 10 percent of that sales came from the United States. Volkswagen Golf was ranked seventh with 699,148 unit sales, while Chevrolet Cruze came at eighth position with sales of 661,325.

Finally, Honda Motor Co Ltd (NYSE:HMC) (TYO:7267) occupied the last two positions  in the top ten. The ninth best-selling car was Civic at 651,259 and CR-V occupied the tenth spot with 624,982 units.

Overall, about 81 million vehicles were sold globally in 2012, which itself is a record. However, 2013 figures are expected to surpass that figure.

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