Category Archives: Ford

GM taps Nissan for small van

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General Motors has inked a deal with Nissan for a small commercial van to be sold in the U.S. and Canada starting late next year.

The 2015 Chevrolet City Express will be cloned from Nissan’s NV200, which has been on sale in various world markets since 2009 and in the U.S. since earlier this year. If the name rings a bell, it might be because a passenger version of the NV200 was selected as the replacement for the Ford Crown Victoria as the next standard New York City taxicab.

Both vans will be built at the Nissan plant in Aguascaliente, Mexico.

“Our fleet customers have asked us for an entry in the commercial small van segment, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position with fleets and our commercial customers,” said Ed Peper, GM’s U.S. v-p of Fleet and Commercial Sales.

While customers may have asked for a junior Chevy van, a more likely rationale for the Chevy-san is the success of Ford’s imported-from-Turkey Transit Connect, which has enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the segment with only minor competition from Chrysler’s Ram Cargo Van. Ford sold 35,216 Transit Connects in 2012. As of April this year, Transit Connect sales are up 27.6% while sales of GM’s full-size G-Series vans (Chevrolet Express and GMC Savanna) are down 6%.

In addition, Chrysler Group will start selling a Ram version of the Fiat Doblo, which is also built in Turkey, early next year, leaving GM as the sole Detroit automaker without an entry in the field. GM hasn’t had a small commercial van since the Astro was dropped in 2005.

The tie-up with Nissan seems unusual, considering that General Motors already has a small van, the Opel/Vauxhall Combo, which is sold in Europe and other markets. However, the Nissan van is already federalized, which will get the City Express to market more quickly and save GM the cost of certifying the Combo with the EPA. There’s also the potentially embarrassing fact the newest Combo is itself a clone: of the Fiat Doblo. Surprisingly, GM Korea (formerly Daewoo), which supplies the Spark and components for the the Sonic and Cruze, does not produce commercial vehicles.

Whatever the reason, Nissan is quite happy with the arrangement. Joe Castelli, Nissan v-p for commercial vehicles and fleet said, “Working with partners to expand markets for our innovative products enhances Nissan’s growth and manufacturing efficiency by leveraging our capacity to meet growing demand in this space.”

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Ford says Focus No. 1 in worldwide sales

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Ford says Polk 2012 new vehicle registration data shows the Focus was the world’s best-selling passenger car last year. The company says the Polk data also shows the Ford-F-series pickup, which is sold only in a handful of global markets, was the third best-selling vehicle, behind the Toyota Corolla and Corolla variants, like the Matrix. The Fiesta was the top subcompact with terrestrial buyers.

The folks in Dearborn claim Focus registrations totaled 1,020,410 cars worldwide, which would put the Focus in close contention with the 1965 Chevrolet Impala/Impala Super Sport for the most sales by a single model line in a single year.

China was the key to Focus growth last year. Registrations in the world’s largest new vehicle market were up 51% in 2012 , accounting for more than a quarter of global sales. U.S. Focus sales were up 40% to 242,922, with a 58.3% jump in December to close out a banner year.

In addition to holding the title of world’s best-selling vehicle overall, Polk data also confirm the Ford Fiesta earned the top spot as the best-selling subcompact car globally, with 723,130 registrations last year. Together, registrations of Ford’s small cars – Fiesta and Focus – totaled 1,743,540 vehicles in 2012, according to Polk.

“Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “Our global products are resonating with consumers – especially in the best-selling, most competitive segments – with their unique combination of fuel efficiency, high quality, rich content and fun-to-drive personalities. Through One Ford, we’re able to bring economies of scale and fantastic value to customers all around the world.”

“Since its launch in China in late March of last year, Focus sales continue to strengthen, with the car now ranking as the best-selling passenger car in China in 2012 for the first time ever,” Farley said. “With additional manufacturing capacity added last year, we now have a tremendous opportunity to further strengthen our global small car sales in 2013, with sales off to a very strong start already.”

Grain of salt warning: While there is no reason to suspect the numbers aren”t correct, a call to Polk’s PR firm revealed the data was prepared by Polk specifically for Ford and that Polk does not have an official statement confirming the final results of the compilation of new vehicle registrations. It should be noted that other sources, using estimates of sales from over 100 countries, say the Corolla was still the best-selling car, though its sales were negatively impacted by the growing tensions between China and Japan over the Senkaku islands. With the slump in Toyota sales, the Focus was able to pass it to become China’s best-selling car.

2012 GLOBAL TOP 10
Rank Make/Model Sales
1 Ford Focus 1,020,410
2 Toyota Corolla 872,774
3 Ford F-Series 785,630
4 Wuling Sunshine 768,870
5 Toyota Camry 729,793
6 Ford Fiesta 723,130
7 Volkswagen Golf 699,148
8 Chevrolet Cruze 661,325
9 Honda Civic 651,159
10 Honda CR-V 624,98

Fusion fires up Ford sales; Lincoln lags (again)

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The new Ford Fusion is earning its name: it’s red-hot. After a huge increase in sales during February, the mid-size Ford sedan set an all-time sales record in March and has a huge lead in the competition to be the top-selling American-brand car. Year-to-date (YTD sales) are now 26% ahead of the first quarter of 2012 and the Fusion narrowly outsold the Toyota Corolla and easily outpaced the Honda Civic to become the third-best-selling car in the first quarter. It’s been a while since an American-badged car has taken third place in year-to-date (YTD) sales.

The Ford Escape also brought an all-time record to the table with sales up 27.6% last month while the Explorer enjoyed its best sales since the newest generation was released.

While the Focus lost ground in March, with sales down 11.9%, the Ford compact still leads its competition from GM and Chrysler.

Ford Utility sales jumped 15.4% last month with only the Escape and Flex missing their marks.

Ford really needs to do something about the Flex: inside, it’s an incredibly nice vehicle for family travels but Ford can’t give them away with Cracker Jacks. The same is even more true of the Lincoln clone, the MKT.

One detail that bears mentioning: in March, Ford sold more of its Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility than it did of its Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan. The PI Utility now has a 90-unit lead over the sedan. While this may well be a statistical blip, it may signal a change in police vehicle purchasing. The California Highway Patrol, which has great influence on fleet buyers, is replacing all of its patrol sedans with the Ford PI Utility which offers more space for needed equipment than the existing sedans from Chevrolet, Dodge and Ford.

Sales of America’s favorite vehicle, the F-series pickup were up 16.3%, slightly outpacing the growth of the full-size pickup segment. The big Ford accounted for 29.5% of all Ford brand sales in March, up from 27.1% in the same month last year.

Overall, Ford sales were up 5.5% in March as a 6.9% advance in Ford brand sales was dragged down by a 22.5% decline in Lincoln sales. For the first quarter, total FoMoCo sales are running 11.0% ahead of the January-March period in 2012.

Ford executives recently said the long-awaited MKZ sedan should available in sufficient volumes next month to boost Lincoln’s sagging sales, but questions remain about reviving consumer interest in a car that’s not only four months late, but has been delayed due to a need to ship the cars, which are built in Mexico, into the U.S. for quality checks. Ford can spin that any way they want, but it’s still a red flag to some consumers who will wonder why they weren’t built well enough in the first place.

Ford needs to quit pinning its hopes on the MKZ and take a good look at the MKS, MKX, MKT and Navigator. Most importantly it needs to focus on near-term rejuvenation. Grille changes will help but Lincoln has been way down in the premium pecking order for so long, it is almost to the point of being damaged goods.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY SALES: MARCH 2013 & YTD
Brand/Model Mar-13 Mar-12 Change YTD 2013 YTD 2012 Change
Fiesta 6,728 6,502 3.5% 16,028 15,522 3.3%
Focus 24,929 28,293 -11.9% 61,898 66,043 -6.3%
C-MAX 3,769 0 NEW 9,677 0 NEW
Fusion (All-time record) 30,284 28,562 6.0% 80,558 63,949 26.0%
Taurus 7,003 7,095 -1.3% 16,984 14,871 14.2%
Police Interceptor Sedan 926 28 3207.1% 2,458 28 8678.6%
Mustang 7,688 9,046 -15.0% 17,320 20,133 -14.0%
Crown Victoria 0 481 -100.0% 0 1,672 -100.0%
Ford Cars 81,327 80,007 1.6% 204,923 182,218 12.5%
Escape (all-time record) 28,934 22,679 27.6% 72,983 58,604 24.5%
Edge 12,237 14,058 -13.0% 31,534 32,908 -4.2%
Flex 2,167 3,330 -34.9% 5,444 6,807 -20.0%
Explorer 17,509 13,212 32.5% 48,649 33,618 44.7%
Police Interceptor Utility 1,090 27 3937.0% 2,548 27 9337.0%
Expedition 3,070 3,022 1.6% 7,928 8,422 -5.9%
Ford Utilities 65,007 56,328 15.4% 169,086 140,386 20.4%
F-Series 67,513 58,061 16.3% 168,843 143,827 17.4%
Ranger 0 4,404 -100.0% 0 13,929 -100.0%
E-Series 11,316 12,308 -8.1% 27,639 29,194 -5.3%
Transit Connect 3,655 2,973 22.9% 10,426 7,432 40.3%
Ford Trucks 82,484 77,746 6.1% 206,908 194,382 6.4%
Ford Brand 228,818 214,081 6.9% 580,917 516,986 12.4%
MKZ 2,360 2,932 -19.5% 3,758 7,081 -46.9%
MKS 924 1,689 -45.3% 2,755 3,287 -16.2%
Town Car 0 144 -100.0% 0 439 -100.0%
Lincoln Cars 3,284 4,765 -31.1% 6,513 10,807 -39.7%
MKX 2,354 2,609 -9.8% 6,066 6,427 -5.6%
MKT 571 785 -27.3% 1,493 1,485 0.5%
Navigator 616 644 -4.3% 1,827 2,117 -13.7%
Lincoln Utilities 3,541 4,038 -12.3% 9,386 10,029 -6.4%
Lincoln Brand 6,825 8,803 -22.5% 15,899 20,836 -23.7%
Total Ford Motor Co. 235,643 222,884 5.7% 596,816 537,822 11.0%

Lincoln aims small at NAIAS

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One of the hottest segments of the U.S. light vehicle market is the small crossover. This is especially true of the upscale portion of the market.

Seeing an opening for a new product and having an appropriate platform on hand, Ford put its new Lincoln team to work. The result is the Lincoln MKC Concept.

The MKC Concept made its debut at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Based on the Ford Escape and intended to go up against the likes of the BMW X1, the MKC is the first vehicle to come out of Lincoln’s new design group.

While it shares its underpinnings with the Ford’s smallest crossover, the MKC boasts entirely new sheet metal and a mercifully revised Lincoln grille.

“We are reinventing Lincoln by focusing on the largest and fastest-growing segments of the luxury market, while offering clients something different,” said Jim Farley, who heads up Lincoln. “The just-introduced MKZ re-establishes Lincoln in the largest luxury segment, and the MKC Concept highlights a key opportunity in the fastest-growing part of the luxury market.”

Segment growth is being driven by both younger buyers entering the premium vehicle market and more mature customers that are downsizing or moving from sedans to utilities. This phenomenon is also being seen in China, where Lincoln will begin sales in the second half of 2014.

As part of Ford’s effort to revitalize its last remaining satellite brand, Lincoln is being reinvented. From a complete new lineup of vehicles to the dealership experience. Ford says its goal is “…to appeal to a new type of luxury clients considered cultural progressives, who are open to new ideas and experiences.” Such as considering a Lincoln.

These “Lincoln Experiences,” as the folks in Dearborn call them, will include “unique and diverse powertrains,” what ever those might be. (Steam? Ion drive with a ten-speed?) There will also be features such as push-button transmission engagement, programmable ride control, as well as customizable functions that can be adapted to each client. The idea is that the vehicle will instantly recognize the operator and create a personalized welcoming sequence.

“The MKC Concept has a wonderful stance and sits beautifully on its wheels,” said Murat Gueler, MKC Concept lead exterior designer. “It has a sleek, sculpted body and wheel arches and elegant shoulders. The lines of the vehicle appear relatively simple on first look but with a second view reveal a dynamic three dimensionality.

“The Lincoln design team has done an outstanding job with the MKC Concept in communicating Lincoln’s design vision for reaching a new and discerning clientele.”

While the MKC is handsome and the new grille is a welcome change from the toothy chrome grin of other Lincolns, the MKC doesn’t stand out from a dozen other small crossovers with high beltlines and curved greenhouses. Guelar makes a big deal about the side cutline for the rear hatch, which permits the full-width taillight, but it’s unlikely that will have a conscious impact on one in a thousand potential MKC buyers.

Ford also is quite proud of the panoramic roof that runs the length of the vehicle. Swell for a trip from Dearborn to Alpina or Sault Ste. Marie but drive it from Dallas to Phoenix in August.

The MKC’s interior does look nice and it is well-appointed with lots of leather everywhere, though there’s no guarantee all the features of the concept would make it to a production model.

“There is a significant upgrade in materials and a stylish, fashion-oriented package. The materials are combined with progressive combinations and uses of stitching and colors,” said Soo Kang, Lincoln interior design chief.

Just like MKZ – which sets the tone for the brand’s thoughtful new approach to design – the MKC Concept features a distinct push-button gear shift selector. This enables a flowing, expressive and architectural center console design covered with riveting details, and unique colors and materials.

“There is a rich softness to the exterior and interior palette of the MKC Concept,” said Susan Lampinen, group chief designer, Color & Material Design. “The leather-wrapped architecture complements the open-pore and designer hand-dyed woods.”

Other refined details include finishes like appliqués cut from layers of reconstructed natural wood infused with a metallic flake for a glistening effect on the steering wheel, upper instrument panel and door panels.

In its press information, Ford says the MKC is, “A true Lincoln.” What remains to be seen is whether the carbuying public will agree.

Ford shows Atlas pickup concept

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Stealing a bit of thunder from GM’s introduction of the next-generation 2014 Silverado and Sierra pickups, Ford today offered a sneak peek at the next F-series pickup, due in 2015.

Called the Atlas Concept, Ford says the truck is a showcase for the the design and technologies that will shape its future pickups.

“The Ford Atlas Concept previews the innovations that will transform what people expect from their pickup,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “With 36 years as America’s best-selling pickup, we are absolutely committed to setting the agenda in the truck market.”

As with the new GM designs, the Ford Atlas look is “evolutionary,” continuing the massive-appearing, chiseled front end and side styling that emphasizes the trucks height. Prominent wheel arches reinforce the “big” image.

“We wanted the concept to reflect how Ford trucks help customers in both their worlds – professionally and personally,” said J Mays, Ford group vice president and chief creative officer. “Every surface and feature in the vehicle has been crafted for purpose and capability while retaining an unmistakable Built Ford Tough look.”

Designers enhanced truck functionality with details like multiple tie-down points integrated within the cargo box walls and load floor, as well as 110-volt electrical outlets in the cargo box to charge power tools. An integrated roof carrying system and hidden extendable ramps increase the truck’s suitability for a number of vocational applications..

The interior incorporates thin, lightweight seating allowing  leather allows for extra legroom for rear passengers and storage for smaller items. “Floating” instrument pods and glove-friendly buttons and controls keep the interior functional.

The Atlas Concept features a next-generation EcoBoost® powertrain,with truck-enhanced Auto Start-Stop engine shutoff technology. Ford says further fuel savings will come from                                aerodynamic elements that reduce wind resistance. They include automatic shutters behind the grille that stay open when extra engine cooling is needed and automatically close to improve aerodynamics when cruising on the highway at steady speeds.

It will be interesting to see is some of the Atlas Concept’s other features make it to production. The first is Active Wheel Shutters, panels in the wheels that are hidden at low speeds but automatically deploy at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics. Self-charging batteries use energy from the wheels’ motion to power the shutters. The automatic drop-down front air dam lowers at highway speeds to improve underbody airflow and retracts at low speeds to improve ground clearance.

Ford Atlas Concept is a rolling showcase of features that improve capability, durability and productivity to meet the diverse needs of pickup truck owners.