Ford Fusion breaks into Top 10 best-selling vehicles amid best year ever
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for a high-res gallery
There was a time when Ford vehicles absolutely dominated the list of the top 10 vehicles sold in the U.S. The F-Series was always number one, followed by stalwarts like the Taurus, Explorer, Ranger and even the Focus (or Escort before that). 2001 was a long time ago, though, and the past eight years haven't exactly been stellar for the Blue Oval. The tide may be changing for 2009, though, as the Dearborn, MI-based automaker has seen its market share rise steadily in a down auto market.
Ford's biggest success may be the 2010 Fusion, as the sharply redesigned sedan now delivers best-in-class fuel economy, an impressive hybrid option, a Sport model and all the features and amenities necessary to compete against the best vehicles in the segment. Customers have taken notice of the new Fusion, and Ford's payoff is that Fusion sales are the best they've ever been. In fact, Ford has already eclipsed the model's all-time best sales year of 2007 by nearly 2,000 units. The Fusion is selling so well in this dismal car market that it has now made its way into the top 10 vehicles sold in the U.S. Ford can also take pride in the fact that the Fusion is the best-selling domestic car (not including trucks) in the U.S.
While the Fusion has finally hit its stride after five years on the market, Ford's mid-size sedan has a long way to go before catching the Japanese bogeys. The Toyota Camry has nearly doubled the Fusion's year-to-date sales of 151,000 units, and the Honda Accord isn't too far behind. Even the Nissan Altima is ahead of the Fusion by nearly 18,000 units.
While the Fusion still has a ways to go before it can look down upon the likes of Camry and Accord, we're thinking cracking the Top 10 is still worth a Dos Equis or two. Hit the jump to read over the Ford press release, which is rightfully chock full of bragging.
Gallery: Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Sport
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE:
* Sales of the Ford Fusion – America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan – have set a new record with sales figures for 2009 already eclipsing the previous full-year record set in 2007
* Fusion is now among America's Top 10 selling vehicles and the No. 1 selling domestic car
* Fusion consideration from import shoppers is at an all-time high
* Consumers want new features and smart technology, with half opting to buy high series models – Fusion Hybrid, Sport and SEL
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 12, 2009 – Soaring sales of the Ford Fusion have made 2009 already a record-breaking year for America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan.
Sales for 2009 already have reached 151,137 units, eclipsing the previous Fusion full-year sales high of 149,552 in 2007. Importantly, Fusion sales are skyrocketing at a time when industry sales are the lowest they have been since the early '80s.
"It's extraordinary that a car could set a sales record in an environment where overall industry sales are down 26 percent from a year ago," Ford sales analyst George Pipas said.
In the first ten months of 2009, Fusion sales were 15 percent higher than a year ago. Also, Fusion has moved among America's Top 10 selling vehicles and the No. 1 selling domestic car.
The 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are the most fuel-efficient sedans in America. The new models offer more power, class-exclusive technologies, such as Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) and Ford SYNC®, and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Toyota Camry.
According to Fusion Marketing Manager Jonathan Richards, the diversity of the 2010 Fusion lineup is drawing a growing number of customers to the brand.
"There is no reason for customers shopping for a midsize sedan to look beyond the Fusion, because the lineup offers something for everyone – a Hybrid model, a Sport version and a new selection of gas-powered engines paired with six-speed transmission," he said.
Sales data show that consumers are taking notice.
"Fusion Hybrid, Sport and SEL models account for 50 percent of sales," said Richards. "Data also show that customers are embracing technology offerings such as voice-activated navigation, SYNC and Sony® Audio."
Sales of the new Fusion Hybrid account for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. Perhaps even more significant, more than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.
The Fusion Hybrid delivers an EPA estimated 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway. It also offers innovative new technology – SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide – that coaches hybrid drivers to maximize fuel efficiency.
According to early 2010 survey data obtained in the 2009 U.S. Global Quality Research System (GQRS), the 2010 Fusion Hybrid has the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any Ford vehicle ever. The survey was conducted for Ford Motor Company by RDA Group of Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
P.V. 5:34PM (11/12/2009)
Congrats Ford and keep it up!
Reply
geo.stewart 6:25PM (11/12/2009)
its a mystery that the altima beat out the fusion. camry and accord is because of all the appliance buyers out there. Its okay. As long as Ford keeps a long view, they can topple camcord in a few years. a few solid years and the bad times will be forgotten/forgiven
as good as the fusion is, still wishing for the Mondeo, but unlike before I dont feel as second class.
Matt 6:32PM (11/12/2009)
The 2010 Fusion is a beautiful vehicle, and it still astounds me how the Hybrid gets 8 MPG better than the Camry hybrid - not a knock on Ford's hybrid abilities, but on Toyota for allowing the Camry to have so much less fuel efficiency on the ugly-as-the-devil's-face Camry. ;)
AngeloD 7:24PM (11/12/2009)
The Fusion lags behind the Camry and Accord because Ford de-emphasized fleet sales several years ago, while Toyota and Honda dump a lot of product into the rental car and taxi fleets.
Nissan isn't a big player in the rental fleets either.
Dan 8:52PM (11/12/2009)
Angelo, Toyota fleet sales run 7-8% of their total volume and Honda fleet sales are practically non existent.
Ford and GM cut their fleet sales significantly but as of last year were still running in the 15% range.
Luis 9:21PM (11/12/2009)
Thanks, Dan. People on here spew 'facts' just as badly as Faux "News", it's nice for someone to diffuse a claim with actual numbers.
AngeloD 12:00AM (11/13/2009)
Thanks Dan...for demonstrating how 78.63% of statistics are made up on the spot.
the4thheat 6:46AM (11/14/2009)
As a Camry driver (and I love the Camry) I have to say I'm quite impressed by how well the Fusion has done lately. Glad to see that Ford can still do well in the family sedan class when they actually *try* to make a competitive vehicle.
Hopefully Ford has learned it's lesson about this kinda stuff-letting the Taurus die that horrible, slow, painful death last time was frankly the dumbest thing I've ever seen a car company do. They could have stayed competitive all these years if they had wanted to.
Power Beauty Soul 5:39PM (11/12/2009)
Stay thirsty my friends.
Reply
nardvark 10:54PM (11/12/2009)
He lives vicariously...through himself.
Randy 1:21AM (11/13/2009)
"He speaks French in Russian"
daleam 5:42PM (11/12/2009)
Good for Ford!
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waiownsyou 5:44PM (11/12/2009)
Can we get a list of the top selling cars to go along with this, please?
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MeiSooHaityu 5:54PM (11/12/2009)
I bought a 2010 Fusion Sport a few months ago, and I really like the car. Before this car, Ford hadn't made a car I have wanted to buy for a loooonnngg time.
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Turall 5:57PM (11/12/2009)
It's far too interesting and exciting of a car to catch Accord or Camry.
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Shiftright 6:00PM (11/12/2009)
I agree. The buyers of those cars just want transportation appliances and are actually scared off by anything resembling style, flair, individuality or character.
Judy Zik 10:41PM (11/12/2009)
It is more a case that the Sheeple don't do any real research. They buy a Camcord based on common knowledge that they have been the best cars to buy. It will take a few years for the fact that the Fusion is a better car to spread around the corporate water coolers and local "experts".
With the Fiesta about to launch. The Euro Focus coming after that and the next Mondeo based Fusion after that in a few short years Ford could easily be back to having several models on the best sellers list with good reason.
Toyota and Honda can't take the car market for granted any more.
Bobmarley 7:40AM (11/13/2009)
You guys gotta relax a little...most people that buy "camcords" are bassing their purchase on one of three reasons 1) Their last VW,GM,Ford or Chrysler vehicle was a bad experience or 2) their last Toyota or Honda was a good experience or 3) Either that or they prefer reliability/practicality over sporty and for the last 20 years all they ever hear from car mags and reliability tests are that the japs make reliable cars and the US doesn't. This is all starting to change (finally!) but it will take a few years.
You guys complain about people driving "appliances", but up untill this point Ford and GM had pieces of shiot like the Taurus, Escort, Malibu, Sunfire/Cavalier, Impala...its like you forgot what the japs had to compete with. The jap crap was simply better than the US crap
Autblogist! 6:01PM (11/12/2009)
Alan Mullaly equals #1 next years Motortrend power list.
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Brian05SEL 1:10AM (11/13/2009)
"Alan Mullaly equals #1 next years Motortrend power list."
Quoted for truth!