Ford Expects November To Be Best Hybrid Sales Month Ever
DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co. said Friday that it predicts November will be its best hybrid sales month ever with more than 6,000 units sold.
Ford is expected to capture an all-time-high 11 percent share of the electrified vehicle market -- an increase of more than fivefold this year alone. November marks the first full month the all-new C-Max Hybrid, all-new C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid and all-new Fusion Hybrid are available on dealer lots.
This record beats the previous record of 5,353 sales, which was achieved by Ford in July 2009 -- the same month the Car Allowance Rebate System was in effect.
The new electrified vehicles are helping Ford beat Toyota in fuel economy in every segment where both compete. Customers are increasingly taking notice and adding Ford to their lists, with more than 97 percent of shoppers prioritizing fuel economy.
"Our electrified vehicles are a great symbol of how Ford is delivering leading fuel economy across our lineup -- something that's driving more and more customers to switch to us from Toyota and others," said C.J. O'Donnell, marketing manager for Ford Electrified Vehicles. "We're providing our customers the power to choose from a suite of electric vehicles that offer leading fuel economy, performance and technology -- at a perfect time when nearly all customers are prioritizing fuel economy and more than 60 percent are considering hybrids."
The Fusion was recognized for its green efforts at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show, where it was named Green Car Journal's 2013 Green Car of the Year.
"The 2013 Ford Fusion leads the way toward a new generation of advanced vehicles with its diverse portfolio of clean and efficient power choices, along with its suite of advanced electronics, desirability, and buyer accessibility," according to the official press release.
The all-new C-Max hybrid vehicles -- Ford's first hybrid-only nameplate that includes C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid -- should help Ford achieve this record with a projected 4,400 sales in November.
C-Max Hybrid sales in November follow a successful first full month of the vehicle's sales in October, in which C-Max Hybrid outsold Toyota Prius v, 3,182 units to 2,769 units.
Dealers are reporting they can't keep the all-new Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX hybrids in stock, and they are currently the fastest-turning nameplates in Ford showrooms. Fusion is turning in an average of 12 days and Fusion Hybrid in seven days. So far, 27 percent of all retail orders for the new Fusion are for the hybrid model.
The C-Max conquest rate is holding steady at 64 percent, with Toyota and Honda as the top conquest brands at 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Among competitive nameplates, Toyota Prius is the No. 1 competitive trade-in vehicle, followed by Honda CR-V.
The number of import conquest buyers is even higher in key coastal markets, up to 15 percent in Los Angeles. Ford estimates nearly one in four C-Max Hybrids sold in November will be sold in California, with Los Angeles as the best-selling region and San Francisco second.
Ford officials also noted that more than 50 percent of C-Max sales are the higher-end SEL trim level, which offers Intelligent Access with push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, heated seats, SYNC with MyFord Touch, ambient lighting and Reverse Sensing System as standard.
More at www.ford.com.
