Detroit Free Press
January 7, 2013
The good news is that as 2013 begins, Ford finally should be in a position to realize the benefits of all the money it invested in new products during the recession under CEO Alan Mulally's global One Ford plan.
Here's a rundown of the 2012 results, and 2013 outlook, for some of Ford's critical new vehicles.
Fusion: The new Fusion, widely praised by many reviewers, is still in the launch phase and has yet to hit its stride in the market. Sales of the Fusion dropped 3 percent in 2012 as Ford phased out the old model to make way for the redesigned 2013 version. The company is so confident about the appeal of the 2013 Fusion that it's adding production at a second factory, in Flat Rock, Mich., in the second half of the year.
Escape: The Escape compact SUV notched its all-time record sales year in 2012 with a 3 percent increase to 261,008 units, making it second in the Ford lineup in unit sales to the F-series pickup. The Escape continued to sell well despite four recalls.
C-Max: Ford introduced a third major vehicle in 2012: the C-Max Hybrid, built on Ford's global C platform, which it shares with the Focus.
The C-Max has exceeded Ford's expectations so far with sales of 13,309 since the fourth-quarter launch.
Focus: After a slow start following its 2011 redesign, Focus sales soared 40 percent in 2012, making it by far the fastest-growing Ford-brand light vehicle.
The automaker's only other vehicles to post stronger sales gains in 2012 than the industry's 13 percent were the Ford Mustang, up 18 percent; the Ford Explorer, up 21 percent; and the Lincoln MKT, up 41 percent.
F series: The F-series pickup continued its run as the best-selling vehicle in America.
Lincoln: Lincoln dealers are eagerly awaiting the 2013 MKZ, which is just now arriving in showrooms, later than most dealers had hoped.
If Ford can put its recent launch and quality problems in the rear-view mirror and straighten out balky electronics systems such as MyFord Touch, the company can reap the rewards of Mulally's ambitious and money-saving One Ford global platform plan.
General Motors, which has focused on maximizing profits and keeping production in line with sales, knows analysts and industry pundits want to see evidence that it can take sales away from competitors.
Last year, GM's U.S. market share sagged to 17.9% as Toyota and Honda regained ground lost in 2011 when an earthquake and tsunami devastated some Japanese suppliers and forced them to make fewer vehicles.
"This is a trend line we will keep an eye on," said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for TrueCar.com. "GM can't sustain this loss of market share."
In 2013, GM plans to launch 12 new or significantly updated models, including the Chevrolet Corvette, Impala and Silverado, three new Buicks and two new Cadillacs.
"We are setting the stage here ... to launch the biggest product portfolio initiative in General Motors history," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.