Ford Mustang Saved by Strong Global Sales

Ford Pony car’s worldwide popularity benefits fans in U.S. as well.

Clearly, Ford’s global strategy for the Mustang is paying off big on a number of levels.

Why? Well, in addition to the fact that the move has made the car more accessible to millions more Mustang enthusiasts, you could say the popularity abroad is also helping Ford build cooler Mustangs for fans here in the States. Namely, because the sales surge for the car globally continues to drive Ford to invest more into the vehicle amid a steep sales decline here in the U.S.

In fact, according to the Seattle Times, U.S. sales for the Ford muscle car fell 13 percent in 2016, and are down 29 percent the first half of this year, based on statistics from IHS Markit.

ALSO SEE: What the Forum Has to Say About Global Ford Mustang Sales

In contrast, Mustang sales in China were up 40 percent in the first half of 2017, fueled in part by longtime fans of the car like Guo Xin, a former race car driver who owns three Mustangs including a convertible 2005 GT model.

The appeal for Xin? “I like what is simple and rough in a Mustang,” he says. The diehard ‘Stang fan also leads the Mustang Club of China, which counts more than 3,000 in its membership ranks. For Chris Fitzpatrick of New Zealand, who owns two classic Mustangs, it’s pretty much the same kind of appeal. “I always think of touring and power when I think of Mustang,” says Fitzpatrick.

So, given the appeal that some of the older Mustangs have globally, it’s even clearer why the new model has proven to be so successful around the world, which is sure to benefit fans here in the U.S. even more in the future.