The Jury is Out: Escape (261,008 Units in 2012, +2.6%), Fusion (241,263 Units in 2012, -2.7%)

There’s no denying that the Escape and Fusion are very important models for Ford: they’re the number two and the number four best-selling Blue Oval vehicles, respectively (F-Series is one, Focus is three). Both had relatively good years: the Escape sold 261,008 units in 2012, up 2.6 percent, while the Fusion slipped 2.7 percent to a still-respectable 241,263 units.
The issue is this: both the 2013 Escape and 2013 Fusion, with their world-car status and European design, are departures from their former, blockier, American-market-exclusive models that were still on sale in 2012. Furthermore, it would appear Ford is going for higher transaction prices with the new models (which feature more expensive technologies like turbocharged, direct-injected engines and active safety features). The Escape was down 21.3 percent in December to 20,131 units, while the Fusion slid 10.8 percent to 19,283 units during the same time period. It’s too early to say if it’s just the squeeze of selling out of old models while new ones are delivered, a lack of big incentives on new models, both, or neither. Keep your eyes on the duo in 2013.

Just finished listening to the Ford sales conference:

- Recalls affected first half of December sales but dealers worked hard and got the job done, sales increased in the second half of December, dealers excited about amount of trade done especially on weekends, over 28,000 fusions in transit so Ford is saying they expect big January and February sales.

- Fleet sales for 2012 are at 28%, 11% rental, 14% commercial and 3% government.

- Ford is really excited about MKZ, the feedback from dealerships on orders - 50% of MKZ orders are for high series Reserve trim option as well as strong orders for Hybrid with reserve trim.. They started shipping just before Christmas and expect to steadily ramp up in stock that hopefully will be fully in place by end of march.............. so .that should shut some of the critics up .

- F truck had its best month since 2007, they sounded pretty excited about that as it seems like sales will continue strong into 2013.

- Fiesta-Focus-Fusion-Edge and now the C-max are what Ford calls a super segment with a lot of buyer cross shopping happening where buyers come in looking at one vehicle and end up buying another in the super segment. A lot of Fiesta and Focus improvement came form "inventory" changes, I think that was to do with getting the right product mix that buyers wanted..

- California is a huge market smaller cars and utilities and it looks like Ford's vehicles are selling well into there..