Mustang Goes Back-to-Back as World’s Best-Selling Sports Car
Mustang also claims Best-Selling Sports Coupe title for sixth year in a row, hitting homers left and right throughout Continental Europe.
Did you know the Mustang turns 57 this April? That’s 57 years of continuous production of America’s pony car, something few can claim. From the swinging Sixties to the New ’20s, from muscle to malaise to muscle again, the Mustang’s lived and thrived through it all.
As if that weren’t something to celebrate in its own right, the Mustang recently scored a back-to-back title to its list of accolades. According to Ford, the title is that of the World’s Best-Selling Sports Car. And that’s not all.
“Mustang enthusiasts love their performance cars, and they showed that yet again,” said Ford chief product platform and operations boss Hau Thai-Tang. “In a challenging year for the entire auto industry because of the global pandemic, Mustang performed very well, increasing its share in the global sports car segment.”
Based on data from IHS Markit, the sales boost came via high-performance models of the Mustang, including the Bullitt and Shelby models. A total of 80,577 units were sold around the world in 2020, snapping up 15.1% of the sports coupe market. That alone also garnered the pony its sixth consecutive Best-Selling Sports Coupe title.
While the Mustang remains a big hit in the U.S., America’s pony car also hit several out of the park in Continental Europe. Hungary was the hungriest for the big horse, resulting in a 68.8% increase in sales over 2019. Back at home, Texas, California and Florida respectfully snap up the majority of Mustangs.
Meanwhile, the Mustang Mach-E surprised Ford on the sales floor. Q1 2021 sales totaled 6,614, with demand growing alongside warming temps. In fact, a given Mach-E stayed on the lot an average of seven days before going to a new home. Not bad for the next bearer of the Mustang torch.
Ford, of course, will take any sale it can get. According to Motor1, Mustangs sales are down for 2020. Back in 2019, 102,090 ponies found stables around the world. While the drop in sales this past year can be blamed in part by the pandemic, sales in 2018 amounted to 113,066. Throw in the semiconductor crisis this year, and 2021 sales might be lower.
That said, the Mustang is still tops. In Q1 2021, 17,274 ponies found homes, compared to 15,096 Challengers and 7,089 Camaros. Looks like America’s pony car is going for the hat trick this year.
Photos: Ford
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