Ford Gains Most Market Share Among Automakers in 2013

Ford recently announced that it was America's best-selling auto brand for the fourth consecutive year in 2013, but perhaps the most telling news is that it accomplished that feat while also gaining the most market share of any automaker. Though Ford's F-Series was again a big factor as the country's best-selling vehicle for the 32nd year in a row, annual sales records from recently redesigned vehicles like the Ford Fusion, Fiesta and Escape also played significant roles in the brand's impressive growth.

With its U.S. market share increasing by about a half a point in 2013, Ford more than doubled the gains of its main competitors while also being the only auto brand to surpass 2 million units sold. Boosted by their 2013-model-year redesigns, the Fusion midsize sedan and Escape compact SUV each moved more than 295,000 units, resulting in year-over-year sales increases of 22 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the Ford Fiesta subcompact rode the success of an all-new 2014 model to sell 25 percent more units than last year. Despite the introduction of next-generation pickup trucks from competitors, the Ford F-Series saw its sales rise by 18 percent in 2013, totaling 763,402 units.

"Ford's resounding success last year came from both reliable standbys like the F-150 and progressive new designs on cars like the Fusion and Fiesta," said John Melkonian, general manager of Stoneham Ford, a Massachusetts Ford dealer. "The automaker's emphasis on fuel-efficient vehicles has been instrumental to its revival in recent years, but its refusal to sacrifice style and driving fun in the process has been equally important."

Ford's turbocharged and direct-injected EcoBoost engines have gone a long way toward enabling that engaging-yet-efficient performance. In the Ford Fusion, buyers can opt for a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder that returns up to 33 mpg on the highway or a 1.5-liter EcoBoost that nets up to 37 mpg. On the other hand, the smaller Fiesta is available with an award-winning 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder rated at 45 mpg on the highway or a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder on the ST performance trim that churns out 197 horsepower while still achieving up to 35 mpg.