Ford's Focus continues to be worlds best selling nameplate

• Based on Ford’s analysis of Polk’s latest global vehicle registration data, Ford Focus continues to be the world’s best-selling vehicle nameplate
• Focus global retail registrations up 18 per cent in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period last year with the U.K., China, and Brazil experiencing strong demand
• Focus range includes Focus Electric, 250 PS Focus ST and will be joined early next year by a new Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost variant – the first petrol-powered family car in Europe to offer 99 g/km CO2 emissions
• Focus now produced in nine plants worldwide, giving Ford capacity to build more than two Focus vehicles every minute

Ford Focus, the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world last year, retains that ranking through the first quarter of 2013 with global vehicle registrations up 18 per cent compared to the same period in 2012.

Based on analysis of Polk’s latest global registration data, 288,724 Focus vehicles were registered in the quarter ending March 31 – the most recent figures available.

Cementing Focus’ grip on the best-selling passenger vehicle title was strong demand in key markets such as the U.K., Brazil and China. Focus registrations in the U.K. for the quarter totalled 25,081 vehicles. Brazil experienced an increase of 18 per cent with 7,227 Focus vehicles registered during the period. In China, 104,065 Focus vehicles were registered in first quarter 2013, representing an increase of 153 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2012.

“The statistics speak for themselves,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “Our global Focus has struck a chord with customers around the world because it offers remarkable technologies, excellent fuel economy and performance, super driving dynamics and all at a very competitive price.”

European customers can now order the all-new Focus Electric – the first full-electric vehicle to be built by Ford in Europe – in Saarlouis, Germany. The Focus Electric is also the first full-electric passenger car to be manufactured in Germany directly from a volume production line.

The flagship 250 PS Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car – having launched in North America last year and being introduced in the Asia Pacific regions this year.

Ford recently has announced a new version of the Focus that will be the first non-hybrid petrol-powered family car in Europe to offer 99 g/km CO2 emissions. Using a specially calibrated 100 PS version of Ford’s award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, the Focus will achieve class-leading fuel efficiency of 4.3 l/100 km (67.5 mpg)*.

“Continual development has been critical to the Focus’ global success, as demonstrated by the new Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost with 99 g/km CO2 that will launch in Europe early next year,” added de Waard. “More powerful than a first generation Ford Focus with a 1.6‑litre engine from less than 10 years ago while producing 47 per cent less CO2, it’s a testament to Focus development never standing still.”

To meet growing customer demand for Focus, Ford has ramped up capacity worldwide. In July, the company’s plant in Pacheco, Argentina, became the latest to produce Focus on a global platform. Focus is now built in nine plants on four continents. Factories in Germany, U.S., Russia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Argentina have a combined capacity to produce more than 1.5 million Focus vehicles annually at a rate of more than two vehicles per minute.