Ford Focus, the best-selling vehicle in the world last year, is on its way to another title as it was also the best-selling vehicle during the first half of 2013.
Ford Focus sales increased 20 percent in the first half of 2013, compared to the same period last year, to approximately 589,709 vehicle registrations, according to a company press release.
The increase in sales was driven primarily by growing demand from customers in Asia.
Focus sales in China is up over 137 percent from 2012, to a total of 202,380 vehicles, making China the single biggest global market for the car, according to Ford.
"The new Focus looks high-tech and meets my aesthetic expectations," Xiao Bing, a 31-year-old sales manager for an IT company in Beijing, said, according to Ford. "It has significantly changed from the previous model. The car's handling is great. When I test-drove it, the new Focus cornered smoothly. Overall, it's the best combination of looks, performance, value and fuel economy."
Another Ford model, the Fiesta, is the fourth best-selling vehicle of 2013 so far as well, meaning the automaker has two vehicles in the top 5, according to Ford analysis of Polk global vehicle registration data.
Ford says that Focus sales are up 193 percent in Indonesia, 72 percent in both the Philippines and Vietnam, and 42 percent in Thailand.
"Fiesta is off to a terrific start, and Focus just keeps getting better, especially in China," said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. "This is One Ford at its best: great-looking vehicles with great fuel economy, leading quality, technology and fun-to-drive personalities."
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