USA - Ford has best October in 9 years

• Ford Motor company October total sales up 14 percent – retail sales up 15 percent; best October retail since 2004
• Ford Fusion up 71 percent and Fiesta up 9 percent – both report record-setting October sales
• F-Series tops 60,000 trucks for sixth-straight month
• All-new Lincoln MKZ total sales up 80 percent including best-ever October retail sales – total Lincoln brand up 38 percent

Ford Motor Company’s October U.S. total sales of 191,985 vehicles rose 14 percent over a year ago. Retail sales are up 15 percent, at 142,487 vehicles. It is the company’s best October retail sales performance since 2004.

Gains were broad-based, with passenger cars up 19 percent, utilities up 9 percent, and trucks up 14 percent. Ford Fusion and Fiesta posted best-ever October sales, and F-Series again topped 60,000 sales.

“October was simply an outstanding retail performance, as consumers continued to choose Ford for great fuel efficiency, styling and value at all levels of the market,” said John Felice, vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “The combination of great new products, such as Fusion and Escape, along with the strength of our dealers helped us achieve our best October retail sales month since 2004.”

Fusion sales of 21,740 vehicles jumped 71 percent year-over-year, making it the car’s best-ever sales performance for October. The strongest growth for Fusion is in the west region of the U.S., with retail sales up 77 percent. In the eastern region of the country, Fusion retail sales are up 65 percent.

Escape sales of 22,253 vehicles increased 12 percent, while Fiesta sales of 4,337 vehicles increased 9 percent – setting a new record for October. F-Series sales of 63,803 trucks are up 13 percent, making October the sixth-straight month above the 60,000-vehicle mark for F-Series. The last time Ford sold more than 60,000 trucks for six consecutive months was 2006.

Lincoln MKZ sales of 2,909 vehicles increased 80 percent over a year ago, leading the Lincoln brand to an overall increase of 38 percent. MKZ has now reported record sales for six of the last seven months, attracting significant conquest buyers to the Lincoln brand.

50 mpg 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

Meet the 50 MPG Rated Honda Accord Hybrid

• 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is top-rated 4-door sedan with EPA fuel economy rating¹ of 50 mpg city
• Mass production² of the new hybrid begins today at Honda's manufacturing facility in Marysville, Ohio
• Model to go on sale nationwide later this year

With the first models rolling off the Marysville, Ohio assembly line today, the all-new 2014 Accord Hybrid (http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-hybrid/) will carry an EPA fuel economy¹ rating of 50 mpg in city driving, making it the new leader in gasoline fuel-economy ratings among 4-door sedans. Set to go on sale at Honda dealerships nationwide later this year, the 2014 Accord Hybrid's city fuel-economy rating is three miles per gallon higher than the closest segment competitor and its calculated driving range of 673 miles is more than 46 miles³ farther than any vehicle in its segment.
"Even before it hits showrooms this fall, the Accord Hybrid is already surpassing the competition and claiming segment leadership," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president of auto operations at American Honda. "For customers looking for a 50 mpg rated 4-door sedan, there is no other choice than the 2014 Accord Hybrid."

With EPA fuel-economy ratings¹ of 50 mpg city / 45 mpg highway / 47 mpg combined, the 2014 Accord Hybrid combines the sophisticated exterior styling and spacious interior packaging of the Accord Sedan with a highly efficient two-motor hybrid system from Honda's Earth Dreams� Technology advanced powertrain series. The Accord Hybrid joins an already fuel-efficient Accord lineup that includes the EPA-rated 36 mpg highway¹ 4-cylinder Accord Sedan and the Accord Plug-in Hybrid, EPA-rated at 115 MPGe combined¹ in electric-only mode.

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is the first Honda hybrid vehicle produced in Ohio, at the company's Marysville Auto Plant, and joins the Greensburg, Indiana-built Civic Hybrid as the second Honda hybrid model built in the U.S. Honda invested $18.8 million in a 94,000-square-foot expansion of the Marysville Auto Plant, along with the addition of 50 new full-time jobs to handle the special processes specific to the production of this advanced hybrid model.

"With more than 30 years of experience producing the Accord in Marysville, our associates have continued to advance our capabilities, and the new 50-mpg rated Accord Hybrid is a very special milestone in our history of innovation in Ohio," said Rob May, Plant Manager of the Marysville Auto Plant. "Production of this class-leading hybrid represents an important achievement by our associates as they create new value for Honda customers using advanced manufacturing skills and new, cutting-edge technologies."

Including the expansion at the Marysville Auto Plant, in the past three years Honda has invested nearly $2.7 billion in innovations to and expansion of its North American operations, with more than $1 billion spent in Ohio alone.

About Honda
Honda offers a complete lineup of cars and trucks through a network of more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States. The Accord, the Civic, the CR-V sport-utility vehicle and the Odyssey minivan were the best-selling models in their respective segments among individual car buyers for the first six months of 2013. The company operates 14 manufacturing facilities in North America, including seven auto plants. In 2012, more than 90 percent of the Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were manufactured in North America using global and domestically sourced parts. Over the past three years alone, the company has invested more than $2.7 billion in its North American manufacturing capabilities, bringing to more than $22 billion the amount Honda has invested in its North American operations.

Connect with Honda:
Media Newsroom (for journalists): Hondanews.com

¹ Based on 2013 and 2014 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual fuel mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how the vehicle is driven and maintained, lithium-ion battery age/condition, and other factors.
² Honda cars are built using domestic and globally sourced parts.
³ Actual driving range and fuel mileage will vary depending ondriving conditions, how the vehicle is driven and maintained, lithium-ion battery age/condition, and other factors.  Range estimate determined using EPA methodology: EPA combined mpg rating x (90% x fuel tank volume).

Ford Fusion continues great sales in the US, where the hell is the European version ?

• With 1,400 new jobs and a $555 million investment, Flat Rock Assembly Plant begins Ford Fusion production
• Production added to improve tight availability of Ford Fusion; U.S. Fusion sales up 13 percent this year
• Ford will hire almost 6,500 workers in the U.S. this year to support new products, growth and investment; company has added more than three-quarters of the 12,000 hourly jobs it committed to add in the U.S. by 2015

Supported by 1,400 new employees, the new Ford Fusion will roll off the line at Flat Rock Assembly Plant today, marking the first time the popular car has been built in the United States.

The move expands Fusion availability by more than 30 percent – up to 350,000 units annually – as the midsize sedan is setting sales records for Ford.

“With its bold design and great fuel economy, Fusion has exceeded all of our expectations, with demand outstripping supply,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “Fusion in Flat Rock is a win for all of our stakeholders – including customers, employees and dealers. At the same time, Ford is continuing its massive investment in America by creating another 1,400 jobs.”

The 1,400 new employees Ford hired to support added production at Flat Rock Assembly Plant puts the company more than 75 percent of the way toward its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015. In 2013 alone, Ford is hiring nearly 6,500 new hourly and salaried employees in the U.S. to support products, growth and investment.

Strong Fusion sales
Fusion sales – up 13 percent in the U.S. this year – remain very strong. Through July, Ford sold more than 181,000 Fusions, 21,000 more than were sold in the same period last year. Fusion vehicles are selling in fewer than 20 days in such key markets as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami, compared with the industry average of approximately 60 days. The high-end Fusion Titanium is turning even faster in these markets – fewer than 15 days on dealer lots.

Demand for Fusion is growing as the sedan continues to win over buyers from other automakers, particularly Asian manufacturers, with a competitive conquest rate of 50 percent.

Fusion has earned accolades from customers and influential publications, winning seven major awards in its first nine months of production.

Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face, the new Fusion is the latest in a series of vehicles from Ford – following the 2011 Fiesta subcompact and 2012 Focus small car – developed to serve customers who want leading fuel efficiency, smart technologies and game-changing design.

Fusion is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, underscoring Ford’s commitment to give customers the power of choice. Fusion Hybrid is EPA-certified with a best-in-class 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined fuel economy rating.

Customers can choose from Fusion’s widest-ever portfolio of fuel-efficient powertrains, including EcoBoost® gasoline-powered, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, automatic and manual transmission offerings and Auto Start-Stop technology.

With seven must-have technologies – including a Lane-Keeping System, adaptive cruise control, active park assist and MyFord Touch® – Fusion demonstrates Ford’s commitment to deliver features customers truly want and value in their vehicles.

Flat Rock transformation
“We are thrilled to have added production of Fusion at Flat Rock Assembly Plant – not just for our dedicated workforce here, but for the entire metro Detroit community and the associated jobs it will create,” said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles. “Together with the domestic automakers and through the collective bargaining process, we are able to bring jobs to the U.S. that were previously located offshore. Fusion production in Flat Rock is a key part of that.”

To prepare Flat Rock’s newest hires to build Fusion, a simulated factory has been introduced to provide hands-on training in a real-world environment. The simulated factory allows workers to master the tasks they may be performing on the line. It also is expected to help reduce employee attrition and improve overall manufacturing and safety.

As part of a $555 million investment, Flat Rock Assembly Plant has added a state-of-the-art, fully flexible body shop to allow multiple models to be produced on the same assembly line, supporting Ford’s flexible manufacturing efforts.

“We have completely transformed Flat Rock Assembly Plant to help prepare for Fusion production. These upgrades have allowed us to ensure we are building the highest-quality cars,” said Tim Young, plant manager, Flat Rock Assembly Plant.

Ford also has upgraded the plant’s paint shop with installation of its three-wet paint process. It is more environmentally friendly and takes less time than conventional paint processes, without compromising vehicle paint quality or durability.

Other technologies incorporated at Flat Rock include laser brazing, a form of welding that will be used on Fusion to attach the roof of the car to the body with a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing seam. In 2014, dirt detection technology will be introduced at Flat Rock to ensure optimal paint and surface quality, leading to smoother, shinier cars.

Flat Rock Assembly Plant also produces the iconic Ford Mustang, now in its 50th year. The plant recently celebrated the 1 millionth Mustang built at the facility. With the addition of Fusion production, Flat Rock Assembly Plant will have approximately 3,000 employees working two shifts at full line speed.

The Flat Rock factory has been producing vehicles since 1987, when it opened as Mazda Motor Manufacturing USA and built the Mazda MX-6. Ford purchased a 50 percent share in the facility in 1992, and it was renamed AutoAlliance International. During the years, the plant has produced the Mazda 626, Mazda6, Mercury Cougar and Ford Probe.

Fusion also is produced at Hermosillo Assembly Plant in Mexico. Chongqing Assembly Plant 1 in China also builds the car, which is known as the Ford Mondeo in other markets globally.