Ford Gearing Up For 400,000 Fusions In 2014

TTAC Staff
by TTAC Staff

With the Flat Rock assembly plant on the cusp of sending cars to dealerships, the Ford Fusion could potentially sell 300,000 units this year, becoming the first car nameplate from Ford to cross that mark in a decade. But to catch the best-selling Toyota Camry, Ford will have to have capacity for 400,000 units – something that could happen as early as 2014.

With plants in Hermosillo, Mexico and Flat Rock running at full capacity, Ford will apparently have the capacity to take the sales crown from the Toyota Camry. This year, Ford will have to set its sights lower, with one Kelly Blue Book analyst telling The Detroit News is “definitely attainable”.

The mid-size segment is undoubtedly America’s most competitive, with the Camry and Fusion facing competition from the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu as well. While the Camry has a comfortable lead on the second place Honda Accord (and will almost certainly cross the 300,000 unit once September’s sales figures are released), Toyota executives have taken drastic measures to ensure the Camry hangs on to its crown.

Ironically, some observers fear that by shooting for 400,000 units, Ford would see its profits on the model reduced as the average transaction price falls – something that has dogged the Camry this year. But if the Fusion did become America’s best-seller it would be a “game changer” of sorts, as the first car to claim the crown from the Camry in over a decade.

TTAC Staff
TTAC Staff

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  • Volt 230 Volt 230 on Oct 01, 2013

    If the engine is indeed the heart of the car, then I much prefer both Toyota's 4 and 6 cyl engines for the Camry over the Ford's iffy turbo powerplants

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    • DeadWeight DeadWeight on Oct 02, 2013

      @gtem The motors & transmissions in the Camry are pretty much its only saving grace...okay, its reliability, too.

  • Zip89123 Zip89123 on Oct 01, 2013

    I'd be happy if Ford would gear up putting the 3.5 engine in this monstrosity. I don't want an egoboost and the base engine is too small.

  • EspritdeFacelVega EspritdeFacelVega on Oct 02, 2013

    Here in SW Florida we are seeing more and more Fusions. Local Kia and Hyundai dealers are VERY strong here (saturation Billy Fucillo ads etc, but the other showrooms equally, um, huge), with Sonata and Optima running a close 2nd and 3rd on the roads to the ubiquitous Camrys. Beyond that I'd judge it as 4. Altima, 5. Accord, 5 (tie). Fusion, 6. Malibu, and down from there. Several oddities to this local market w. the rentals and retirees, but not many Buicks, not a good sign given the large retiree market here (and Midwestern retirees, at that! Still, I see tonnes of new Avalons (IMO a great looking car), a healthy # of Azeras and Genesis sedans, and already a surprising number of Cadenzas). Times have changed - Back in the day I used to call this area Grand Marquis World, which the local dealers often cladded in padded "Suncoast Edition" vinyl roofs and gold-package chrome...

    • MK MK on Oct 02, 2013

      Ha! We lived in the CLW area from 95-2010 and back then it truly was a lot of the traditional American faux-luxo barges roaming the US19 parking lot looking for early bird specials. Our 60+ yr old staff admin got SO pissed when I called her Grand Marquis "Florida edition" with the white vinyl top a "Crown Vic" while trying to give her a compliment about how clean it was. I was already fully sold on imports so I didn't even realize there Was a difference!

  • Billfrombuckhead Billfrombuckhead on Oct 02, 2013

    A Fusion looks like it costs $10,000 more than a Camry. An Escape looks far more expensive than a RAV4. I would say Ford has a good shot at picking up market share from JapanInc. One thing they could do to pick up Fusion sales is make more body types such as a station wagon and a hatchback. Maybe they should make some V6's and all wheel drives as well. Rumor has it that the next Taurus will be Fusion based.

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