“Retail sales for Ford in 2013 were up 14 percent and it was broad based as we saw an increase in passenger cars, which were up 12 percent and really reaching levels we haven’t seen in over a decade.” :14 sec.

Ford Motor Company 2013 U.S. sales totaled 2,493,918 vehicles. For December, total sales are 218,058 vehicles up 2 percent – with retail up 3 percent.

“Utilities, the number one selling brand in America, is Ford Brand Utilities for the third consecutive year and they’re up 13 percent in 2013.” :11 sec.

According to Merkle trucks were up 17 percent and the number one selling vehicle is the Ford F-Series.

“For 37 years straight now, it is America’s best-selling pick-up and it’s been America’s vehicle for 32 years.” :07 sec.

Merkle said sales in December were solid, but as we get into 2014, he sees the pace of the expansion starting to slow up.

“We certainly had a solid December, we estimate that the industry is up over 16 million vehicles including medium and heavy. Now as we get into 2014 we think that the industry is still going to expand, but the pace of that expansion is going to start to slow up, a little bit.” :19 sec.

Lincoln MKZ December sales increased 73 percent, providing Lincoln brand with an overall increase of 8 percent. However, when Merkle surveys the entire country from coast-to-coast, he says there are certain regions that have shown solid growth over the last year.

“A lot of our gain, retail sales gains, in 2013 came from the West and also the Southeast, these have been primarily in the past, have been very dominated by the Japanese automaker. Ford brand at retail was up 21 percent in the West and 17 percent in the Southeast for the year, our fastest growing regions in the country.” :26 sec.