Tuesday, January 04, 2011 - for immediate release

Strong sales power Ford Canada past GM

Toronto Star - Ford has toppled General Motors as Canadian auto industry leader for the first time in more than 50 years.

Oakville-based Ford Motor Co. of Canada Ltd. claimed the title after reporting that sales of new cars and trucks jumped 19 per cent to 267,974 vehicles in 2010 from the previous year.

General Motors of Canada Ltd. will soon release its December and year-end results but analysts say Ford had built an insurmountable lead throughout the year.

“Sales titles are nice to have but we remain focused on building long-term, sustainable, profitable growth,” said David Mondragon, Ford Canada’s president and chief executive officer.

Mondragon suggested Ford is in a good position to retain its lead in an extremely competitive industry this year because of a strong lineup of cars since consumers will likely shift from trucks as fuel prices climb.

Although Ford made gains in car sales in 2010, the F-Series pickup truck has powered the company’s resurgence in Canada during the last five years.

F-Series sales hit 97,913 in 2010, the highest total for any vehicle in one year in Canadian history. The model has led pickup truck sales for 45 consecutive years here.