Ford: 2013 vehicle sales to top 2.4 million in North America

Associated Press

DEARBORN, Mich.

Ford says 2013 North American sales of cars and trucks bearing its namesake brand will top 2.4 million, making Ford again the top-selling U.S. brand over Toyota.

The automaker says it will sell more than 600,000 passenger cars this year, the most since 2000, with the strongest demand in the West and Southeast.

Ford says it has seen double-digit sales growth across all segments — cars, trucks and utility vehicles. Growth has been led by demand for the Ford Fiesta small car, Ford Fusion midsize sedan, C-Max hybrid and the Ford Escape SUV.

November sales to nonfleet customers rose 15 percent through November, compared with 12 percent for the Ford brand overall.

The industry will report December sales figures Friday.