Ford has raised its fourth quarter production forecast by 14,000 units to 674,000.

The automaker also increased its production forecast for the first quarter of 2012 3% year on year to 675,000 units.

The industry sales rate has exceeded 13m in each of the last three months,” US marketing and sales chief Ken Czubay said in a statement.

“This suggests the current momentum is not an aberration. We believe replacement demand will continue to support stronger levels in 2012.”