The winter of 2005 has seen demand for high-content, AWD cars hit an all-time high, helping Ford ‘s trio of new car-based products — the Five Hundred and Freestyle and Mercury Montego – build momentum.
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Ford plans to add more AWD models over the next several years and, by 2007, expects sales of products equipped with AWD to exceed 500,000 units annually, including 400,000 car-based vehicles.
The automaker will add three additional AWD models next year. The upcoming Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr mid-size cars will further the company’s AWD sales volume growth.
Sales of AWD Five Hundred, Freestyle and Montego have represented 25%, 55% and 35% of each vehicle line, respectively – higher than initially anticipated.
More than 50% of new car buyers say they would like an AWD vehicle, while 33% of all new car buyers cross-shopped only vehicles with an available AWD system.
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By GlobalDataBetween 2000 and 2002, consumers’ interest in and familiarity with AWD rose 54% and the trend remained constant even when the AWD option was offered at a premium price and regardless of what part of the country the research was done.
Ford said affordability is a key driver in its growth in AWD vehicles sales. AWD models of the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego are priced as much as $US5,400 less than the least expensive AWD-powered large sedan, while the Freestyle is more than $3,100 less than the closest AWD-equipped crossover utility vehicle.
Over the past three model years, Ford has added several AWD car-based models. In 2005, the company will sell nearly 300,000 AWD car-based vehicles – 75,000 more than in 2004, a 33% increase.
