Ford Focus ranks as the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world, according to Polk’s global new vehicle registration data for the full-year 2012. Sales of the compact car totaled 1,020,410 cars worldwide, according to the automotive data and trends forecasting supplier.

Ford’s “global car” recorded market gains in China and the United States, with China registrations up 51 percent last year. Put into context, that means more than 1 in 4 Ford Focus vehicles sold worldwide went to China. In the U.S., Focus sales were up 40 percent in 2012.

Another global Ford, the Fiesta, earned the top spot as the best-selling subcompact car globally, with 723,130 registrations last year. According to Polk, Ford’s registrations of small cars – Fiesta and Focus – totaled 1,743,540 units in 2012.

“Focus and Fiesta represent the culmination of our One Ford global product strategy,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service. “Since its launch in China in late March of last year, Focus sales continue to strengthen, with the car now ranking as the best-selling passenger car in China in 2012 for the first time ever,” Farley added.

Ford had yet another ace up its sleeve in 2012, as the F-Series pickup truck was the world’s third best-selling vehicle nameplate. Global new vehicle registrations for F-Series totaled 785,630 units last year. The F-Series is America’s best-selling vehicle and has been the best-selling pickup in the country for 36 years.

By Dan Mihalascu

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