Ford Focus is best selling car in the world - sign of good things to come?

The Toyota Corolla, one of the most boring and bland vehicles on the market, has long been the best selling car in the world. However, according to Polk, after a survey of world new car registration data, the Ford Focus has dethroned the Toyota Corolla as the #1 best selling car in the world in 2012 (full post: Report: Ford Focus is World's Best-Selling car in 2012). Is that a sign of good things to come?

In comparisons and test drive reviews, the Ford Focus is usually praised for its handling - something the Toyota Corolla can't claim. The sales success of the Ford Focus could simply mean good pricing and/or better packaging and options that appealed to more people. However, there is the possibility that people (finally) got tired of driving cars that are designed to simply take you from point A to point B. If that's the case, this could be a sign of good things to come - people Focus-ing on the driving experience aspect of driving and not just minimum functionality.

Toyota is obviously none too happy about the results. According to Polk's report, sales of the Ford Focus were 1.02 million around the world and the Toyota managed to sell 872,774 Corolla's which puts the Focus comfortably ahead of the Corolla. However, Toyota says it managed to sell 1.16 million units which would put it ahead of the Focus as the best selling vehicle (full post: Toyota Says Corolla is Best-Selling Car in 2012, Not Ford Focus). How could Polk be off be nearly 300,000 units?

Well, it's hard to say. Bloomberg Businessweek is suggesting that one of the reasons could be that there are several cars that are based on the Toyota Corolla around the world, including some that aren't on sale in North America, but have different nameplates, such as the Matrix, Auris, and others. If the sales of these cars aren't included in the Polk report, that could easily be the source of discrepancy.

I think it's very likely. After all, posted monthly and annual compact sales in the US and Canada always list Toyota sales as Corolla/Matrix which means that the sales of the two cars are combined. It's very possible that Toyota is combining all nameplates based on the Corolla while Polk is only counting Corolla sales. Until Polk responds, it's hard to say what the final conclusion is but I think it's safe to say that Ford Focus was at least the best selling nameplate in the world in 2012, although it may not be the best selling compact platform.

Source: Motor Trend