Ford closes in on title of Canada’s best-selling automaker for 2012

TORONTO (CP) — Ford Canada is on the road to taking the title of Canada’s best-selling automaker this year, after reporting its best November in more than a decade and taking first place for sales for another month.

The Oakville, Ont.-based subsidiary of one of Detroit’s big three automakers said Monday that its November sales rose to 19,447, up 7.4 per cent from a year ago, marking its best November since 2001.

That was about 2,400 more units than at Chrysler Canada, which had its best November since 2000.

Ford’s Canadian car sales rose 14 per cent, while truck sales were up six per cent.

“November was a recordbreaking month for Ford of Canada,” said Dianne Craig, president and CEO at Ford of Canada.

“The Canadian auto industry has seen incredible growth in 2012, and we are pleased that Ford of Canada has outpaced it in November.”

For the first 11 months of 2012, Ford’s sales rose one per cent to 259,194 vehicles from 256,597 in 2011.

The Ford Focus car had its best November since 2003 with a 37 per cent rise.

Sales of the Ford Transit Connect cross-over vehicle were up 93 per cent and sales of the Ford Escape sport-utility vehicle were up 47 per cent. Both vehicles had their best November on record.

The Canadian built Ford Edge, Flex and Lincoln MKT saw increases of 21 per cent, 25 per cent and 34 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, rival Chrysler Canada said it sold 17,013 vehicles in Canada last month, up five per cent from November 2011, when the company sold 16,244.