Ford Focus, the best-selling vehicle nameplate in the world last year, has retained that ranking through the first quarter of 2013 with global vehicle registrations up 18 per cent compared to the same period in 2012.

Based on analysis of Polk’s latest global registration to date, 288,724 Focus vehicles were registered in the quarter ending March 31 – the most recent figures available.

Strong demand in key markets such as China and Brazil fueled the growth. Focus registrations in China reached 104,065 vehicles, up 153 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2012. In Brazil, demand rose 18 per cent, with 7,227 vehicles registered during the period.  

Focus is now built in nine plants on four continents. Factories in the US, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Russia, Germany and Argentina have a combined capacity to produce more than 1.5 million Focus vehicles annually at a rate of more than two vehicles per minute, a statement said.

Focus is available in a range of models depending on market, including sedan, hatchback, wagon, an electric-powered model and the high-performance Focus ST. – TradeArabia News Service