- As all-new Ford Mustang officially arrives in global markets for the first time, customers worldwide are opting for red and black as their top exterior color choices
- Approximately 1.1 million Mustangs configured online by pony car enthusiasts throughout Europe; more than 18,000 consumers in China signed up to take all-new Mustang for a test spin
- U.S. Mustang sales up 32 percent in February – making it the best-selling sports car in America
DEARBORN, Mich., March 12, 2015 – Red and black clinch the top spots as the most popular exterior paint colors for the first global Mustang, according to initial consumer data.
Mustang demand has been high, with the car reaching dealer lots in the United States late last year and China in early 2015. It’s set to go on sale in Europe midyear, with nearly 1.1 million pony cars configured on Ford’s European websites just a month after ordering banks opened.
Passion for the car is universal, but trends are beginning to surface based on customer data that provide an early glimpse into regional similarities and differences among Mustang enthusiasts worldwide.
In China and Europe, Race Red clinches the top spot for exterior paint color choice, with Absolute Black in a tie for first in Europe, according to configurator data. Nearly 35 percent of Mustang orders in China are for Race Red, while black is the No. 1 color in the United States.
Some regional highlights to note:
United States
- With white the top color choice in the United States overall, Mustang bucks the trend; black remains the top Mustang color, followed by Magnetic Metallic and Ruby Red
- Mustang sales up 32 percent in February, making it the best-selling sports car in America with the launch of the all-new model last fall
China
- With Mustang now on sale, 35 percent of orders specify Race Red; Oxford White is the second-most popular color at 20 percent, followed by black at just under 20 percent
- More than 5 million consumers visited the Ford site to learn more about Mustang; more than 18,000 requests for Mustang test drives logged in China
- Awareness of Mustang is growing, and this has resulted in a powerful ripple effect on consumers’ perception of Ford; one in 12 Chinese consumers are aware of Mustang, and of those who not yet are, nearly 40 percent are registering a more favorable opinion of Ford
Europe
- One month after being made available to order, almost 1.1 million Mustangs have been configured on Ford’s European websites
- The top colors are Race Red and Absolute Black – each accounting for 20 percent of models configured across Europe
- Race Red and Absolute Black occupy the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in each of the five biggest markets in Europe except for the United Kingdom
- Deep Impact Blue is third-most popular color in Europe; in the United Kingdom, it’s second after Race Red, and in Italy, Deep Impact Blue is tied with Race Red, behind Absolute Black
Fans around the world have been waiting 50 years to drive the iconic Ford Mustang. Now they’re getting their chance, and it’s noteworthy that universal passion for the car is underscored by the colors customers everywhere are choosing to dress it in.
FORD OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF ALL-NEW MUSTANG GOING GLOBAL; ICONIC PONY CAR EN ROUTE TO ASIA
- Ford celebrates the official launch of export of the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang to customers around the world
- Mustang is available in more than 100 markets in both left- and right-hand-drive configurations
- Ford is a top U.S. exporter of automobiles, which supports American jobs
The iconic Mustang is officially going global.
For the first time in its 50-year history, Mustang will be available to customers around the world in more than 100 markets. First shipments of the highly anticipated Mustang are headed for Asia, with vehicles arriving in Europe midyear.
The all-new Mustang – assembled in Flat Rock, Michigan – now joins other Ford and Lincoln vehicles exported to countries abroad. In 2013, Ford Motor Company shipped more than 380,000 vehicles from the United States, making the automaker a top U.S. exporter of vehicles.
“Henry Ford exported the sixth Model A assembled in 1903 and we continue this legacy today,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “The success of our One Ford plan presents opportunities for growth in global markets. Exporting Ford and Lincoln vehicles to Asia Pacific and beyond is an important part of Ford’s global growth story. Mustang is just one more example of the international demand for Ford cars and trucks.”
Going global means jobs
Making Ford vehicles available to global consumers supports thousands of jobs across the United States. The all-new 2015 Mustang is supported by U.S. suppliers in 25 states. In 2013, Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan, the car’s production home, celebrated the 1 millionth Mustang built there. The facility has approximately 3,000 employees working two shifts at full capacity to produce Mustang and Fusion. In addition, 100 jobs at the Port of Portland have now been added to support Ford exports bound for Asia Pacific and other markets.
“Serving as a gateway for exports of new Ford vehicles to China and Korea has helped boost employment and bolster our local economy,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director for the Port of Portland. “Auto exports and imports support more than 500 jobs at our marine terminals, and they have been an important part of our diverse cargo portfolio since 1953.”
Preparing Mustang for export
Mustangs exported from the United States undergo a series of steps to ensure compliance with vehicle standards in the destination countries. At each port’s homologation center, Ford and Lincoln vehicles receive finishing touches that follow specific engineering work completed in production at the plant. Vehicles undergo proper customs documentation and tracking so Ford can ensure their progress and delivery. Certain vehicles receive an underbody coating and documents in the destination country language.
“Preparing these vehicles for shipment to their final destination is critical to satisfying both customer and regulatory requirements for our markets around the world,” said Gerald Schoenle, director, Ford Trading Company. “We want our customers globally to know that their Ford vehicles will meet emissions, safety and road-worthiness requirements.”
The addition of a right-hand-drive Mustang to Ford’s global vehicle lineup will allow the iconic pony car to be exported to more than 25 of these markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa.
American-made Ford vehicles travel the world
Mustang joins a lineup of Ford Motor Company vehicles produced in the United States and exported around the world.
Ford Explorer is largely produced at Chicago Assembly Plant in Illinois and exported to a number of markets, including China. In 2012, Ford exported just 200 Explorers to China; in 2014, that number increased to more than 9,000.
In September 2014, Ford Motor Company began shipping Lincoln vehicles from the Port of Portland to China, marking a significant milestone for the brand globally. The shipment, which included Lincoln MKC vehicles made in Kentucky, is part of Ford’s commitment to offer a unique experience designed to revolutionize the way premium cars are sold in China. By the end of 2014, there were a total of eight Lincoln dealers throughout China.
