Ford Motor Company (F) Gains on Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (TM) With Hot New Fusion

Ford’s new Fusion posted a 24% sales gain in the U.S. in April. Photo credit: Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F).

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) said on Wednesday that its U.S. sales rose 18% in April, a better-than-expected number that was driven by exceptionally strong sales of its most recent new models.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s Fusion sedan and Escape SUV both posted very strong results, up 24% and 52%, respectively, making April another excellent month for Ford’s two newest models.

The new Fusion, in particular, is turning into a big story for Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F).

A nice story in a huge market segment for Ford
To be clear, the success of the all-new Escape is nothing to sneeze at. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) officials noted on Wednesday that the Escape was the compact SUV class sales leader in the first quarter, outselling its longtime nemesis, Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)‘s popular CR-V.

And Ford’s F-Series pickups continued to shine in April, posting a 24% sales gain as industrywide sales of full-sized pickups continued to gain momentum, driven by increasing strength in the construction market.

But the Fusion’s success is a big deal for Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F). After the F-Series and its main rival, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)‘ Chevy Silverado, which are the country’s two best-sellers, the vehicles that top America’s sales charts are all midsized sedans. For years now, the two cars to beat have been Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM)‘s ubiquitous Camry and Honda’s ever-popular Accord.

Fusion isn’t beating them – yet – but it has gained a lot of ground. And Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM) may be starting to feel that pain: The Japanese giant’s U.S. sales were actually down slightly in April, meaning that Ford gained market-share ground on its biggest foreign-based rival.

Ford noted that the Fusion in particular was posting very big sales gains in the western and southeastern U.S., areas where Ford has historically had less strength versus the import brands. To cite one example, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) U.S. sales chief Ken Czubay said that the “conquest rate” – the rate at which Fusions are sold to people trading in other brands – was a very strong 59% in the Los Angeles market, with customers trading in primarily Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:TM)’s and Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC)’s.