Ford tells us where hybrids are most popular
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to data just released by Ford, it is sometimes possible to pigeonhole certain areas of the country with specific colors and engine combinations. We could hazard a few guesses as to why hybrids sell like hotcakes in San Francisco, Seattle, LA, Washington and Boston, but we'll leave those conclusions to you. Some other tidbits from Ford's report, though, make perfect sense.
For instance, Texas is synonymous with trucks. As such, it's not surprising that Houston leads the country in percentage of pickup truck sales. Diesels, duallies and four-wheel drive, though, are more common in Denver, Colorado. Makes sense – turbocharged engines perform well at high altitudes and the snowy climes in the Rockies make four-wheel drive a must.
Surprise! Drop tops are be common sights in Los Angeles and Miami, says Ford. Similarly, its not a shock to hear that white cars sell well in sun-baked cities like Phoenix, Arizona. But some other trends are more difficult to explain. Why are blue cars popular in Philadelphia? Why do Boston buyers choose brown cars with four-cylinder engines while Detroiters prefer sixes in red? Interested in knowing more about what sells where? Click past the break for the breakdown.
Gallery: Ford Fusion hybrid
PRESS RELEASE
BLUE IN PHILLY, DIESEL IN DENVER: STUDY SHOWS TOP MARKETS FOR FORD VEHICLE COLORS, OPTIONS
* Ford sales data shows which vehicle colors, options and powertrains are most popular on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the 22 top U.S. metropolitan areas
* Climate plays a key role in vehicle option choice. For example, customers in Phoenix choose the highest percentage of white vehicles; Denver residents buy the most four-wheel-drive and diesel vehicles; and Los Angeles and Miami are the top Ford convertible markets
* The data showed some regional quirks. Why are Detroiters so fond of V-6 power while Boston customers choose the highest percentage of four-cylinder vehicles?
* Ford uses knowledge of regional preferences to stock the right vehicles on dealer lots around the country for better sales performance and higher customer satisfaction
Dearborn, Mich., Oct. 13, 2009 – Shopping for a blue Ford in Philly? An F-150 in Houston? A Super Duty diesel in Denver?
You're not alone: According to Ford sales data, Philadelphia is the company's top market for blue cars, Houston leads the country in percentage of pickup truck sales, and Denver is the top market for vehicles equipped with diesel engines and four-wheel drive.
Ford analyzes sales data for insight into consumer preferences by region, helping the company ensure ample supply of popular vehicles, colors and options for different parts of the country. Not only does correct vehicle mix result in better sales performance for dealers, it also has a positive effect on customer satisfaction when buyers can find what they want quickly.
Much of the Ford data followed logical patterns, but there were some results that weren't easily explained. For example, white is most popular in Phoenix, where the color's reflective properties are a boon to car seats and air conditioners – no surprise there. But the second most popular market for white Ford vehicles is Memphis, Tenn., for reasons yet to be determined. Is it the heat, or is it due to the fact that one of Memphis' largest employers is FedEx – known for its stark-white vehicles and aircraft?
The color red is most popular with customers in Cincinnati, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. One possible explanation: Customers who live in regions with longer winters and drearier weather prefer brighter and more cheerful colors.
"If you have to suffer through a long, cold winter, a little splash of color can brighten the mood," said Susan Swek, Ford group chief designer, Color and Materials Design.
Red might also reflect Midwestern optimism however, since New York City, an area not known for its mild winters, is in the bottom three markets for percentage of red Ford vehicle sales. Instead, New York tops the lists for black and gray.
Data on drop-tops
Customers in Los Angeles are most likely to choose a drop-top like the Mustang convertible, with Miami close behind. But customers in decidedly less balmy New York and San Francisco also are in the top five metro markets for percentage of convertible sales.
When it comes to vehicle size, Seattle customers choose the highest percentage of smaller cars such as the Focus, while Houston is at the other end of the spectrum as the leader in both pickup and sport utility sales. In fact, all five of the top markets for trucks are also the largest markets for SUVs, with Memphis, Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul rounding out the list.
"The Pacific Northwest has embraced green as a status symbol and it comes through in their choice of smaller vehicles and fuel-efficient powertrains," said George Pipas, Ford's manager of sales analysis. "Larger vehicles are still the norm in the southern plains, Texas, and the Rocky Mountains."
Personalities and powertrains
While Denver is big on diesels, San Francisco and Seattle are the top two metro areas for percentage of Ford Escape Hybrid and Ford Fusion Hybrid sales. L.A., Washington, D.C., and Boston make up the remainder of the top five hybrid markets.
When it comes to conventional gasoline engines, the top V-8 markets are Houston, Memphis, Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul. On the other end of the spectrum, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia all are among the top four-cylinder markets. Despite its reputation for V-8 power, Detroit is the top market for V-6 engines.
Knowledge of preferences helps Ford prepare for customer needs
Ford's extensive sales analysis on vehicle configurations has been combined with customer and dealer comments in various geographic regions to optimize the model mix. Ford has developed "Rapid Spec" packages that cluster popular options, and provide customers with a higher level of vehicle content and value.
"Concentrating on delivering the combinations our customers want most can yield benefits across the board," said Brad Munn, Ford's cross-vehicle product strategy manager. "It's a win for our customers, our dealers, and our product development and manufacturing operations."
And the Top Five are...
The charts below represent the top five markets for various Ford, Lincoln and Mercury colors, features and options in 22 major U.S. metropolitan areas.
Colors
| Black | Blue | Brown |
| 1. New York | Philadelphia | Boston |
| 2. Los Angeles | Washington | Minneapolis |
| 3. Chicago | Boston | Phoenix |
| 4. Miami | Seattle | Chicago |
| 5. Detroit | Detroit | Pittsburgh |
| Gold | Gray | Green |
| 1. Orlando | New York | Boston |
| 2. Miami | Boston | Seattle |
| 3. Pittsburgh | San Francisco | Philadelphia |
| 4. Denver | Los Angeles | Pittsburgh |
| 5. Washington | Pittsburgh | Washington |
| Red | Silver | White |
| 1. Cincinnati | San Francisco | Phoenix |
| 2. Minneapolis | Phoenix | Memphis |
| 3. Detroit | Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| 4. Kansas City | Charlotte | Los Angeles |
| 5. Pittsburgh | Washington | Dallas |
Powertrains
| Four-cylinder | Six-cylinder | Eight-cylinder | Hybrid |
| 1. Boston | Detroit | Houston | San Francisco |
| 2. Pittsburgh | New York | Memphis | Seattle |
| 3. San Francisco | Chicago | Dallas | Los Angeles |
| 4. Washington | Kansas City | Denver | Washington |
| 5. Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Minneapolis | Boston |
Drive Configurations
| Four-wheel drive (4WD) | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| 1. Denver | New York |
| 2. Seattle | Boston |
| 3. Minneapoli | Denver |
| 4. Boston | Seattle |
| 5. Pittsburgh | Philadelphia |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
wonkavision 9:22PM (10/14/2009)
Well, if notice, Philadelphia, Washington and Boston share a lot of the same tastes... maybe that is a better conclusion than simply saying Philadelphia loves blue cars... they also like green cars with four cylinders. A better question would be... why does Boston love brown cars?
Reply
Laurens 3:18AM (10/15/2009)
I've always wondered why a truck driver drives a truck...
Reply
Luke 4:45PM (10/15/2009)
Some people who drive trucks because they need an "extension" to their boy-parts. Some drive them to move heavy objects.
I like to think I'm in the latter category. My aging compact pickup truck (a 1998 Ford Ranger) sits rusting in the driveway most of the time, except when I need to haul something heavy/smelly/awkward for a home-improvement or garden project that won't fit on my bike or into the Prius. I also sometimes drive it when my wife and I have a schedule conflict when we both need a car at the same time -- but that only happens every 3 weeks or so.
The Ranger is a little big for my purposes, though, so if the Subaru Baja came with 2 seats and a 6-foot bed, it would be perfect for my needs. If I were to replace the Ranger with a midsize truck, it would certainly be an "extension".
neptronix 12:31PM (10/15/2009)
I am there with you. I don't get the mentality of the daily Truck/SUV driver at all. Yeeaahh.. i want a vehicle that handles very badly, is hard to park, has bad gas mileage, and spending $200 per tire is just my cup of tea.
Reply
wincros 3:31PM (10/15/2009)
But it is so manly. When even on this blog, people sometimes express concern about feminine styling on certain cars you realize that there is a great fear of appearing feminine that has been tapped into by the truck companies and that their products are mostly rolling codpieces. Vehicles are regularly evaluated as looking gay or not gay by men who are insecure about their appearance of masculinity.
Mike!!ekiM 4:38PM (10/15/2009)
Are you saying Truck drivers are latent gay? You know, that makes some sense, because big trucks may attract other men.