SUV/Crossovers Could Gain 40% of U.S. Market by 2020

Ford Motor Co. predicts the SUV/crossover segment will account for 40% of all passenger vehicle sales in the U.S. by the end of the decade.

Demand for such vehicles is up 16% this year. Ford expects the segment will reach a record 5 million units, or about 28% of the American market, in 2015.

A year ago Ford forecast SUV/crossovers would generate 29% of its global sales in 2020 compared with 23% in 2013. SUV/crossovers accounted for 19% of the overall worldwide passenger vehicle market in 2014, according to IHS Automotive.

The rise in demand for SUVs and crossovers is denting car sales in the U.S. Autodata Corp. says cars sales in the country fell 2% to 6.5 million units in January-October.