Mustang Ponies Up Global Sales Appeal

Ford Motor Co. says its Mustang pony car was the world’s best-selling sports coupe/convertible last year with global sales of nearly 142,000 units.

The total includes a segment-leading 110,000 Mustang coupes and more than 30,000 convertibles, according to Ford. The carmaker, which cites data from IHS Automotive, says the Mustang was the only sports coupe to top the 100,000 mark in 2015.

About 19,000 of last year’s total of 141,900 came from outside the U.S. Ford expects overseas sales to continue grow, noting it didn’t start marketing the Mustang in many countries until the second half of 2016—and not until the fourth quarter in such key markets as China and the U.K.

European Mustang sales, which were launched last summer, topped 13,000 units in 2015, of which 4,700 have been delivered from the company’s manufacturing plant in Flat Rock, Mich. Ford says European Mustang buyers primarily are opting for V-8-powered Mustang, despite high fuel costs there.

Another 3,600 European orders were placed through the first three months of 2016. Last month the Mustang was the top-selling sports coupe in both France and Germany, according to the company. Sales also are ramping up in Australia, Cyprus, Malta, New Zealand and South Africa. More than 90% of the buyers in Australia and New Zealand prefer V-8 models, Ford says.

In the U.S., the Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe for all of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016. The marque also led all competitors in Canada and Mexico last year.