SUVs to Deliver 29% of Ford Sales by 2020

Ford Escape

Ford Motor Co. says SUVs and crossover vehicles will account for 29% of its worldwide sales volume by 2020, up from 17% in 2012 and 23% last year.

The company's analysis, based on data from IHS Automotive, notes that worldwide demand for SUVs has zoomed 88% since 2008. Such vehicles now account for 19% of the global passenger vehicle market. The segment is expanding at more than three times the pace of car sales overall.

Ford says the SUV share of the light-vehicle market in Europe climbed from 9% in 2008 to 19% last year. In China, penetration rose from 7% to 17% of sales over the same interval.