Ford executive predicts U.S. SUV sales will keep rising

A top Ford Motor executive stated that industry-wide sales of sport utility vehicles will keep rising in the United States as the nation’s second-largest U.S. automaker prepares to reveal a refreshed 2018 Ford Explorer SUV.

The market share of SUVs has boosted to almost 40 percent from 32.6 percent of total U.S. vehicle sales in last year.

Mark LaNeve, Ford’s vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service informed press reporters at an event on Monday ahead of New York International Auto Show that the automaker expects that figure to rise to 45 percent of market sales under 5 to 7 years.

Automakers are reacting to “consumer demand”, LaNeve said, pointing out the growing amount of SUVs automakers are presenting. Ford last refreshed the Explorer in 2015.

Low fuel prices and enhancing fuel performance among SUVs have assisted prod more Americans into purchasing SUVs and pickup trucks recently and put pressure on vehicle sales. Many automakers such as Volkswagen AG are moving focus in the United States from cars to SUVs.

Ford has stated it plans to reveal five new SUVs in the United States by 2020.

The company is likewise releasing an upgraded 2018 model year version of its larger Expedition SUV. Both the new Expedition and Explorer will be on sale this fall.