Ford (NYSE:F) Gains Market Share on Financial Positioning

Not having to go the bankruptcy route has its competitors have has positioned Ford (NYSE:F) in the minds of consumers as a safe place to buy from, as shown by its increased market share in the U.S., which has reached 16.7 percent.

Also significant was its borrowing of $23 billion in the latter part of 2006 before the freezing of the credit markets, which gave it the ability to navigate the worst part of the recession while its American competitors floundered.

Ford said its sales in the United States were performing at an annual rate of about $12 million units. They added that unit sales should rise to close to $13 million in 2011.

George Pipas, Ford’s sales analyst, said, “We have a high degree of confidence that 2011 is going to be a stronger sales year. We’re a whole lot better off than we were a year ago.”

Sales for Ford in the U.S. have risen about 21 percent over the first 11 months of 2011; 10 percent above the overall industry average of 11 percent.

Leading sales for Ford are its Taurus sedan and Fiesta subcompact.