The truck sales battle continues between Ford, Chrysler and GM as the Detroit 3 comprise of over 90% of this market. So many factors go into the decision when purchasing or leasing a vehicle and somewhere between products and bailouts Ford has been pushing the right buttons with customers. Ford has gained 5.2 percentage points of market share in the full sized truck segment this year and as the market slowly recovers that could mean big profits for the Blue Oval.

From the Detroit Free Press:

After owning three Ram pickups, Jason Reed of Texas — the nation’s largest pickup market — decided to switch brands in April: He bought a Ford F-150.

“I’ve never been a Ford guy — ever,” said Reed, 42.

He wasn’t just won over by the features on the Ford truck, though. Another factor also helped seal the deal: the taxpayer-backed bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors.

“I just don’t like the idea of our federal government doing that,” Reed said.

Read the full article here.

This new minicar from Ford shows us just how important the Chinese market has become. The Ford Start compact will go after the fast growing minicar segment in China that the Blue Oval needs to play a larger role to be a major player in China.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Ford said Thursday it plans to build what may be its first-ever three-cylinder engine for a car in China and is showing the engine in a concept car called the Ford Start at the Beijing Auto Show.

The Ford Start showcases a 1.0-liter, direct-injection, turbocharged engine that Ford said it plans to begin building in the “near future.”

Eventually, Ford expects to introduce the engine, which will be part of Ford’s EcoBoost engine family, in all regions, including the U.S., said Ford spokesman Mark Schirmer.

Read the full article here.