Ford outsells Toyota in July to remain No. 2 automaker in US

Toyota Motor Corp. fell a few hundred vehicles short of outselling Ford Motor Co. for the second best-selling automaker in the U.S. last month. The Japanese automaker, which hasn’t ranked No. 2 in the U.S. for monthly sales since March 2010, sold 193,394 cars and trucks in July, falling about 300 vehicles short of Ford’s 193.715.

DETROIT- Toyota Motor Corp. fell a few hundred vehicles short of outselling Ford Motor Co. for the title of second best-selling automaker in the U.S. last month.

The Japanese automaker, which Edmunds.com reports hasn’t ranked No. 2 in the U.S. for monthly sales since March 2010, sold 193,394 cars and trucks in July, falling about 300 vehicles short of Ford’s 193,715.

“Toyota started off pretty hot in the month around the Fourth of July,” said Edmunds.com senior analyst Jessica Caldwell. “Their sales looked like they were going to be really strong. I don’t think that pace was sustained and their numbers were lower.”

Edmunds.com projected that Toyota would outsell Ford by selling 199,715 cars and trucks in July.

However, against tough competition, such as the hot-selling Ford Fusion and the Honda Civic, the Toyota Camry was able to maintain its title as the No. 1 best-selling midsize car in America.

Toyota, which hasn'€™t ranked No. 2 in the U.S. for monthly sales since March 2010, sold 193,394 cars and trucks in July, falling about 300 vehicles short of Ford's 193.715. AP File Photo

Toyota, which is the world's best-selling automaker, sold 34,780 Camry models, up 16.3 percent from July 2012. Honda sold 32,416 Civic models, up 10 percent compared to last year. Ford, restricted by production restraints, sold 20,522 Fusion models, a 12 percent decrease from a year ago.

Ford is currently adding a second shift for production of the Fusion at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant. Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service, said Fusion production should ramp-up this fall.

Through July, Toyota sales are up 7.5 percent to 1.3 million vehicles; Ford sales total nearly 1.5 million, up 13 percent; and General Motors Co., the No. 1 automaker in the U.S., has sales up 9.1 percent to about 1.7 million vehicles sold.

Automakers, including the Detroit Three, reported their U.S. July sales Thursday. Automotive analysts predict July 2013 sales to total about 1.3 million cars and trucks sold in the U.S.

Click here for the best-selling Detroit Three vehicles of July.