Each year, Ford Motor Company looks at U.S. car-buying preferences and how tastes for car colors and options vary from city to city. Ford uses this analysis of its sales data to identify buying patterns and better understand unique consumer preferences across the country. Ford can then use what it learns to adjust its sales and production plans to deliver the specific vehicles, colors, and options drivers want to those parts of the country where they're most in demand.
“Ford focuses its efforts on delivering the right option combinations for its customers, and everyone reaps the benefits," said Brad Munn, Ford’s cross-vehicle product strategy manager. "We can offer more options for the same – or less – money, and customers are more likely to find the vehicle they're looking for on a local dealer's lot."
Some highlights:
- Boston buys the highest percentage of green-colored vehicles, San Francisco is tops for white vehicles, and D.C. buyers have an affinity for blue vehicles.
- Seattle buyers most often choose cooled seats, moonroofs, and technology options like a rear view camera or active park assist; Seattle is also one of the top markets for hybrid cars, along with San Francisco.
- New Yorkers order the highest percentage of rear seat DVD entertainment systems.
- Dallas buyers love towing packages and white cars. Houston, Memphis, Kansas City, and Atlanta are other hot markets for towing packages and, not surprisingly, these cities also are hot markets for Ford F-Series trucks.
- Manual transmissions can be just as appealing in large cities as small ones. The top manual transmission markets include Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Boston.
