(autoinsidernews) - Despite high gasoline prices, rising interest rates, and the slowdown in the housing market, Ford Motor doesnt see much further erosion in its full-sized pickup truck sales, said Cisco Codina, the automakers North American sales chief. While full size trucks currently account for about 13 percent of overall U.S. auto sales, they may bottom out around 12 percent, reports Trend.
Fords sales of its full-sized F-series pickups are off 12.7 percent, but its market share is up 1 percentage point because overall U.S full-sized truck sales have dropped nearly 14 percent. Codina is confident that the company would maintain its lead in the truck market. In 2008, Ford will have a redesigned F-series Super Duty truck, with a new 6.4L Power Stroke diesel. But it will face increased competition this year, with GMs redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups and Toyotas revamped 2007 model-year Tundra.