Ford Motor Co.’s 2013 Fusion became an instant hit with consumers and has thrust the Dearborn automaker into the middle of a four-car race atop the lucrative midsize segment.
But Fusion sales, up nearly 22 percent this year, may soon be stuck at current levels because Ford can’t make enough to meet growing demand, particularly in markets such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami. And if car shoppers can’t get a Fusion, Ford may lose them to a competitor -- especially one of the strong-selling Japanese midsize cars.
“Inventory is going to be real tight during the summer months,” said Erich Merkle, Ford’s U.S. sales analyst, in a telephone interview.
That tightening already has begun. Ford has a 39-day supply of the car, according to automotive data and news site WardsAuto.com. That means if production were to stop today, the automaker would have enough Fusions to last about 5 1/2 weeks.
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