The Sedan and Utility variants together gained six points for 2015, capturing nearly two thirds of the market through June 2015, according to Ford’s analysis of Polk/IHS registration data.
The company held under 40 percent in 2012, with sales numbers around 15,000 units annually. Approximately 35,000 Blue Oval sedans and SUVs are expected to be put into law-enforcement service this year.
“Before Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s tests dispelled any doubts about the performance of the new vehicles, we had dipped below 40 percent share,” said Raj Sarkar, Ford’s North American fleet manager. “Now, here we are three years later and we’re still gaining.”
The Explorer-based Interceptor has driven most of the gains, with collective sales surpassing 100,000 units early this year. The company offers more than 125 different configuration options, allowing agencies to customize lighting, communications gear, wraps and other equipment directly from the factory.
The Police Interceptor Utility has been updated for 2016, adding all upgrades from the revamped civilian edition. Specific improvements for police include a Surveillance Mode that warns officers when someone is approaching from the rear, automatically locking the doors and raising the driver’s window, and a liftgate release switch that unlocks the trunk for 45 seconds.
The 2016 edition is scheduled to arrive on the market next summer.
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