In March 2016, 12,563 Ford Mustangs were purchased in the United States. Based on these numbers, it’s safe to say that Americans love the dependability and timeless design of the Ford Mustang. From the 1st generation to the 6th, the Mustang has yet to disappoint — and recently it’s been making an impact overseas.

The Ford Mustang also outsold top-rated German sports cars like the Audi TT and Porsche 911 in March 2016.

We know the Mustang is iconic here in the United States, but the 2016 model has recently taken Germany by storm. In January 2015, when Ford officially began directly selling cars in 120 different countries, they had high hopes for its iconic muscle car. With 1,823 models sold in Germany since the start of this year, it is clear that not only Americans love the ‘Stang, Germans are consistently choosing it over their own nation’s keystone brands.

So how is it that an iconically American car can beat out top German sports cars in Germany?

The managing director of Ford Germany says it best, “Germans have fallen in love with the Mustang. Driving a Mustang GT on the autobahn is a one-of-kind experience for people who love cars.”  

Mustang sales race past Germany’s top-selling sports cars — and not because it’s cheaper.

Many critics of American cars claim that the only reason for Ford’s high sales in Germany is the cheaper price tag of the Mustang in comparison with German cars.

While price is always a factor when purchasing a new car, it is not a major influencing factor on why Germans are racing to purchase a Ford Mustang.

To further emphasize this point, take a look at few numbers that compare starting prices and sales of the Ford Mustang with two classic German cars, the Audi TT and Porsche 911.

Consider the following basic trim, starting prices:

  • 2016 Ford Mustang:  €38,000 ($43,300)
  • 2016 Audi TT:  €35,950 ($41,000)
  • 2016 Porsche 911:  €96,605 ($110,112)

Now consider the number of each vehicle sold in March 2016:

  • 2016 Ford Mustang: 780
  • 2016 Audi TT: 708
  • Porsche 911: 752

These numbers show that even though the Audi TT is actually cheaper than the Mustang, it still sold 72 fewer cars, making price an irrelevant factor for German’s to purchase a Mustang over a German brand.

It is important to note that the Mustang is notably cheaper than the Porsche 911, so while price may be a deciding factor in this particular case, many consumers are still choosing to purchase the Mustang over the similarly priced German alternative. And despite its much higher sticker price, the Porsche 911 generally averages high sales in Germany (approximately 1,811 sold since the start of 2016), but still falls below that of the Mustang in March with nearly 30 fewer cars sold.

It’s time to face the facts: Germans want to drive the Ford Mustang.

And why shouldn’t they? With its high performance engine options (3.7L V6, 2.3 EcoBoost® I-4, 5.0L V8), timeless design, and improved suspension for more precise handling, the Mustang has proven itself to be a quality sports car competitor.

So let’s continue this classic American sports car’s success. Visit your local Ford dealer today to test drive your own 2016 Mustang.