Seven Millionth Ford Explorer Sold in US as Sixth-Gen Debut Looms

We are just a day away from the reveal of the sixth-generation Ford Explorer, and Ford is taking the opportunity to take a look back at how the previous five generations fared. In a timely turn of events, the seven millionth Ford Explorer was sold in the United States last week, marking a significant milestone days ahead of the reveal of its newest iteration and on the cusp of the model’s 25^th anniversary.

“Explorer changed the way the world thought about the family hauler – adventure became something you could put in your driveway,” said Craig Patterson, Ford Explorer marketing manager. “Explorer helped the family vehicle become an emotional purchase rather than a necessity. It’s no surprise it’s been the best-selling sport utility vehicle for a quarter century.”

The Explorer originally launched in 1990, stealing sales from minivans and paving the way for the popularity of the full-size SUV segment. The first generation Explorer sold more than 1 million models between 1991 and 1994.

The second generation ran between 1995 and 2001 and moved that total past the four million mark.

Gen three brought sales up to the 6 million mark between 2002 and 2005, and the fourth generation Explorer carried that total to 6.4 million at a time where consumers had very little desire for big SUVs.

The revamped fifth generation, which launched in 2011, continues to add to that success with the latest milestone of the seven millionth Ford Explorer sold in the US.

Of course, it’s not all about the United States. The Explorer is sold in more than 100 markets around the world, and Ford anticipates that it will export around 56,000 units this year alone.

Stay tuned tomorrow for your first full look at the 2016 Ford Explorer!