“We’re thinking that we could move up past 12 million maybe closer to 13 million for 2011,” Alan Mulally, chief executive for Ford, told Automotive News.

Mulally was referring to total light vehicle sales in the United States (not just Ford). He said that through the first nine months of 2010, sales were around 11.5 million, which is a jump from 10.5 million from last year.

Last week, Ford posted its sixth consecutive quarter of profit. But Mr. Mulally acknowledged that even 13 million was nowhere near the level of total industry car sales of a few years ago, when Americans were buying around 16 million cars a year.

“So it’s gradual expansion, but very solid,” he said.