VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Ford Motor Co (F.N) expects North American sales will rise to 3.5 million vehicles by 2020 from 2.9 million in 2013, executives said at an analyst briefing on Monday at company headquarters.

Ford said its North American margins in 2014 will be at the low end of its previous guidance of between 8 percent and 9 percent.

The automaker expects to report a substantial loss in South America in 2015, but smaller than in 2014, when it will take a pre-tax loss of about $1 billion.

Ford said its South American operating margin will be between 7 percent and 9 percent by 2020.