DETROIT (AP) — Ford says the Focus compact car is the best-selling auto in the world this year.

The company says it sold almost 590,000 Focuses during the first half of the year based on registration data. That beat the No. 2 finisher, the Toyota Corolla.

Toyota disputes the claim. The Japanese automaker says Ford didn't count identical Toyota cars sold under different names in other countries.

Ford says Focus sales are up 20 percent through the first half of the year. That's mainly because of big sales in China, now the car's largest market.

This could be the second year in a row that Ford Motor Co. lays claim to the top-seller honors.