Ford of Europe records highest market share in a decade

Ford of Europe records highest market share in a decade

Cologne, August 12, 2009 – Ford of Europe set a new sales record in this century in July. The No.2 best-selling new vehicle brand in Europe increased its market share for the seventh consecutive month, by 0.6 percentage points to 9.0 per cent, resulting in the company's highest share in a July and July year-to-date since 1999.

For the second month in a row in 2009, Ford increased its sales volume compared to the same month a year ago. In total, Ford sold 125,200 new vehicles in its 19 main European markets in July, up by 6,000 units or 5.0 per cent. This sales success was driven by strong customer demand for the latest Ford products across the line-up, including the Fiesta, new Ka, and best-selling Focus. Ford's 5.0 per cent volume increase contrasts to a 1.5 per cent industry decline in the same month.

The news from Ford of Europe complements positive sales performance achieved in other key Ford markets around the world in July, including China, the US and Canada. In Canada the company maintained market leadership for the second consecutive month after 50 years.
Ford of Europe achieved further market share gains in 13 of its main 19 European markets in July. In the first seven months of 2009, Ford of Europe registered 871,400 vehicles in its 19 main markets, down by 68,900 vehicles, or 7.3 per cent over the same period in 2008. This compares with a total industry decline of 12.2 per cent in that period. As a result,Ford's share rose by 0.5 percentage points to 9.1 per cent, and was up in 17 of the 19 markets.

Year-to-date in its 51 markets Ford of Europe sold 977,200 vehicles, a reduction of 176,700 or 15.3 per cent versus the same period 2008.

"As we are moving into the second half of the year, we are encouraged to see Ford at a ten year high market share for July and, as a result of this, firmly established as Europe's second best-selling new vehicle brand in Europe," said Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service. "We're also pleased to have increased sales volume for the second consecutive month, while the industry is still declining. The industry figures show, however, that despite the positive impact of various national vehicle scrappage schemes, the overall trend is still negative and the underlying market weak."

"We strongly believe that these incentive schemes should continue for as long as practically possible, and then be phased out in an orderly manner to avoid any dramatic reduction in market demand that could damage the still fragile improvement we have seen in recent months," Sviggum added. "In addition to continuing the successful scrappage schemes, national governments and the EU need to continue to support all industries in the automotive value chain through innovative tools until the economic crisis has ended."

Market and Model Sales Highlights

July

Markets:
Ford was market leader in the UK, Ireland and Hungary; in Hungary, share was at 17.8, up by 7.8 ppts. on the same period 2008, the highest share since 1994.
Ford’s sales volume in Germany increased by 45 percent (while industry grew 24 per cent) in July, and had highest monthly share there since June 2004.
Similarly, Ford Austria's July sales were up by 45 per cent, to a record high for the month of July since 1994.
Continues to be leading imported brand in Italy, with volume up by 35 per cent there, despite the Italian industry being up by only 3 per cent in July.
61 per cent of Ford passenger cars sold went to retail customers in the Euro 19 markets, up from 47 percent in July 2008.
Ford was among the three best-selling brands in 13 of 19 European markets.
Models:
Ford of Europe's three top-selling vehicles (19 main markets) were the Fiesta (39,900), the Focus (28,700), and new Ka (10,500).
New Fiesta:
In Germany, the Fiesta became segment leader in July, the first time since the vehicle's market entry there in October 2008.
In the UK, where Fiesta sales were up by over 26 per cent vs. the same month 2008, Fiesta remained the industry's best-selling vehicle.
In June, Fiesta was both Europe's second best-selling car and the leader in the small car segment, two achievements which external sources are expected to confirm later this month for both the month of July and year-to-date.
In July, 39,900 Fiestas were delivered to customers in Europe -14,500 units more than the previous Fiesta model sold in July 2008.
New Ford Ka continues to be a success in the market despite the economic downturn. Ford sold 10,500 units in July (up 7,500 on July last year).
Ford Focus remained No 2 best-selling vehicle across the industry in the UK, behind the Fiesta.
The Ford C-MAX was the best-selling foreign vehicle in its segment in France.
Transit had its best July performance since 2003 (Euro 19 markets).
July year-to-date

Markets:
Market leader in the UK, Ireland and Hungary.
Italy (share up by 2.0 ppts. to 9.7 per cent) and the UK (up by 1.5 ppts. to 17.9 per cent share) with highest share gains in the five largest markets in the first seven months of 2009.
Year-to-date sales volume increased by 37 per cent in Germany (vs. an increase of 21.3 per cent for the industry).
Ford was among the three best-selling brands in 12 of its Euro19 markets.
Models:
The three best-selling vehicles in the first seven months of 2009 were the new Fiesta (277,700), Focus (183,600) and Transit (70,300).
In the first seven months of 2009, Fiesta sales were up 75,000 over the same period 2008. To be confirmed as the No.2 best-selling car in Europe later this month. Approximately 340,000 Fiestas have been sold since the car was launched last autumn. 74 per cent of all Fiestas sold year-to-date were to retail customers (Euro19 markets).
62,300 Ford Ka vehicles were delivered to Ford customers this year. 80 per cent of all Ka sales (Euro 19 markets) year-to-date were to retail customers.
The Ford C-MAX was leading its segment in Italy, as was the Focus Wagon.
Ford S-MAX, Focus and Mondeo were among the top three sellers in their segments in Spain for the first seven months of 2009.
Kuga saw highest sales growth in the compact SUV segment year-to-date in Spain.
Focus was best-selling industry vehicle in the first seven months in Hungary in 2009.