COLOGNE, Germany, Jan 9, 2015 – Ford of Europe increased sales and gained market share in 2014 on strong demand for its new cars and commercial vehicles.
Ford sold a total of 1.16 million vehicles in its 20 traditional European markets in 2014, an increase of 7.3 percent over last year. Ford’s total vehicle market share in Europe rose by 0.2 percentage points to 8.0 percent in 2014 – its highest level since 2011. Ford remained Europe’s No.2 top-selling vehicle brand in Europe.
More than half of Ford vehicles sold in Europe last year were all-new or significantly freshened vehicles launched since late 2012 when Ford announced plans to significantly accelerate new vehicle introductions in Europe.
Ford’s commercial vehicle sales improved by 21 percent from 2013, to 227,000 units, thanks to its completely refreshed and expanded Transit range. This drove Ford’s full year CV market share up 1.4 percentage points to 11.4 percent, the highest since 1997.
“In 2014, our new products and technologies resonated with customers and helped us build momentum throughout the year,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “In 2015, we’ll have the full benefit of the new Focus and new Mondeo, and launch key new vehicles such S-MAX, C-MAX, and the all-new Mustang.”
Ford’s focus on growing sales to private retail buyers and fleet customers, which tend to positive for brand image and residual values, continues to show progress. Ford sales in the retail and fleet segments accounted for 74 percent of its passenger car sales in 2014, up one percentage point on the previous year and three percentage points better than industry average.
Vehicle Highlights
Customer demand has been strong across Ford’s entire vehicle range. The Fiesta – Ford’s top selling model – saw sales increase by more than 5 percent. The Fiesta is on track to be Europe’s best-selling small car for the third consecutive year.
Sales of the Kuga SUV jumped 31 percent, resulting in the best sales year since the nameplate was launched in 2008.
The Transit family – including Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier – achieved their highest annual sales of the Transit nameplate since 2008. Sales of the Ranger pickup were up 39 percent – the best annual sales since the nameplate launched in Europe in 1998.
Ford’s sales* in December totalled 85,500 units, up 10.1 percent compared to December 2013, outpacing industry growth of 3.5 percent. Ford market share improved by 0.5 percentage points year-over-year to 7.5 percent.
2015 Outlook
Ford today confirmed for the first time that an all-new Ford Galaxy seven-passenger vehicle will go on sale in mid-2015. Other new models coming this year include the all-new S-MAX, C‑MAX, Grand C-MAX, C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, Focus ST and Focus ST diesel, Mustang, and refreshed versions of EcoSport, Ranger, Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect. The all-new Edge SUV will go into production in late 2015.
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* Ford of Europe reports its sales for the 20 European main markets where it is represented through National Sales Companies. The Euro 20 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 189,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 50,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (13 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 11 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
