COLOGNE, Germany, Nov. 13, 2015 – Ford posted its best October European total vehicle sales since 2009, and saw its commercial vehicle sales record their highest October figure since 1993.
Ford sold 101,400 vehicles in its 20 traditional European markets* last month, and 1,080,100 vehicles in the first ten months of the year – a year-over-year sales increase of 3% and 9%, respectively. Ford’s total vehicle market share in these 20 markets was 7.7% in October – unchanged from last year – and 8.1% year-to-date, up 0.1 ppt.
Across all 50 European markets, Ford’s market share improved by half a percentage point to 7.5%, and by 0.4 ppts to 7.7% year-to-date.
"New products continue to drive our sales, particularly in the all-important higher value retail and fleet market,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “Our momentum is visible across our vehicle range, and especially in our commercial vehicle sales where we continue to be Europe’s No.1 best-selling brand year-to-date.”
It was the best October for Ford total vehicle sales since 2009; for car sales since 2011; and for commercial vehicle sales since 1993.
Ford’s combined sales in the retail and fleet market accounted for 79% of its car sales in October and 73% year-to-date – 6 ppts and 3 ppts better than the industry average, respectively.
Passenger Car Sales
Ford’s momentum comes on the back of growth across the company’s vehicle range, led by new model introductions.
More than 10,000 European customers have ordered the all-new Ford Mustang which went on-sale in Europe this summer for the first time in the iconic Muscle car’s 51-year history.
Sales of the all-new Mondeo were up 183% in October, and up 66% year-to-date. Customer orders in October for the new Focus and C-MAX were up nearly 16% and 21%, respectively. The Fiesta continued to be the best-selling small car in Europe for the first nine months of 2015, according to latest data from Jato Dynamics.
Ford’s SUV range also continued to increase sales. Kuga sales were up 12% in October and 18% year-to-date, and with 84,100 units so far this year the highest since launch of the first-generation Kuga in 2008. Sales of the EcoSport compact SUV doubled in October compared to October 2014, and customer orders were up 128% year-over year.
Commercial Vehicle Sales
Ford was the No.1 commercial vehicles brand for sales year-to-date as demand continued to grow for the new and expanded Transit range – including Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier – and the Ranger pickup. Commercial vehicle sales were up 11% for the month, 24% year-to-date. CV market share was up half a percentage point to 12% in October, and rose by 1.4 ppts to 12.7% year-to-date – the best shares for both periods since 1996. Customer orders for Ford commercial vehicles grew 16% year-over-year in October.
Demand for the Ranger pickup also grew with sales up 39% in October and 34% year-to-date – the best sales figures since the model’s launch in 1999. Customer orders for Ranger were up 76% in October. The Ranger was the No. 1 best-selling pickup market in the first eight months this year, according to the latest available data.
Market highlights
Ford closed a strong October and year-to-date performance across many markets in Europe.
Ford was market leader in total vehicle sales in the UK in October and year-to-date, and sales leader in Hungary year-to-date. Ford achieved market share improvements in 14 of its 20 traditional European markets: up in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. In Turkey, Ford Otosan – Ford’s joint venture business – also increased its share.
# # #
* 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.
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 197,000 employees and 67 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 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 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 (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 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.
