BRENTWOOD, Essex, 5 June, 2014 – UK market leader Ford has increased its car, commercial vehicle and total vehicle sales for the year to the end of May, extending its total vehicle sales lead over its nearest rival to almost 48,000 units.

According to the official May sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):

• Ford car sales lead increased 27 per cent for the year to date
  
• Ford Fiesta and Focus are the number one and two best-selling cars
  
• Ford Transit and Transit Custom are number one and two best-selling commercials
  
• Ford Fiesta sales lead increased over its nearest non-Ford rival by 70 per cent for the year to date
  

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said:  "UK car sales are continuing to grow and in a highly competitive market Ford has succeeded in extending its sales lead while recording significant increases in the commercially important retail and net fleet segments.

“Ford is continuing to invest in an outstanding vehicle range, which is stretching its market footprint through exciting introductions, such as the extended Ford Transit family, and industry-leading technologies, spearheaded by the multi-award-winning EcoBoost engine.  This is backed up by the strongest dealer network in the UK."

The official figures released by the SMMT today show that total car sales in May were up 7.7 per cent to 194,032, compared with May 2013. Ford’s May car sales were 23,459.  For the year to date (end May) total UK car sales were 1,058,974, up 11.6 per cent compared with 2013, while Ford car sales for this period were 144,178, up from 132,199.

With a total of 58,940 registrations for the year to date, up 14.0 per cent compared with the same period in 2013, the Ford Fiesta was the UK best seller – 24,616 sales and 2.4 percentage points of market share ahead of its nearest non-Ford rival.

Increases in Ford’s retail and net fleet car sales for the year to date, compared with 2013, demonstrate the solidity of Ford’s UK business.  Retail and Net fleet sales were up from 63,029 and 35,942 to 67,149 and 41,772, respectively.

UK commercial vehicle (CV) sales for the year to date were 140,606, up 8.0 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013.  Total sales of Ford CVs for the year to date were up from 30,028 to 30,795, compared with 2013.

Ford medium commercial sales, headed by the industry-leading Ford Transit and Ford Transit Custom, were 25,902 for the year to date up from 25,413.  Ford Fiesta Van, Ford Transit Custom and Ford Transit were all leaders in their respective segments for the year to date.