BRENTWOOD, Essex, 4 September, 2015 – Ford models were first and second in  UK car sales and commercial vehicle (CV) sales in August, putting the company in pole position for the bumper September registration-plate-change sales month.

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

• Ford is UK market leader in total vehicle, car and commercial vehicle (CV) sales
• Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Ford Transit range top UK total vehicle sales
• Ford Fiesta on its own outsells the car ranges of all but four rival car makers
• Ford Transit and Ford Transit Custom are first and second in CV sales

Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: “In a UK market that has recorded 42 consecutive months of growth, Ford is carrying strong sales momentum into September, which, in combination with the March registration plate change month, accounts for a third of UK annual sales.

“We are consolidating and growing our long-standing UK market leadership through continued investment in exciting products and industry-leading technologies.  The sales success of our fresh and extended CV range underlines this, while car sales are outpacing rivals thanks to the flow of new models, including C-MAX, S-MAX, Galaxy, Mustang and Mondeo Vignale."

The official figures released by the SMMT today show that total car sales in August were up 9.6 per cent to 79,060 units, compared with August 2014. Ford car sales were 11,980, 3,061 registrations ahead of its nearest rival.  For the year to date (end August) total UK car sales were 1,634,369 up 6.7 per cent, compared with the same period in 2014.  Ford car sales for this period were 213,245, 44,993 registrations ahead of its nearest rival.

Ford’s lead in retail car sales reflects the preferences of private buyers.  In August, Ford’s retail car share of 17.0 per cent was 7.6 percentage points ahead of its nearest rival and, for the year to date, its retail car share of 12.5 per cent was 4.4 percentage points ahead of its nearest rival.

The Ford Fiesta is in its seventh year as the UK top seller and in August it secured 4,753 registrations, 2,297 sales and 2.9 percentage points of share ahead of its nearest non-Ford rival.  With total registrations of 85,247 for the year to date, the Ford Fiesta is the UK best seller by a significant margin – 28,082 sales and 1.7 percentage points of market share ahead of its nearest competitor.

Ford Focus retained the number two sales spot in August, while Ford Kuga sales are at the highest level since it was launched, recording sales and share increases for the month and for the year to date, compared with prior year figures.

UK commercial vehicle sales in August were up 14.9 per cent at 17,724, compared with August 2014.  Total sales of Ford CVs were 4,155, compared with 3,652 in August 2014.  For the year to date total UK CV sales were up 18.7 per cent at 260,468, compared with 2014.  Total sales of Ford CVs for the same period were up 28.9 per cent at 64,307, compared with 2014.

Ford light commercials sales for the year to date have increased substantially, compared with 2014, from 9,498 to 14,533 with share up from 16.1 to 23.1 per cent.  Ford medium commercial sales for the year to date, compared with 2014, increased from 40,377 to 49,774 with share up from 28.7 to 29.3 per cent.