FORD NOVEMBER SALES INCREASE BY 19.8 PER CENT ACROSS EUROPE FUELLED BY STRONG RETAIL SALES

  • Ford sales in November increased across Europe by 19.8 per cent compared with the same month last year 
  • Retail sales accounted for 63 per cent of all Ford car sales, up by 13 per cent versus November 2008
  • Best November year-to-date vehicle share for Ford in a decade, up 0.4 percentage points to 9.1 per cent 
  • November marked Ford's sixth consecutive month of year-over-year monthly volume increase
  • Fiesta sales in November were the highest since 1995 in Ford's 19 main European markets
  • Ford of Germany had its best November year-to-date sales since 1999
  • Strongest November sales for Ford in France since 1994 and in Italy since 1997
  • Market leader in the UK, Ireland and Hungary year-to-date 
  • Leading import brand in France and Italy in November, and year-to-date in the Czech Republic and Italy
  • Share increased in 14 out of 19 European markets in November and in 18 out of the 19 year-to-date
  • Ford firmly positioned as Europe's No.2 best-selling brand year-to-date

COLOGNE, December 14, 2009 – Ford of Europe's total vehicle sales jumped by 19.8 per cent in November in its main 19 European markets, marking the company's sixth consecutive monthly volume increase and resulting in a 9.1 per cent November year-to-date market share – the highest since 1999.

"November was another month with outstanding volume gains for Ford of Europe", said Roelant de Waard, Ford of Europe's Vice-President for Sales. "Having the right products at the right time is paying off, and this is why we're continuing to strengthen our position as the clear No.2 choice for customers in the European auto industry."   

"Another significant contributor to sales success – and we've grown volume in each of the last six months – is the type of transactions. In November, 63 per cent of our car sales were to retail customers, 13 percentage points up on last year. Last month, 77 per cent of Fiesta, 74 per cent of Ka, 73 per cent of Kuga and 69 per cent of Fusion sales were to retail customers."  
"In November, Ford was market leader in the UK and Ireland, and import leader in France and Italy. Ford of Germany had its best November year-to-date performance since 1999, with sales up 30 per cent – a tremendous achievement given the winding up of the scrappage scheme in the country," said Mr. de Waard.

November performance
November registrations for total Ford vehicles sold across Europe rose to 113,100, up by 18,700 units or 19.8 per cent compared to November 2008.  In its 19 main European markets, 99,800 Ford cars were registered – the highest number since November 1999.

Ford's market share was up in 14 of its main 19 European markets in November, though its market share across the 19 was down by just 0.1 percentage points to 8.7 compared to last year. 

Year-to-date performance
Year-to-date, Ford increased its share by 0.4 percentage points to 9.1 per cent, the best November year-to-date share for Ford since 1999 in its main 19 European markets. Share was up in 18 out of the 19 main markets. 

In the first eleven months of 2009, Ford registered 1,331,500 vehicles in its 19 European markets, a reduction of 18,400 units or 1.4 per cent lower than in the same period in 2008. This compares with a total industry decline of six per cent in the same period.

Euro 51    
Year-to-date across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 1,520,500 vehicles, a decrease of 145,600 units, or 8.7 per cent fewer than in the same period in 2008.  

November Highlights

Market Performance:

  • Ford's share increased in 14 of the main 19 European markets.
  • Ford was market leader in the UK and Ireland, the latter with a 29.1 per cent share, up by 8.4 ppts – and the best monthly share since 1994.
  • Italy's share was at 9.4 per cent, up 1.1 ppts, on November 2008, the highest monthly share within the five largest markets (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain). The same share gain was reported by France, which posted a 6.2 per cent monthly November share, the strongest since 1998, while registration volume was the best since 1994.  
  • Spain reported a 8.9 percent share in November - the best November share since 2006.  
  • Confirmed as leading imported brand in Italy and France. Italy's sales volume increased to 18,900 (up by 5,700) versus November 2008, the highest November volume since 1997.
  • Highest share gains are from Ireland at 29.1 per cent (+8.4 ppts; best November share since 1994), Norway at 11.7 per cent (up 2.2 ppts; best November share and sales volume since 1994), and The Netherlands at 10.3 (+1.3 ppts. on 2008 and the strongest November share since 2004).

Model Performance:

  • Ford of Europe's three top-selling vehicles (19 main markets) were the Fiesta (38,900), Focus (22,700), and Transit (9,100).
  • Fiesta remained Europe's second best-selling car in November, an achievement which external sources are expected to confirm later this month. 38,900 Fiestas were delivered to customers in Europe. Fiesta was also the best-selling foreign vehicle for the month in Italy and in France.
  • One year after its debut, more than 540,000 customers have purchased the new Fiesta globally, as Ford is bringing this global car to the U.S and other key Asian Pacific markets in 2010.
  • In Ford's Euro19 markets November sales of Fiesta were the highest November registrations of any Fiesta since 1995.
  • Ford Ka continues to be a success: 8,400 units sold in November – the best Ka November sales since 2002.
  • 77 per cent of new Fiesta, 74 per cent of new Ka, and 73 per cent of Kuga and 69 per cent of Fusion November sales were retail. Fleet business reduced from 30.1 per cent to 18.6 per cent of total.
  • C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling foreign vehicles in their segment in France.
  • S-MAX led its segment in Spain.

November Year-to-Date Highlights

Market Performance:

  • Ford's share increased in 18 of its main 19 European markets.
  • Market leader in the UK, Ireland and Hungary, the latter with a share of 13.7 per cent, strongest share and sales position year-to-date November since 1994.
  • UK market share at 16.9 per cent, up by 0.5 ppts on 2008.
  • Germany's year-to-date sales increased by 66,000 to 288,700, up by 30 per cent versus the same period in 2008 and are highest registrations since 1997. With this, Ford in Germany is already exceeding the full-year results the company achieved in the years 2003-2008 each. Year-to-date market share rose by 0.6 ppts to 7.6 per cent.  
  • Italy's year-to-date share was at 9.6 per cent, up by 1.8 ppts on the first eleven months 2008, posting the highest year-to-date share gain in the five largest markets.
  • No.1 imported brand in the Czech Republic with a 9.9 per cent share (up 1.7 ppts on the same period 2008), the highest year-to-date November share and volume registrations since 1994.
  • In Portugal Ford holds second position in the market year-to-date, and achieved the highest ranking since 1994, posting a 8.0 per cent share, up 0.6 ppts on ytd November 2008. 
  • The highest year-to-date share gains of all 19 markets were from Denmark (+2.1 ppts), strongest share position since 1998, Hungary (+1.9 ppts) best share since 1994, and Ireland (+1.8 ppts), the highest year-to-date share since 1995.
  • Scandinavian markets continued to perform well in the first eleven months of the year – Denmark reported a 9.5 per cent share, whilst Sweden had a November year-to-date share of 6.1 per cent, the highest since 2002, and Norway completed the first eleven months of 2009 with a 9.5 per cent share – best YTD November share position since 1996.

Model Performance:

  • The three best-selling vehicles in the first eleven months of 2009 were the new Fiesta (431,100), Focus (279,000) and Transit (109,000).
  • In the first eleven months of 2009, Fiesta sales were up 133,900 over the same period 2008. Fiesta remained best-selling foreign vehicle in Italy year-to-date.
  • 98,800 Ford Ka vehicles were delivered to Ford customers so far this year, up 53,700 units versus the first eleven months 2008.
  • C-MAX and S-MAX are top-selling imported products in their segment in France; and S-MAX no.1 in segment in Spain.
  • Focus remained No. 2 best-selling car in the UK year-to-date, behind the Fiesta.

 

November 2009 sales volume (in registrations)

1 The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.
2 The Euro 21 markets are: Euro 19 plus Russia and Turkey.
3 Total Euro 51 composed of EURO 21 registrations and EDM 304 retail sales, as total EDM 30 registrations figures are not available. Industry retail sales data not available.
4 EDM 30 or European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Lybia, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. 

November 2009 market share 5

5 Data is not available for EDM, where we base our share on non-domestic sales volumes.

Ford Top 5 markets ranked by November volume (in registrations) plus Russia

Top 5 markets ranked by Ford's share in November

November sales (in registrations) by vehicle line (Euro 19) 6

 

6 Figures do not include vehicles such as car-derived vans, Maverick, Explorer imports and Turkish-built Cargo heavy trucks. Data are based on registrations.

Notes to Editors:

  • Ford of Europe's market share refers to the 19 European markets (Euro 19) - excluding Turkey and Russia (as the other main markets) and excluding the 30 European Direct Markets (EDM), where we base our share on non-domestic sales volume and hence no total industry share figures are available. Sales data (reference: registrations) for specific car lines refer to Euro 19.
  • We also report our sales performance (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) for the total region for which Ford of Europe is responsible (51 markets in total), here however as retail sales (as total industry registrations numbers are not available).
  • The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finnish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.
  • European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

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Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 67,100 employees. Ford is Europe's No.2 best-selling vehicle brand. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 - the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.