BRENTWOOD, Essex, 7 January, 2011 – As Ford of Britain enters its centenary year – marking 100 years in the UK - it is celebrating 34 consecutive years of car sales leadership and an astonishing 45 years of UK commercial vehicle sales leadership.
Ford's top-selling vehicle range secured almost 15 per cent of the UK's total 2010 market for the blue oval. Other highlights of the official full-year 2010 figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) include:
- Number one UK car brand for 34 successive years.
- Ford commercial vehicles have been the UK's favourite for 45 years.
- Ford Fiesta is the UK best seller for the second successive year.
- Ford Fiesta and Ford Galaxy are segment leaders in fleet, retail and total sales.
- Ford Transit and Ford Fiesta Van registered significant sales increases compared with 2009.
Ford sold 280,364 cars in the UK last year during an intensely competitive trading period which saw the end of the Government vehicle scrappage scheme in March.
Ford Fiesta was the UK car sales leader again in 2010, having taken the position from the Ford Focus in 2009, with 103,013 registrations. Both the Ford Kuga and the Ford S-MAX secured increased sales in 2010, compared with 2009. Ford Kuga sales at 11,527 were up from 10,173 in 2009, and Ford S-MAX sales increased to 12,276 compared with 9,373 in 2009.
Ford Transit, launched in 1965, has led the commercial vehicle sector ever since. The Transit helped account for a significant growth in Ford commercial vehicle sales in 2010, totaling 62,308, up from 55,474 in 2009. Ford Transit sales alone were up from 36,760 in 2009 to 46,300 in 2010 while Ford Fiesta Van sales also increased for the year up from 2,429 in 2009 to 3,116 in 2010.
The official figures released by the SMMT today show that in a month hit by unusually severe weather UK car sales were down 18.0 percent to 123,817 units compared with December 2009. Ford car sales were 13,953, down from 21,732 in December 2009 and Ford's overall share of car sales was 11.3 per cent for the month.
Ford was the overall UK retail sales leader in December with Ford Ka, Ford Fiesta, Ford C-MAX and Ford Galaxy all leading their respective retail sales segments. Compared with December 2009, the Ford C-MAX, the Ford Kuga, the Ford S-MAX and the Ford Galaxy all registered overall sales increases.
Ford commercial sales were up in December compared with the same month in 2009: Ford medium commercial sales increased from 3,311 to 4,131 while Ford light commercial sales were up from 408 to 443.
Nigel Sharp, Ford Britain managing director, said: "Ford's 2010 sales performance benefitted from a steady flow of new models, including C-MAX, Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy, and the unrivalled strength of its dealer network. In an intensely competitive market our disciplined approach to the market saw a strengthening in retail and commercial sales, which was supported by a clear pricing and communications strategy.
"There will be tough market conditions again in 2011 but we are looking forward to a successful centenary year, starting with the launch of the exciting, new Ford Focus in the next couple of months."
