Ford Reports Lower European Sales in July as Industry Demand Remains Weak; UK and Russia Post Gains

• Ford sales decreased 12 per cent in its traditional 19 European markets in July, reflecting continued weak demand for vehicles across Europe
• Ford remained the No. 2 best-selling brand in Europe for July and year-to-date
• Ford remains clear market leader in the UK, posting a 2.5 per cent sales increase and 14.6 per cent market share in July
• Ford sales in Russia increased by 17.5 per cent year-to-date with share growing slightly to 4.3 per cent. In Eastern Europe*, Ford’s sales grew 13.1 per cent through the first seven months of the year

COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 16, 2012 – Ford Motor Company sales in its traditional 19 European markets decreased in July reflecting continued weak demand for autos across Europe. July and year-to-date July industry sales were the lowest since 1995.  

In July, Ford sold 83,100 vehicles in its traditional 19 European markets, 12.3 per cent lower than July 2011. Year-to-date, Ford sales were 700,200 units, down 10.6 per cent on the same period last year.

Ford’s market share in Europe was 7.7 per cent in July, and 8.0 per cent July year-to-date.

“Overall industry sales remain very weak across much of Europe given the economic environment,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Services, Ford of Europe. “The pricing environment continues to be very aggressive, so it’s very important to have a strong line-up of fresh and innovative cars and commercial vehicles that really resonate with customers.

“Our response at Ford is an unprecedented surge of new vehicle and technology launches through the remainder of 2012 and into next year. These include great new vehicles like the new Ford B-MAX and the new Ford Fiesta which will be in our salesrooms very soon.”   

Ford remained the No. 2 best-selling brand in Europe for both the month and year-to-date July 2012 in Ford’s 19 traditional European markets. In addition, Ford was market leader in the UK, Hungary and Turkey in both July and year-to-date. In the Czech Republic, Ford was the leading import brand in July.  

In the UK, which continued to be Ford’s largest European market in the seven months of the year, Ford achieved sales of 208,200 units, up by 2,800 units – or 1.4 per cent – on the same period 2011. With a share of 15.2 per cent, Ford remained the clear market leader.

Ford sales in Russia and Eastern Europe* also were up between January and the end of July.  In Russia, Ford sales rose 17.5 per cent to 73,800, while market share increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.3 per cent. In Eastern Europe*, Ford’s sales rose by 13.1 per cent to 30,700 units year-to-date.

In its total 51 markets in the European region, Ford sales volume was 866,900 vehicles, down 9.1 per cent on the seven months of 2011.

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Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 65 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 http://corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 66,000 employees. 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.