Ford’s April Share Surges In UK; Dips in Other European Markets As Industry Continues To Weaken

• In the UK – Ford’s largest sales market in Europe – April sales were up 4.3 per cent and market share increased 0.5 percentage points to 15.1 per cent
• Overall, Ford market share dipped by 0.3 percentage points to 7.7 per cent in its 19 traditional European markets in April; year-to-date share at 8.3* is equal to prior year  
• Ford strengthened its No. 2 best-selling European brand position both in April and year-to-date
• Focus sales up by 64 per cent in April; best April and year-to-date market share since 2009
• Ford sales in Russia were up 26 per cent in April and 29 per cent year-to-date

COLOGNE, Germany, May 15, 2012 – Ford’s April vehicle sales in the UK – its largest European market – increased by 4.3 per cent to 24,400 vehicles and its market share rose 0.5 percentage points to 15.1 per cent.

Overall in its 19 traditional markets, Ford’s market share dipped by 0.3 percentage points to 7.7 per cent, on sales of 90,200 vehicles in April. Year-to-date, Ford’s market share was 8.3 per cent*, roughly equal to prior year versus the first four months of 2011.

“The UK was a bright spot for Ford in April, and while it was another difficult month for overall auto sales in Europe, we are relatively strong positioned due to a number of key product launches this year,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “We recently started selling the new Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost and it’s off to a strong start. This year, we also will debut the new B-MAX; a completely redesigned Kuga SUV; the Focus and Fiesta ECOnetic Technology models, the Focus ST and the Transit Custom.”

In its total 51 European markets, Ford sold 115,700 vehicles in April, 10 per cent or 12,700 units lower compared with April 2011. In the first four months of the year, Ford sales in these markets totaled 501,000 vehicles, a reduction of 7.2 per cent on the same period last year.

In Russia, Ford sales totaled 12,400 in April and 39,700 year-to-date, up 26 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively. Ford’s market share grew by 0.3 percentage points to 4.3 per cent in April and April year-to-date.

In Eastern Europe, Ford’s sales were 4,400 units in April and 16,600 year-to-date, up 12 and 16 per cent on the same periods 2011, respectively.

Ford’s sales in Germany were 20,100 in April and 81,900 year-to-date, a reduction of 1,900 and 2,100 units versus last year. Share was 6.7 per cent in April, down from 7.5 per cent in April last year. Year-to-date, Ford’s share in Germany was 7.1 per cent, 0.3 percentage points lower than in the same period in 2011.

Ford retained market leadership in the UK in both April and throughout the year, whilst in Hungary Ford led the market in the first four months of the year. Ford increased its April market share in six of its 19 markets – in Austria, the UK, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, and Switzerland. Market share also increased in Russia and Romania.