Sales Surge In Germany as Ford Achieves Best August Market Share in Europe Since 1998

• Ford’s market share in its traditional 19 European markets rose to 8.2 per cent – up 0.8 percentage points from a year ago - marking its best August since 1998. Total sales in August in the Euro 19 markets rose 19 per cent to 72,200 vehicles
• In its full 51 European markets, Ford’s August sales totalled 95,800 vehicles, up 18.6 per cent versus a year ago. Year to date, Ford's Euro 51 sales are up 2.8 per cent to 1,050,400 vehicles
• Ford sales in Germany rose 34 per cent to 19,800, making it the company’s largest market by volume in the month. Ford’s market share in Germany rose 0.9 percentage points to 7.6 percent, the company’s best August share result in Germany since 2006.
• Ford's August sales in Russia totaled 8,400 vehicles, up 37 per cent. Russia was Ford's fourth-largest market by sales volume in August
• Ford remained No.2 best-selling brand in Europe in August and year-to-date

FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 12, 2011 – Ford Motor Company, bolstered by rising sales in Germany and strong demand for new vehicles including the Focus and C-MAX, achieved strong gains in overall sales and market share in Europe in August.

Ford sales rose 19.3 per cent in August to 72,200 vehicles, and its share rose 0.8 percentage points to 8.2 per cent August, Ford’s best August share performance in Europe since 1998.

Across its total 51 European markets, Ford sales grew 18.6 per cent to 95,800 vehicles in August. Through the first eight months of the year, Ford sales in these markets totalled 1,050,400, up 2.8 per cent, or 22,100 vehicles, from a year ago.

"We had a very strong August sales compared with a year ago and compared with the rest of the industry, which is a testament to our strengthened product lineup,” said Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe’s chairman and CEO, on the eve of Ford's IAA Frankfurt Motor Show media preview. "The economy remains very challenging and consumers are jittery – particularly in the Eurozone – but we remain optimistic given the response to our new vehicles and technologies and the new vehicles we have in the pipeline."  

Vehicle model sales key facts

The Fiesta, Focus and Transit were the best-selling Ford models in August and year-to-date.

Total sales of the new Ford Focus which was launched in mid-March have now exceeded the 100,000 mark, making the car the No.2 best-selling Ford vehicle in Europe for both the month and year-to-date.

Sales of the new Ford C-MAX totaled 81,400 vehicles in the eight months of the year: the best August year-to-date result for the C-MAX since 2007. Total European sales of the Ford C-MAX since launch late last year are 94,000 vehicles, and customer orders are well in excess of 100,000 vehicles.

Seven Ford models recorded double-digit volume gains in August, led by Galaxy (up 49 per cent), Transit (up 25 per cent) and Mondeo (up 15.5 per cent). 

"Behind the numbers, we are seeing encouraging trends from our brand – particularly, the rising percentage of customers choosing our highest-spec Titanium models," said Roelant de Waard, vice president of Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "Close to half of all Focus customers are purchasing Titanium models, and many are choosing advanced technologies, such as Active Park Assist."

Ford said it plans to show an array of new vehicles and technologies this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, including:

• The Ford Evos Concept car, which heralds the future direction of Ford's design and technology
• The production ready Ford Ranger pickup
• The Focus ECOnetic Technology and Fiesta ECOnetic Technology, which deliver CO2 emission levels of 89 g/km and 87 g/km, respectively
• Additional news on future performance models

Market sales key facts

Through the first eight months of 2011, Ford's market share in its 19 European markets is 8.3 per cent, a 0.2 percentage points lower than in the same period 2010. Ford volume in the Euro 19 region was down 2.2 percentage points or 19,700 units to 856,100. Overall, Ford was Europe’s second best-selling vehicle brand in August and through the eight months of 2011.

Strong demand for C-MAX and Focus in Germany – sales were up 153 per cent and 44 per cent in August, respectively – helped to further strengthen the Ford brand in Europe's largest vehicle market.

Germany was Ford's largest market by sales volume in August, with its best August market share since 2006 at 7.6 per cent, up 0.9 percentage points. Ford’s August sales volume in the country rose 34 per cent to 19,800 vehicles, and year-to-date sales increased by nearly 20 per cent to 171,800 vehicles – the highest volume gain for Ford in any of its European markets during the first eight months of the year.

In Britain, Ford’s market share for August was 15.9 per cent, up 1.4 percentage points from a year ago. Year to date, Ford share in Britain is 15.4 per cent, up 0.2 per cent versus a year ago.  August is traditionally a slower month in Britain as customers prepare for the registration plate change month of September.

Turkey was Ford's third-largest sales volume market in August with a market share of 16.1 per cent or 9,900 sales. Ford's sales volume in Turkey has grown by 35 per cent to date this year, and with a market share of 15.4 per cent Turkey is now equal-first with Britain in terms of highest national Ford market share in the European region.

Russia was Ford’s fourth-largest market by sales volume in August, with sales of 8,400 vehicles, up 37 per cent. Year-to-date, Ford's vehicle in Russia have grown by 38 per cent. Ford's European region growth markets were up by 37 per cent in August, and 25 per cent year-to-date.

In August, Ford retained market leadership in the UK, Spain, Hungary and Turkey, and continued to be year-to-date No.1 brand in the UK, Ireland, Hungary and Turkey. Ford remained the top imported brand both for the month and year-to-date in Italy and the Czech Republic.

Ford increased its August market share in 14 of its traditional 19 European markets, with the highest share gains in Austria (up 2.7 percentage points to 7.7 per cent), The Netherlands (up 2 percentage points to 8.2 per cent), and Ireland (up 1.9 percentage points to 14.1 per cent).