Ford of Europe Posts Sales Volume, Market Share Increases in June Despite Overall Industry Sales Decline

• Ford’s total vehicle sales volume in June rose 6.4 per cent in the 19 traditional European markets, while total industry sales fell 6.5 per cent
• Ford’s market share was 8.2 per cent for June, up from 7.2 per cent in June 2012; this marks Ford’s third consecutive month of market share increases for the 19 markets
• Retail share in Ford’s five largest Western European markets climbed 2.2 ppts to 8.4 per cent in June; fifth consecutive month of retail share improvement, and highest retail share since 2010, when Ford started tracking retail data
• Commercial vehicle share grew 1.1 ppts to 9.5 per cent in June; best June share since 2008; Ford has increased its CV share each month this year

COLOGNE, Germany, July 12, 2013 – Ford of Europe outperformed the industry in June as new products and commercial vehicles helped improve sales in a down market and significantly increase market share.
While year-over-year industry sales declined 6.5 per cent in June, Ford sales increased by 6.4 per cent – to 106,500 vehicles – in its 19 traditional European markets. As a result, Ford posted increases in total market share, passenger car retail share and commercial vehicle share.

“June was a very solid month for Ford in Europe, not just from a pure sales results perspective, but also the marked improvement in retail market share,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Our European transformation plan – accelerating product introductions, strengthening the brand and improving cost efficiency – is gaining traction month-by-month.”

Share improvement

Ford of Europe’s total market share in June reached 8.2 per cent, up a full percentage point from June 2012. June marked the third consecutive month of overall market share increase in the traditional 19 markets, and helped to strengthen Ford’s position as the No. 2 best-selling brand in Europe.

Ford passenger car retail market share in the five largest Western European markets (the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain) was 8.4 per cent for both June and the first half of the year, up 2.2 and 1.1 ppts, respectively. This was Ford’s best result for June and the first six months of the year since Ford started tracking retail share in 2010. (Retail sales figures represent private purchases by individuals as opposed to fleet sales, daily rental and dealer registrations.)

“With all the new vehicles and technology we are bringing to market, we made a big bet to focus  on retail share and very deliberately reduce participation in sales channels that are less healthy for our brand and residual values,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “This is paying off with the success of new vehicles like the Fiesta, Kuga, B-MAX and Transit Custom.”
Ford vehicle sales to retail and fleet customers increased from 64 per cent to 70 per cent of total sales in June compared to the same month last year, while sales to rental companies and dealer registrations decreased from 36 to 30 per cent of total sales for the month compared to June 2012. Ford’s channel mix was better than industry average of 68 percent retail and fleet, and 32 per cent rental sales and dealer registrations for the month. The Ford and industry first half channel mix was roughly in line with June data.

Commercial vehicle share was 9.5 per cent for June and 9.3 per cent year-to-date, up about a percentage point for both periods. These were Ford’s best commercial vehicle market shares for June and year-to-date since 2008. Ford has increased its commercial vehicle share in each month this year.

Market highlights

In Germany, Ford increased vehicle sales by 7.4 per cent, even though the industry contracted by 4.7 per cent. Total vehicle market share jumped almost a full percentage point to 7.4 per cent in June. Ford’s retail and commercial vehicle shares also were up. Retail share was 7.2 per cent, up by 3.4 ppts, and commercial vehicle share increased by 1.5 ppts to 8.9 per cent.

In the UK, Ford extended its market leadership through a sales surge of 26 per cent in June in a total industry that grew 12 per cent. Total vehicle market share was 15.5 per cent for the month, up 1.7 ppts. Retail share was up 1.7 ppts to 13.1 per cent. Fiesta and Focus were respectively the No. 1 and No. 2 top-selling vehicles in market for both June and for the first six months of the year.

In Turkey, Ford was the market leader in June with 10,000 vehicles sold. First half sales surpassed 50,000, an increase of more than two per cent year-on-year.

The sports utility vehicle market accounts for about 32 per cent of all vehicles sales in Russia, and growth in this segment is a key priority for Ford Sollers, the joint venture created by Ford and Sollers in late 2011. In the first half of the year, sales of the Ford Kuga tripled to 5,000 units, while Explorer sales quadrupled to 2,000.

Overall, registrations of Ford vehicles in its wider European region of 51 markets totalled 131,200 in June, up 2.1 per cent versus last year.

Vehicle sales highlights

Ford sold 6,500 all-new B-MAX multi-activity vehicles (MAV) in June, and a total of 38,200 year-to-date. Only a few months after going on-sale, B-MAX has become one of Europe’s best-selling small MAVs.
With more than 22,000 units sold, Focus sales were up 2.1 per cent in June, while Kuga sales in June sales were 7,400, up 42 per cent and the best June for Kuga since 2010. Ford will increase Kuga production this year to meet the growing demand.

S-MAX and Galaxy sales in June were up by more than 13 and 15 per cent, respectively. June was the best share for S-MAX since 2010, and the best for Galaxy since 2002.

Ford registered 17,300 commercial vehicles in June, and 93,300 year-to-date, an increase of 1.2 and 5.2 per cent, respectively. The increase was driven by strong demand for Transit, Transit Custom, and Ranger. Ranger sales almost doubled in June, the highest June sales for the nameplate since 2007.

Coming soon: Transit Connect, Tourneo Connect and EcoSport

The new Focus Electric – available as of this month – is the latest in a surge of new vehicles and technologies Ford is introducing in Europe. In the second half of the year, the Transit Connect, Tourneo Connect, and the EcoSport will enter the European market – all part of the company’s ambitious plan to bring 15 global vehicles to Europe within five years.

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* UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain. Including preliminary data for Italy. See table further down. Ford volume in these markets represents 80% of the Europe 19 volume.

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 175,000 employees and 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’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 47,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 69,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (15 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and nine unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.