Ford of Europe Increases New Kuga Production to Meet Demand; Targets 100,000 Annual Units for the First Time

Ford of Europe plans to increase Kuga production by 10 percent to meet increasing demand.

• Ford of Europe said it plans to increase production of the all-new Ford Kuga by 10 per cent or 8,000 units at its plant in Valencia, Spain, to meet increased demand
• The company said it now expects to reach 100,000 units of annual Kuga production in Europe for the first time
• New Kuga sales rose 27 per cent year-over-year in February versus previous Kuga model
• New Kuga – built for Europe in Valencia and Elabuga, Russia – offers class-leading technology, fuel efficiency, safety and segment-first hands-free tailgate
• Kuga spearheads Ford’s expanding range of SUVs in Europe; all-new EcoSport to follow at the end of 2013, followed by the next generation Ford Edge

COLOGNE, Germany, April 3, 2013 – Ford of Europe said today it plans to increase production by 10 per cent or 8,000 units this year to meeting increasing demand for the all-new Ford Kuga sport utility vehicle.

The company, which is increasing production at its Valencia, Spain, plant, said it now expects to reach 100,000 units of annual Kuga production in Europe this year for the first time. The Kuga also is built in Elabuga, Russia.

The new Kuga is off to a fast start since becoming widely available in Europe earlier this year.  Sales rose 27 per cent year-over-year in February. (March sales figures are not yet available).  Sales in the U.S., where the vehicle is sold as the Escape, rose 28 per cent year-over-year in March to deliver an all-time record month; and were up 25 per cent for the first quarter of 2013 compared with 2012.
 
Customer feedback for the vehicle’s fuel economy, space, drive dynamics and clever technologies like the hands-free tailgate that opens with a kick of the foot has been very positive. It has also achieved a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

“The new Kuga is a smarter SUV that offers a comprehensive array of technologies including the segment-first hands-free tailgate, and debuts Ford’s global Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system in Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “This significant production increase is a very promising start to an SUV rollout that is spearheaded by the new Kuga and leverages Ford’s historic leadership in SUVs in North America and other regions to bring to Europe the all-new EcoSport, and later the Ford Edge.”

Ford has said it expects to sell more than one million SUVs in Europe in the next six years with SUVs accounting for 10 per cent of all Fords sold in the region by 2016. The all-new compact EcoSport will launch at the end of 2013, and will later be followed by the next generation Ford Edge, a larger and more premium utility vehicle popular in the U.S. and other markets.
The new Ford Kuga achieved a Euro NCAP overall protection score of 88 per cent, the highest-ever for a mid-sized SUV, and also a Euro NCAP Advanced reward for the Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance system that calls emergency services in the appropriate local language for the region following an accident.

The technology-packed new Kuga also features; Hands-Free Tailgate, Active Park Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Active City Stop, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert, Auto High Beam, Driver Alert, Traffic Sign Recognition and the Intelligent All-Wheel Drive that pre-emptively reassesses conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the power split to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction.

New Kuga also delivers class-leading fuel economy through significantly improved fuel efficiency from a powertrain line-up that, for the first time, includes EcoBoost engine technology. Petrol engine fuel consumption has been reduced by 25 per cent and diesel engine fuel consumption by 10 per cent.

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 171,000 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 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.