Ford Sets Monthly and Quarterly Records in China, Sales up 65% in March and 54% for the Quarter

 

SHANGHAI, China, April 9, 2013 – Ford China set sales records in March, selling 81,387 wholesale vehicles for the month, a 65 percent increase from last year, bringing first quarter sales to a record-breaking 186,596 wholesale vehicles, up 54 percent from the first quarter of 2012. 

 

"Ford China’s record sales for March and the first quarter demonstrate the tremendous momentum we are building in China as we deliver on our promise to bring 15 exciting new products to the Chinese customers by 2015 ,” said John Lawler, Ford China Chairman and CEO.  “In the first quarter of 2013 alone, we launched three high-quality, fuel-efficient SUVs, our very first performance car the Ford Focus ST, and the all-new Ford Fiesta.  These great new Ford products have significantly expanded our offering in dealer showrooms and we are encouraged by the exceptional customer demand as shown by these sales figures.”

 

Record monthly and quarterly numbers were led by continued high demand for the Ford Focus. Focus sales more than doubled in March, up 148 percent, with 37,814 wholesales sold compared to 15,267 wholesale cars in March last year. First quarter sales were also strong, growing a phenomenal 156 percent in March, with 96,180 wholesale cars sold compared to 37,607 wholesales in the first quarter of 2012. 

 

The all-new Ford Kuga—a smart utility vehicle packed with clever technology including a motion-sensing hands-free tailgate, SYNC with MyFord Touch, Lane Keeping Aid, Active Park Assist and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®)—had its very first full sales month in March and demand was strong with nearly 10,000 wholesale units sold. The launch for Kuga was closely followed by the introduction of the EcoSport—a compact urban SUV—as well as the Explorer, one of the world’s most iconic and successful SUVs. Together with the Edge, Ford now competes in every segment of China’s growing SUV market. 

 

Ford's passenger car joint venture Changan Ford Automobile (CAF) saw sales skyrocket in March, reaching a record 55,348 wholesale vehicles, up 102%, more than double the 27,374 wholesales in March 2012. CAF’s quarterly sales nearly doubled as well, up 92% with 128,006 wholesales sold compared to 66,790 wholesales in the first quarter of 2012. 

 

Ford's commercial vehicle investment in China Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), also delivered strong March and quarterly sales, with 25,600 wholesale vehicles sold in March, up 16 percent from 22,005 wholesales sold in March 2012; quarterly sales were up 7 percent to 56,420 wholesales sold in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 52,692 wholesales sold in the first quarter of 2012. 

 

 

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Editor’s note: All sales figures quoted are based on wholesale numbers.

 

 

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.

 

Ford's wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and investment  in China include Ford Motor (China) Limited, Ford Motor Research & Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Ford Automotive Finance (China) Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. Nanjing Company, Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co., Ltd. and Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.

 

For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordmotorcompany.com and www.ford.com.cn.