FORD OF EUROPE HOLDS MARKET SHARE IN A WEAKER INDUSTRY

  • July market share in the Euro 19 markets holds at 8.4 per cent, although sales were down by 6.6 per cent
  • Across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 1,196,200 vehicles in the first seven months, an increase of two per cent vs. 2007
  • July sales in Germany rose by 8.8 per cent, and in the UK by 4.3 per cent

COLOGNE, August 19, 2008 – Ford of Europe's total sales in its main 51 markets rose by two per cent to 1,196,200 in the first seven months this year.

Strong sales in Russia and the company's 30 Direct Markets helped to offset lower sales in some of the traditional 19 European markets.

As a result of softening market conditions, sales in the Euro 19 markets declined by 6.6 per cent. While the drop was in line with overall industry decline, Ford's market share was stable at 8.4 per cent in July, and at 8.7 per cent in the first seven months.

"Despite the economic headwinds affecting the industry, we are on track to sell more vehicles than we did last year - and 2007 was already a record year for us", said Ingvar Sviggum, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.

"At a time when consumers are more hesitant in their purchasing decisions, it is even more crucial to have convincing products", Sviggum added. "Early reactions to our all-new Fiesta make us confident that we are adding another cornerstone to continue the upwards trend of the Ford brand - despite adverse economic conditions."

Volume production of the new Ford Fiesta started at the company's plant in Cologne on August 14.

July
With consumers focused on holidays, July is traditionally one of the weakest months for vehicle sales. In the Euro 19 markets, Ford of Europe sold 117,200 vehicles (down 6.6 per cent). Adding sales from Turkey, Russia and its 30 Direct Markets, Ford of Europe's July total sales were 149,800 units.

Britain remained the company's largest single market in July, where sales rose by 4.3 per cent to 32,200. Market share went up by almost three per cent to 17.8 per cent.
Ford's sales in Germany continued to gain momentum, increasing by 8.8 per cent to more than 21,000 units. This boosted the company's market share by 0.4 to 7.1 per cent. In France, a government environmental incentive continued to catalyse sales, with Ford sales up to 10,900 in July.

Sales in Russia soared almost 26 per cent, to 19,100 units, and in Ford's European Direct Markets by 85 per cent, to 8,700 units.

The top selling models in July across the Euro 19 markets were the Focus (31,200), Fiesta (24,600) and Transit (13,800).

Year-to-date
In the first seven months of this year Ford of Europe sold 940,600 vehicles in the Euro 19 markets. Ten of those markets posted increases. Ford of Europe sales in its main 51 markets increased by two percent in the first seven months to 1,196,200.
Britain was the company's top performer, selling 267,700 vehicles for a share of 16.4 per cent. Among other successes, Germany sold 139,500 vehicles (an increase of 6.3 per cent) and France 91,800 (plus 12.8 per cent). Spain continues to lead the passen­ger car market this year, with a share of 9.6 per cent, up by 0.2 per cent on 2007.
July 2008 total sales volume
 

July 08

July YTD 08

Euro 19 1 
changes vs. 07 

117,200
down 8,300 / (6.6) % vs. July 07 

940,600
down 19,100 / (2.0) % vs. July YTD 07 

Euro 21 (Euro 19 +. Russia and Turkey)
changes vs. 07 

141,200
down 11,300 / (7.4) % vs. July 07 

1,143,200
up 6,900 / 0.6 % vs. July YTD 07 

EDM 30 2 
changes vs. 07 

8,700
up 4,000 / 85.3 % vs. July 07 

53,000
up 16,500 / 45.3 % vs. July YTD 07

Total EURO 51 (EURO 21 + EDM 30)
changes vs. 07 

149,800
down 7,300 / (4.7) % vs. July 07 

1,196,200
up 23,400 /2.0 % vs. July YTD 07

1 The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
2 European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

July 2008 total market share 3

July 08

July YTD 08

Euro 19 3 
changes vs. 07 

8.4 %
+/- 0.0 ppts. vs. July 07 

8.7 %
+/– 0.0 ppts. vs. July YTD 07 

Euro 21 (incl. Russia and Turkey)
changes vs. 07 

8.0 %
down 0.5 ppts. vs. July 07 

8.4 %
down 0.2 ppts. vs. July YTD 07 

3 Not available for EDM, where we base our share on non-domestic sales volumes.

July sales by vehicle line (Euro 19) 4

Model 

July 08 

o(u) July 07 

July YTD 08 

o(u) July YTD 07 

Ka 

2,800 

(800) 

33,400 

600 

Fiesta 

24,600 

(1,100) 

205,800 

(19,000) 

Fusion 

5,200 

(400) 

44,700 

(4.200)

Focus 

31,200 

(1,200) 

235,700 

(14,500) 

Focus Coupé-Cabriolet 

1,000 

200 

8,200 

3,700 

C-MAX 

7,800 

(3,600) 

71,700 

(5,100) 

Kuga 

3,500 

3,500 

9,000 

9,000 

Mondeo 

13,300 

1,100 

105,000 

80,700 

S-MAX 

4,800 

(1,700) 

36,800 

(10,900) 

Galaxy 

2,900 

200 

21,000 

(2,000) 

Transit

13,800 

(700) 

113,100 

6,800 

Transit Connect

4,500 

(1,800) 

39,000 

(7,700) 

Ranger

1,000 

(500) 

10,700 

(900) 

4 Figures do not include vehicles such as the Fiesta van, Maverick, Explorer imports and Turkish-built Cargo heavy trucks.

Notes to Editors:

  • Ford of Europe's market share refers to the traditional main 19 European markets (Euro 19) - excluding Turkey and Russia (as the other main markets) and the 30 European Direct Markets (EDM), where we base our share on non-domestic sales volume.
  • We also report our sales performance (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) for the total region for which Ford of Europe is responsible (51 markets in total).
  • Sales data for specific car lines refer to the Euro 19 markets.
  • The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
  • European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.