BRENTWOOD, Essex, 7 October, 2008 – Ford grew its market share, compared with last year, by 0.2 percentage points to 16.1 per cent for the year-to-date, despite shrinking car and commercial vehicle markets. In September, the year's second biggest sales month, the total UK car and commercial vehicle market decreased by over 98,000 units in the month, or 21 per cent, compared with September 2007.
This month the all-new Ford Fiesta goes on sale and the next Ford Ka, which goes on sale in January, made its first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show. At a time when many customers are downsizing, Ford is well placed with its new ranges of high tech, appealing, and highly fuel efficient vehicles.
Ford's latest small car line-up includes models such as the new Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, which returns an official European Drive Cycle combined figure of 76.3mpg* while emitting only 98g CO2/km. Sales of all Fords with CO2 under 120g/km have risen by a third so far this year versus the same period last year.
Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirm that Ford led the industry in September with 55,625 registrations of cars and commercial vehicles. Ford car sales in September totaled 44,631 - 1,843 units more than its nearest rival. For the year to date this lead stretches to 16,017 with total sales for Ford of 264,455 units.
Ford's position in the more profitable retail car market is significant with Ford attracting almost 3,750 more private buyers than its nearest rival in September. This confirms the trend for the year-to-date where Ford has almost 20,000 more customers than the next manufacturer. Retail car buyers have given Ford a 12.8 per cent share of this market sector for the year-to-date – up a full percentage point on 12 months ago.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "The scale and extent of the current economic downturn is unexpected. However, Ford is well positioned to maintain its competitive position in a challenging market with a comprehensive and fresh range of attractive, fuel efficient vehicles that is being enhanced at just the right time by two all-new small car models – the Ka and the Fiesta."
* Note: Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive EU 80/1268/EEC and will differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world.