- Highest October market share and car sales for Ford for twelve years
- Ford October sales volume up by 12.8 per cent in the main 19 European markets (industry up 6.8 per cent)
- October market share was 8.8 per cent, up 0.5 percentage points
- Tenth consecutive month of year-over-year monthly share gains; fifth successive month of year-over-year monthly volume increase
- Ka sales more than doubled in first ten months of the year – up 48,300 units to 90,500
- Strong performance in Germany; best October for 11 years; market leader in the UK, Ireland and Hungary in October; leading import brand in France and Italy
- Ford remains Europe's No.2 best-selling brand
- Year-to-date market share at 9.1 per cent, up 0.5 percentage points – highest since 1999
- Share increased in 16 out 19 European markets in both October and year-to-date
- Fiesta continues to be Europe's No.2 best-selling car. More than 500,000 sold globally in just one year
COLOGNE, November 11, 2009 – Ford achieved its highest October market share and car sales volume since 1997 with total sales of 121,000 new vehicles and a market share of 8.8 per cent in its 19 main European markets.
"This is the strongest October we've had in Europe for 12 years, and it shows we must be doing the right thing in the eyes of our customers," said Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's Vice-President for Marketing, Sales and Service. "The key is having the right products at the right time for our customers, and this is why we're now the clear No.2 best-selling brand in the European auto industry."
"What's more, we've also seen a dramatic increase in the quality of our sales. In October, 64 per cent our car sales were to retail customers, compared to 48 percent in October 2008. Last month, 80 per cent of Fiesta, 75 per cent of Ka and 70 per cent of Kuga sales were to retail customers."
Ford sales in October increased by 13,800 units, or 12.8 per cent, compared to October 2008, whereas total industry sales in Ford's main 19 European markets improved by 6.8 per cent. Ford's market share rose by 0.5 percentage points in comparison to October last year.
"Ford Ka sales continue to rocket in 2009 – year-to-date they’ve more than doubled. We've sold a total of 90,500 units this year, up by 48,300 compared to the first ten months of last year. Fiesta sales are now more than 500,000 units globally since the car was first launched in Europe last year," continued Mr. Sviggum.
"Ford was market leader in the UK, Ireland and Hungary, and import leader in France and Italy. Germany had its best October since 1998, with sales up 33 per cent, or 6,000 units, last October – a really terrific performance given the backdrop of the ending of the scrappage scheme in the country."
"But we do need to balance this positive news with concerns for the future. Next year is still something of an unknown quantity, but our current forecast is for an industry between 13.0 and 14.5 million units. That's down roughly two million vehicles versus this year. Given the ongoing weakness in the European market, further actions are needed at both the national and EU level to help bolster consumer confidence and demand," Sviggum added.
Year-to-date
Ford increased its share by 0.5 percentage points to 9.1 per cent, the best October year-to-date share for Ford since 1999 in its main 19 European markets. Share was up in 16 out of the 19 main markets.
In the first ten months of 2009, Ford registered 1,218,100 vehicles in its 19 European markets, a reduction of 37,300 units or 3 per cent lower than in the same period in 2008. This compares with a total industry decline of 8.1 per cent in the same period. Year-to-date across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 1,394,700 vehicles, a decrease of 155,000 units, or 10 per cent fewer than in the same period in 2008.
October Highlights
Market Performance:
- Ford's share increased in 16 of the main 19 European markets.
- Ford was market leader in the UK, Ireland, and Hungary.
- Spain's share was at 9.1 per cent, up 1.4 ppts, the best October share since 1997 and the highest monthly share gain in the five largest markets (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain).
- Germany had best October since 1998 – sales were up 33 per cent or 6,000 units on October 2008; market share was 8.0 per cent - up by 0.6 ppts on the same month 2008.
- Confirmed as leading imported brand in Italy and France. France reported a 5.7 per cent market share for the month, up by 0.6 ppts on October 2008, and the best October sales since 1998. Italy's sales volume increased t0 19,800 (up by 4,000) versus October 2008, the highest October volume since 1997, posting a 9.4 per cent monthly share.
- Scandinavian markets with record share gains: Denmark at 9.1 per cent (+1.1 ppts; best October share since 1997) and Norway at 9.7 (up 1.0 ppts; best October share since 1995).
Model Performance:
- Ford of Europe's three top-selling vehicles (19 main markets) were the Fiesta (41,300), Focus (24,200), and Transit (8,900).
- Fiesta remained Europe's second best-selling car in October, an achievement which external sources are expected to confirm later this month. 41,300 New Fiestas were delivered to customers in Europe. Fiesta was also the best-selling foreign vehicle for the month in Italy and in France.
- One year after its debut, more than 500,000 customers have purchased the new Fiesta globally, as Ford is prepared to bring the global car to the U.S and other key Asian Pacific markets next year.
- In Ford's Euro19 markets October sales of Fiesta were the highest of any Fiesta since 1996.
- Ford Ka continues to be a success: 8,700 units sold in October – the best Ka October sales since 2002.
- 80 per cent of Fiesta, 75 per cent of Ka, and 70 per cent of Kuga October sales were retail. Fleet business reduced from 31 per cent to approximately 18 per cent.
- C-MAX was the best-selling foreign vehicle in its segment in France.
- S-MAX was leading its segment in Spain.
October Year-to-Date Highlights
Market Performance:
- Ford's share increased in 16 of the main 19 European markets.
- Market leader in the UK, Ireland, Hungary and Denmark.
- UK market share at 17.1 per cent, up by 0.9 ppts on 2008, meaning that more than one in six new vehicles on UK roads is a Ford.
- Ford Germany year-to-date sales increased by 64,900 to 267,200. With this, Ford in Germany is already exceeding the full-year results the company achieved in the years 2003-2008 each. Year-to-date market share rose by 0.7 ppts to 7.6 per cent - the highest year-to-date result since 1999.
- Italy's year-to-date share was at 9.6 per cent, up by 1.9 ppts. on the first ten months 2008, posting the highest year-to-date share gain in the five largest markets.
- The highest year-to-date share gains of all 19 markets were from Denmark (+ 2.4 ppts), Hungary (+ 2.2 ppts), posting the highest ytd October share since 1994, and the Czech Republic (+ 1.9 ppts), the best ytd October share since 1994.
Model Performance:
- The three best-selling vehicles in the first ten months of 2009 were the Fiesta (396,500), Focus (256,200) and Transit (99,900).
- In the first ten months of 2009, Fiesta sales were up 118,600 over the same period 2008. Fiesta and Fiesta LPG remained best-selling foreign vehicles in Italy year-to-date.
- 90,500 Ford Ka vehicles were delivered to Ford customers so far this year, up 48,300 units versus the first ten months 2008.
- C-MAX is leading its segment in Italy; S-MAX in Spain.
- Focus remained No. 2 best-selling car in the UK year-to-date, behind the Fiesta.
October 2009 sales volume (in registrations)
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. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.
2 The Euro 21 markets are: Euro 19 plus Russia and Turkey.
3 Total Euro 51 composed of EURO 21 registrations and EDM 304 retail sales, as total EDM 30 registrations figures are not available. Industry retail sales data not available.
4 EDM 30 or European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Lybia, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
October 2009 market share 5
5 Data is not available for EDM, where we base our share on non-domestic sales volumes.
Ford Top 5 markets ranked by October volume (in registrations) plus Russia
Top 5 markets ranked by Ford's share in October
October sales (in registrations) by vehicle line (Euro 19) 6
6 Figures do not include vehicles such as car-derived vans, Maverick, Explorer imports and Turkish-built Cargo heavy trucks. Data are based on registrations.
Notes to Editors:
- Ford of Europe's market share refers to the 19 European markets (Euro 19) - excluding Turkey and Russia (as the other main markets) and excluding the 30 European Direct Markets (EDM), where we base our share on non-domestic sales volume and hence no total industry share figures are available. Sales data (reference: registrations) for specific car lines refer to Euro 19.
- 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), here however as retail sales (as total industry registrations numbers are not available).
- 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. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finnish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.
- 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
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Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 67,100 employees. Ford is Europe's No.2 best-selling vehicle brand. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford of Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 22 manufacturing facilities, including joint ventures. The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 - the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.