Ford of Europe Sales Increase in September; Retail and Commercial Vehicle Market Share Growth Continues

• Ford’s total vehicle sales in its traditional 19 European markets grew by 4.6 per cent  in September to 115,000 units; fourth consecutive month of sales growth
  
• Retail market share rose 1.0 percentage point to 9.5 per cent, and by 1.2 percentage
  points to 8.4 per cent year to date; September marked eighth consecutive month of retail market share gain*
  
• Commercial vehicle share up 0.1 percentage points to 10.8 percent, and up 0.6
  percentage points to 9.5 per cent year-to-date, the highest levels for both periods since 2007
• New vehicle introductions before the end of 2013 still include Transit Connect and
  Tourneo Connect; new vehicle momentum continues into 2014

Download Full Sales Release (PDF)

COLOGNE, Germany, Oct. 15, 2013 – Strong demand across its vehicle line-up drove Ford of Europe’s sales volume up 4.6 percent in September, marking the fourth consecutive month of volume sales growth for Ford in its traditional 19 European markets.

Ford sold 115,300 vehicles in total in September, and 824,700 in the first nine month of the year in its traditional markets. Total market share through September was 8.0 percent, equal to the same period in 2012.

Industry sales in Ford’s 19 traditional markets grew 5.5 percent in September, but are still down 4.3 percent year-to-date. Ford remains the No. 2 best-selling vehicle brand for both September and year-to-date in the region.

“We are pleased about our continuing improvement in the private customer retail business. For eight consecutive months, our retail market share has grown. This is very important because it tells you about the true strength of your products in the market,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

Ford’s passenger car retail market share in September in its five largest Western European markets -- U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain -- was 9.5 percent in September, up 1.0 percentage point. September marked the eighth straight month of retail share increase for Ford. Year-to-date, the company’s retail share was 8.4 percent, an increase of 1.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year. Ford’s retail share for both periods are the highest since Ford started tracking retail share in 2010.

Compared to September 2012, Ford sales to retail and fleet customers increased eight
percentage points to 77 percent of total sales, four percentage points better than industry average. At the same time, Ford reduced sales to rental companies and dealer self-registrations to 23 percent from 31 percent a year ago.

Ford’s commercial vehicle sales were up 3.1 percent in September and 3.3 percent year-todate. This drove Ford’s commercial vehicle shares to 10.8 percent in September, up 0.1 percentage points, and to 9.5 percent  year-to-date, up 0.6 percentage points, Ford’s best shares for both periods since 2007. Ford’s commercial vehicle share increased in each month this year (year-over-year), except in May when it was flat.

Market highlights

In the UK, Ford’s largest European market by sales, Ford extended its market lead. Ford sales volume rose by 6.3 percent to 61,700 in September and by 9.7 percent to 303,600 year-to-date. Ford’s year-to-date retail share was up 1.0 percentage points at 13.3 percent. Fiesta topped the industry sales charts for both September and year-to-date. September is a traditionally strong month for the industry due to the license plate change.

In Germany, Ford’s second largest sales market, Ford sold 18,500 vehicles in September, up 2.3 percent, in an industry that was down 0.8 percent. Ford’s total vehicle market share grew 0.2 of a percentage point to 6.8 percent for the month, while Ford’s retail share grew by 2.8 percentage points to 7.3 percent. Ford’s commercial vehicle share in Germany increased by 1.7 percentage points to 9.5 percent.

In Russia, Turkey and Italy, Ford sold 77,500, 75,700 and 71,600 vehicles year-to-date, making them the third, fourth and fifth largest markets for Ford so far this year.

Sales in the countries where Ford of Europe operates through importers - most of which in the Eastern European and North African region (European Direct Markets**) - were up 10 percent in September.

Vehicle sales highlights

Ford sold 6,300 B-MAX multi-activity vehicles (MAVs) in September, adding up to 54,100 BMAX having been registered so far throughout the year. B-MAX remains Europe’s best-selling small MAV August year-to-date with a segment share of 15.8 percent (based on Ford’s analysis of latest available Polk registration data).

Fiesta sales increased 7.1 percent to 33,200 in the Euro 19 region, making the Fiesta the company’s best-selling model in September and also year-to-date with 219,700 units sold. Fiesta retail sales share* in its segment was up 1.7 ppts in September 2013.

Focus took the number 2 top-seller position, up 2.4 percent in September at 24,400 units and 173,600 year-to-date. Focus retail sales share* in its segment rose 1.8 ppts in September 2013.

C-MAX September sales volume jumped 16 percent to 9,200 and more than 75,000 throughout the year – the no. 3 best-selling passenger car in Ford’s product range. C-MAX retail sales share* in its segment grew by 4.9 ppts in September.

Ford registered 19,600 commercial vehicles in September and 140,500 year-to-date, an increase of 3.1 percent and 3.3 percent, respectively. The increase was driven by strong demand for Transit Custom, and Ranger. Ranger year-to-date sales almost doubled versus the same period last year, and were on the highest September year-to-date level since 2008.

* UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain. Italy data preliminary. See table further down. Ford volume in these markets  represents 80% of the Europe 19 volume.