Embargoed for 8 a.m. ET, Aug. 12, 2009
--Ford's share in main European 19 markets increased for seventh
consecutive month
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--Despite declining industry, Ford's 2009 new vehicle sales volume
increased versus 2008 for the second month in a row
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-- New Fiesta remained Ford's best-selling European car in July,
achieving its best month since 1996, and leading its segment in Germany
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COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 12, 2009 - Ford, the No. 2 best-selling new vehicle brand in Europe, increased its market share for the seventh consecutive time last month, resulting in the company's best July and year-to-date market share performance since 1999.
Ford of Europe had 9 percent market share in its main 19 European markets, up 0.6 percentage points from July 2008. Ford's share for the first seven months of 2009 was 9.1 percent, an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the same period a year ago.
In total, Ford sold 125,200 new vehicles in its main 19 European markets in July, up 5 percent, making it the second month in a row this year that Ford has posted a sales increase from the prior year period. Ford's 5 percent volume increase contrasts to a 1.5 percent industry decline in the same month.
"As we are moving into the second half of the year, we are encouraged to see Ford at a 10-year high market share for July and, as a result of this, firmly established as Europe's second best-selling new vehicle brand in Europe," said Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service.
The sales success was driven by strong customer demand for the latest Ford products across the line-up, including the Fiesta, new Ka, and best-selling Focus. The company's product portfolio allowed it to improve market share in 13 of its main 19 European markets. The improving European results follows news of positive sales performance in other key Ford markets around the world in July, including China, the U.S. and Canada.
In the first seven months of 2009, Ford of Europe registered 871,400 vehicles in its 19 main markets, down 7.3 percent over the same period in 2008. This compares with a total industry decline of 12.2 percent in that period.
"We're also pleased to have increased sales volume for the second consecutive month, while the industry is still declining," said Sviggum. "The industry figures show, however, that despite the positive impact of various national vehicle scrappage schemes, the overall trend is still negative and the underlying market weak."
Sviggum added: "We strongly believe that these incentive schemes should continue for as long as practically possible, and then be phased out in an orderly manner to avoid any dramatic reduction in market demand that could damage the still fragile improvement we have seen in recent months."
July Market and Model Sales Highlights:
Markets:
-- Ford was market leader in the U.K., Ireland and Hungary; in Hungary,
share
was at 17.8, up by 7.8 ppts. on the same period 2008, the highest share since
1994.
-- Ford's sales volume in Germany increased by 45 percent (while industry
grew
24 percent) in July, and the company had its highest monthly share there since June 2004.
-- Similarly, Ford Austria's July sales were up by 45 percent, to a record
high for the month of July since 1994.
-- Ford continues to be the leading imported brand in Italy, with volume up
by 35 percent, despite the Italian industry being up by only 3 percent
in July.
-- Sixty-one percent of Ford passenger cars sold went to retail customers
in the Euro 19 markets, up from 47 percent in July 2008.
-- Ford was among the three best-selling brands in 13 of 19 European
markets.
Models:
-- Ford of Europe's three top-selling vehicles (19 main markets) were the
Fiesta
(39,900), the Focus (28,700), and new Ka (10,500).
-- In Germany, the Fiesta became segment leader in July, the first time
since the vehicle's market entry there in October 2008.
-- In the U.K., where Fiesta sales were up by over 26 percent vs. the same
month 2008, Fiesta remained the industry's best-selling vehicle.
-- In June, Fiesta was both Europe's second best-selling car and the leader
in the small car segment.
-- In July, 39,900 Fiestas were delivered to customers in Europe -- 14,500
units more than the previous Fiesta model sold in July 2008.
-- New Ford Ka continues to be a success in the market despite the economic
downturn. Ford sold 10,500 units in July (up 7,500 on July last year).
-- Ford Focus remained No. 2 best-selling vehicle across the industry in
the U.K.,
behind the Fiesta.
-- The Ford C-MAX was the best-selling foreign vehicle in its segment in
France.
-- Transit had its best July performance since 2003 (Euro 19 markets).
July Year-To-Date Market and Model Highlights
Markets:
-- Market leader in the U.K., Ireland and Hungary.
-- Italy (share up by 2.0 ppts. to 9.7 percent) and the UK (up by 1.5 ppts.
to 17.9
percent share) had the highest share gains in the five largest markets in the first
seven months of 2009.
-- Year-to-date sales volume increased by 37 percent in Germany (vs. an
increase of 21.3 percent for the industry).
-- Ford was among the three best-selling brands in 12 of its Euro19
markets.
Models:
-- The three best-selling vehicles in the first seven months of 2009 were
the new
Fiesta (277,700), Focus (183,600) and Transit (70,300).
-- In the first seven months of 2009, Fiesta sales were up 75,000 over the
same
period in 2008. Approximately 340,000 Fiestas have been sold since the car was
launched last autumn. Seventy-four percent of all Fiestas sold year-to-date were to retail
customers (Euro19 markets).
-- 62,300 Ford Ka vehicles were delivered to Ford customers this year.
Eighty percent of all Ka sales (Euro 19 markets) year-to-date were to
retail customers.
-- The Ford C-MAX was leading its segment in Italy, as was the Focus Wagon.
-- Ford S-MAX, Focus and Mondeo were among the top three sellers in their
segments in Spain for the first seven months of 2009.
-- Kuga saw highest sales growth in the compact SUV segment year-to-date in
Spain.
-- Focus was best-selling industry vehicle in the first seven months in
Hungary in 2009.
July 2009 sales volume (in registrations)
July 09 July YTD 09
------- -----------
Industry Euro
19 (1) 1,397,400 9,541,300
----------------- --------- ---------
down 21,800 /(1.5) % vs. down 1,322,900 /(12.2) %
07/08 vs. 07/08
------------------------ ------------------------
Ford Euro 19
(1) 125,200 871,400
---------------- ------- -------
down 68,900 /(7.3) % vs.
up 6,000 / 5.0 % vs. 07/08 07/YTD 08
-------------------------- ------------------------
Industry 21 1,543,600 10,745,600
----------- --------- ----------
(Euro 19 + down 207,600 /(11.9) % down 2,304,700 /(17.7)%
Russia,Turkey) vs.07/08 vs. 07/08
-------------- ---------------------- -----------------------
Ford Euro 21 135,900 968,200
------------ ------- -------
(Euro 19 + down 8,700 /(6.0) % vs. down 136,000 /(12.3) % vs.
Russia,Turkey) 07/08 07/YTD 08
-------------- --------------------------- ---------------------------
Total Ford
EURO 51(2) 136,500 977,200
-------------- ------- -------
(Euro 21+ EDM down 13,400 /(8.9) % vs. down 176,700 /(15.3) % vs.
30)(3) 07/08 07/YTD 08
----------------- --------------------------- ---------------------------
(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 Finnish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.
(2) Total Euro 51 composed of EURO 21 registrations and EDM 30 retail sales, as total EDM 30 registrations figures are not available. Industry retail sales data not available.
(3) EDM 30 or 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 2009 market share (4 )
July 09 July YTD 09
------- -----------
Euro 19 9.0 % 9.1 %
------- ---- ----
up 0.6 ppts. vs. July 08 up 0.5 ppts. vs. July YTD 08
------------------------ ----------------------------
Total EURO 21 8.8 % 9.0 %
(incl. Russia and
Turkey) ---- ----
----------------- up 0.6 ppts. vs. July 08 up 0.5 ppts. vs. July YTD 08
------------------------ ----------------------------
(4 )Not available for EDM, where we base our share on non-domestic sales volumes.
Ford Top 5 markets ranked by July volume (in registrations) plus Russia
July
o(u) o(u)
July 09 July July 09 July
Volume o(u) 08 Share o(u) 08
------ ------- ----- -------
1. Germany 29,400 9,100 8.2 % 1.2 ppts
---------- ------ ----- ---- --------
2. UK 28,500 (3,700) 16.3 % (1.7)
----- ------ ------ ----- ----
3. Italy 21,400 5,500 9.6 % 2.3
-------- ------ ----- ---- ---
4. France 12,200 (600) 5.5 % (0.1)
--------- ------ ---- ---- ----
5. Spain 10,000 (300) 8.4 % 1.1
-------- ------ ---- ---- ---
..7. Russia 5,300 (13,800) 4.6 % (2.1)
----------- ----- ------- ---- ----
July year-to-date
o(u) J o(u) J
July ytd ytd July ytd ytd
Volume o(u) 08 Share o(u) 08
------ ------- ----- -------
0.9
1. Germany 192,000 51,800 7.6 % ppts.
---------- ------- ------ ---- -----
2. UK 217,100 (50,700) 17.9 % 1.5
----- ------- ------- ----- ---
3. Italy 142,300 16,700 9.7 % 2.0
-------- ------- ------ ---- ---
4. France 88,400 (200) 5.7 % 0.3
--------- ------ ---- ---- ---
5. Spain 53,500 (39,800) 8.7 % (0.9)
-------- ------ ------- ---- ----
..7. Russia 54,400 (62,400) 6.1 % (0.2)
----------- ------ ------- ---- ----
Top 5 markets ranked by Ford's share in July
July
o(u) o(u)
July 09 July July 09 July
Share o(u) 08 Volume o(u) 08
----- ------- ------ -------
1. Turkey 17.8 % 3.8 ppts 5,400 (800)
--------- ----- -------- ----- ----
2. Hungary 17.6 % 7.8 800 (800)
---------- ----- --- --- ----
3. UK 16.3 % (1.7) 28,500 (3,700)
----- ----- ---- ------ ------
4. Ireland 15.6 % 2.4 800 (1,700)
---------- ----- --- --- ------
5. Czech
Rep. 11.0% 3.2 1,700 200
-------- ---- --- ----- ---
July year-to-date
o(u) J o(u) J
July ytd ytd July ytd ytd
Share o(u) 08 Volume o(u) 08
----- ------- ------ -------
(0.9)
1. Turkey 13.6 % ppts. 42,400 (4,700)
--------- ----- ----- ------ ------
2. Hungary 14.4 % 2.7 7,300 (5,600)
---------- ----- --- ----- ------
3. UK 17.9 % 1.5 217,100 (50,700)
----- ----- --- ------- -------
4. Ireland 15.5 % 2.0 9,100 (13,900)
---------- ----- --- ----- -------
5. Czech
Rep. 10.0 % 2.4 11,000 1,200
-------- ----- --- ------ -----
July sales (in registrations) by vehicle line (Euro 19) (5)
Model July 09 o(u) July 08
----- ------- ------------
New Ka 10,500 10,500
------ ------ ------
Total Ka
(prev./new) 10,500 7,500
------------ ------ -----
New Fiesta 39,900 39,900
---------- ------ ------
Total Fiesta
(prev./new) 40,000 14,500
------------ ------ ------
Fusion 4,100 (1,200)
------ ----- ------
Focus 28,700 (2,700)
----- ------ ------
Focus CC 700 (300)
-------- --- ----
C-MAX 6,800 (1,200)
----- ----- ------
Kuga 5,900 2,400
---- ----- -----
Mondeo 8,900 (4,200)
------ ----- ------
S-MAX 3,800 (1,200)
----- ----- ------
Galaxy 2,300 (500)
------ ----- ----
Transit 8,600 (5,400)
------- ----- ------
Transit Connect 3,300 (1,200)
--------------- ----- ------
Ranger 800 (200)
------ --- ----
o(u) Jul. YTD
Model July YTD 09 08
----- ----------- -------------
New Ka 62,300 62,300
------ ------ ------
Total Ka
(prev./new) 64,000 30,300
------------ ------ ------
New Fiesta 277,700 277,700
---------- ------- -------
Total Fiesta
(prev./new) 282,000 76,800
------------ ------- ------
Fusion 33,700 (10,800)
------ ------ -------
Focus 183,600 (52,200)
----- ------- -------
Focus CC 6,300 (1,400)
-------- ----- ------
C-MAX 47,900 (24,000)
----- ------ -------
Kuga 35,500 26,400
---- ------ ------
Mondeo 69,800 (35,900)
------ ------ -------
S-MAX 25,400 (11,600)
----- ------ -------
Galaxy 16,400 (4,800)
------ ------ ------
Transit 70,300 (40,500)
------- ------ -------
Transit Connect 23,000 (15,700)
--------------- ------ -------
Ranger 8,200 (2,100)
------ ----- ------
(5 )Figures do not include vehicles such as the Fiesta van, 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 traditional main 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
the Euro 19 markets.
-- 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
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 51 individual markets and employs approximately 69,400 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.
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SOURCE BIGONTHENET PRIVATE LIMITED/XPRN HK