Ford’s Europe sales increase

Ford’s Europe sales increased by 0.5 per cent in November due to strong sales momentum in Eastern Europe, Russia and Turkey, offsetting a continuing weak market in Western Europe, particularly in the south of Europe. Sales performance in the UK and Germany was strong, with Ford's share rising by 0.5 and 0.1 per cent respectively in these markets.

Ford's all-new C-MAX models are developing strong sales momentum in Europe. Still being launched across Europe, 6,700 customers have so far purchased the new vehicles just a few weeks after the first market launches.

'We're pleased to see our sales improvement in November in what is still a very weak market overall in Western Europe – especially with the strengthening of our position in the key markets of the UK and Germany – and the significant sales gains made in Turkey, Russia and Eastern Europe ,' said Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

'Our product range continues to go from strength-from-strength. The C-MAX models are just coming online and have recorded good early sales. Fiesta sales remain strong, and we have the refreshed CD portfolio of Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy. Taken together with the all-new Ford Focus which will be in our dealerships from early next year, and we have one of the freshest and most attractive product portfolios in the industry. We're confident that more and more customers will make us their No.1 choice,' Mr Sviggum said.

In November, the company saw its commercial vehicle market share rising to the highest in any month since 2007 across its traditional 19 European markets in the month of November – to 8.9 per cent, up from 8.2 per cent in November 2009.

Ford also remained Europe's number two best-selling passenger car brand year-to-date and continued to retain overall market leadership in the UK, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland and Turkey, while it was the number one imported brand in Italy and the Czech Republic year-to-date.

Ford's success comes despite continued heavy discounting by some competitors and despite the lowest November year-to-date industry volumes across Ford's key 19 European markets since 1997.