Ford of Europe January 2010 Sales Increase 4.2%

COLOGNE, February 12, 2010 – Ford sales volume in the first month of 2010 increased by 4.2 per cent in its main 19 European markets. Total vehicle sales were 105,300, versus 101,000 in January a year ago.

"January marked the eighth consecutive month of sales volume growth for Ford," said Ingvar Sviggum, Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "While our market share was down on January 2009, this was partly the result of distortions in the market. Our fundamental sales story remains strong. We're pleased to be maintaining our positive sales volume momentum, and also welcome that the quality of our sales remained strong with 54 per cent of our new cars sold to retail customers.

"We have to remember though that the market outlook for 2010 is still uncertain, especially with the run-out of some scrappage schemes in the near future. Our industry forecast is that the market will be down from the 15.9 million we saw last year."

Ford increased its share over January 2009 in Denmark, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Poland, and was the No.1 best-selling brand in the UK, Ireland, Hungary and Turkey. Fiesta monthly sales were the highest in January since 1998, up by more than 34 per cent on 2009, making the Fiesta Europe's No.1 small car and second best-selling car overall in January. Ka also had a great month, with sales increasing by 57 per cent year-on-year.

Mr. Sviggum said: "We are confident that as the year progresses Ford will not only maintain but boost its strong momentum in the European market. We are revealing eleven new or significantly freshened models and derivatives in Europe this year, plus a host of new advanced technologies. So expect to see a lot more from Ford in 2010!"

January performance
January registrations for total Ford vehicles across Europe were 105,300, up by 4,300 units or 4.2 per cent compared to January 2009. Ford's market share was up in five of its main 19 European markets in January, leading to a 8.8 per cent market share across the 19, down by 0.6 percentage points compared to last year. 

Euro 51    
Across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 114,300 vehicles in January, a decrease of 900 units, or 0.8 per cent fewer than in the same period in 2009. 

January Highlights

Ford Market Performance:

• Increased share in 5 of Ford's main 19 European markets.
• Market leader in the UK and Ireland, Hungary and Turkey.
• Highest market share among the 19 markets achieved in Ireland - 16.4 per cent
• Ford was No.1 imported brand in Italy, where share was at 10.2 per cent, up 0.7 ppts on January 2009, and the highest monthly share gain within the five largest markets (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain). Also the highest January share since 2003. Sales volume there soared by 37.3 per cent to 22,500, up by 6,100 units – the highest monthly volume increase in the Western European markets.
• Ford was No.2 imported brand in France, where the company increased volume 4.1 per cent, up by 400 units, to 11,200, and the strongest January registrations since 2000.
• C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling foreign vehicles in their segment in France.
• Spain's January volume was up by 3.9 per cent or 300 units on 2009 to 7,000 new car registrations.
• In Portugal Ford achieved a 7.5 per cent share – the highest monthly share in January since 1998 and a 62 per cent volume increase - the highest volume increase of all 19 main European markets for Ford in Europe.
• Highest share gains in Denmark (up 2.2 ppts; market share at 11.8 per cent, the highest share since January 1997), and Greece (up 1.0 ppts; share at 7.0 per cent; the best January share since 2006).

Model Performance:

• Fiesta (39,200), Focus (20,500), and Ka (8,500) were Ford of Europe's three top-selling vehicles (19 main markets).
• Fiesta monthly sales were the highest in January since 1998, up by more than 34 per cent on 2009, making the Fiesta Europe's No.1 small car and second best-selling car overall in January, an achievement which external sources are expected to confirm later this month.
• Fiesta and Focus continued as first and second best-sellers respectively in the UK. Fiesta was also the best-selling foreign vehicle for the month in Italy and in France.
• Only 15 months after its debut, more than 630,000 customers have purchased the new Fiesta around the world, as Ford continues to launch this global car in the U.S. and other key Asian Pacific markets in 2010.
• Ka continues its success: 8,500 units sold in January, up by 3,100 or more than 57 per cent – the best January for Ka since 2003.
• C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling foreign vehicles in their segment in France.
• Retail sales accounted for 72 per cent of new Fiesta, 75 per cent of new Ka, 67 per cent of Kuga and 70 per cent of Fusion sales in January 2010. Fleet business reduced from 28 per cent to 20 per cent compared to January 2009.

January 2010 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.

January 2010 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 January 2010 volume (in regs.) plus Russia

Top 5 markets ranked by Ford's share in January 2010

January 2010 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