Ford Of Europe Breaks 10 Per Cent Market Share Barrier

Ford achieved a market share high of 10.1 per cent in September in its 19 European main markets – the best share for any month for Ford of Europe since September 2001

COLOGNE, October 12, 2009 – Ford achieved a 10.1 per cent market share in September 2009 in its 19 European main markets – the best share for any month since September 2001 and a 0.8 percentage point increase on the same month 2008.

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A total of 51,400 new Ford Fiestas were registered in Europe last month – the best September for Fiesta since 1994.

For the fourth consecutive month, Ford of Europe increased its year-over-year monthly sales volume, again outperforming the industry. Ford of Europe sold 152,600 new vehicles in its 19 main markets in September, 12.3 percentage points more than in the same month last year and better than the industry which was up 2.9 per cent. Ford's September share increased in 14 of its 19 European markets versus the same month 2008.
"Traditionally we expect Ford to have a good month in September given the surge of new car sales in the UK due to the registration plate change, but September 2009 has surpassed expectations," said Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's Vice-President for Marketing, Sales and Service. This really was an outstanding performance. I'd like to thank Ford employees, our dealers and, most of all, our customers, for helping to achieve such a strong performance in September.

"Our continuing success in gaining market share despite the difficult economic situation shows that customers are willing to place their faith in Ford because we are providing them with the exciting and innovative new vehicles that they want to buy. This is particularly true of the new Ford Fiesta, which achieved its highest September sales volume since 1994."

"Ford has now gained nine months of year-over year monthly sales share improvement, and month-on-month volume increases for the last four months. But market share and volume success are only valuable if they are achieved through high quality sales that generate good revenue, and we certainly saw that in September with retail sales accounting for 60 per cent of Ford passenger car sales.

"However, we remain concerned about the continuing fragility of the underlying market. With the sudden ending of some scrappage schemes and the more-controlled phasing out of others, the industry faces an uncertain future in terms of market demand as 2010 approaches. It is clear that there is still a need for government intervention in Europe to help bolster the market until demand reaches a more sustainable level," said Mr. Sviggum.

September year-to-date
Ford succeeded in increasing its share by 0.5 percentage points to 9.2 per cent, the best year-to-date September share for Ford in its main 19 European markets since 1999. Share was up in 17 out of the 19 main markets.

In the first nine months of 2009, Ford of Europe registered 1,097,100 vehicles in these 19 European markets, a reduction of 51,100 units or 4.5 per cent lower than in the same period in 2008. This compares with a total industry decline of 9.7 per cent in the period. Year-to-date across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 1,243,700 vehicles, a decrease of 172,000 units, or 12.2 per cent fewer than in the same period in 2008.

September Highlights

Market Performance:

* Ford was market leader in the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Hungary and Turkey.
* Turkey market share at 18.2 per cent in September - the company's highest in Europe – up by 3.0 ppts.
* UK share was at 15.7, up 0.8 ppts, and the highest monthly share in the five largest markets (UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain).
* Germany had best September sales volume since 1999 – up by 25.6 per cent or 4,500 units on September 2008, and achieved a 8.0 per cent market share - up by 0.3 ppts. on the same month 2008.
* Confirmed as leading imported brand in Italy and France. France reported a 5.5 per cent market share for the month – the best September share since 2000. Italy had a 9.6 per cent share in September – the highest since 1994.
* Spain achieved a 9.8 per cent monthly share, up by 1.6 ppts., and the best September share since 2004.
* The highest September share gains in the Euro19 had Denmark at 13.7 per cent (up 7.2 ppts.) - the highest monthly share there since January 1996, Poland at 8.4 per cent (+ 3.1 ppts.) – and best September share and volume since 1994, and Turkey at 18.2 (up 3.0 ppts.).

Model Performance:

* Ford of Europe's three top-selling vehicles (19 main markets) were the Fiesta (51,400), Focus (32,100), and Mondeo (13,300).
* In September, the Fiesta was Europe's second if not best-selling car, an achievement which external sources are expected to confirm later this month. 51,400 New Fiestas were delivered to customers in Europe – the best September for Fiesta since 1994, and 20,400 units more than the previous Fiesta model sold in September 2008. Fiesta was also the best-selling foreign vehicle for the month in Italy and in France.
* Ford Ka continues to be a success in the market: Ford sold 11,700 units in September (up 6,600 on September last year) – the highest Ka volume since 2004.
* 73 per cent of new Fiesta and 82 per cent of new Ka September sales were retail.
* The Ford C-MAX was the best-selling foreign vehicle in its segment in France.
* S-MAX was leading its segment in Spain.

September Year-to-Date Highlights

Market Performance:

* Ford's share increased in 17 of the main 19 European markets.
* Market leader in the UK, Ireland, Denmark and Hungary.
* Italy's year-to-date share was at 9.7 per cent, up by 2.0 ppts. on the first nine months 2008. Year-to-date sales volume there was up 13.2 per cent, whilst Italian industry was down by 5.9 per cent.
* The UK posted a 17.3 per cent market share for the first nine months of 2009, and was up by 1.2 ppts. on 2008.
* Ford Germany sales increased by 33 per cent in the first nine months of 2009, while industry there rose by 26.1 per cent in this period, making Ford the company with the strongest increases of all car manufacturers during the first three quarters of the year. Market share was at 7.6 per cent, up by 0.7 ppts. on the same period 2008.
* The highest year-to-date share gains were from Denmark (+2.7 ppts), Hungary (+ 2.3 ppts) and Czech Republic (+ 2.1 ppts).

Model Performance:

* The three best-selling vehicles in the first nine months of 2009 were the new Fiesta (350,800), Focus (232,100) and Transit (90,800).
* In the first nine months of 2009, Fiesta sales were up 102,700 over the same period 2008. Approximately 410,000 Fiestas have been sold since the car was launched last autumn.
* 80,200 Ford Ka vehicles were delivered to Ford customers this year, up 41,000 units versus the first nine months 2008.
* Kuga and Mondeo were among the top three selling vehicles in their segment in Spain.
* The Ford C-MAX is leading its segment in Italy, as is the Kuga.
* In Spain, the S-MAX is leading its segment for the first nine months of 2009.
* The Ford Focus remained No. 2 best-selling vehicle in the UK in the first nine months of 2009, behind the Fiesta.

Source: Ford