(August 5, 2011) BRENTWOOD, Essex — Ford increased July UK market share in each sector in which it competes – cars, light commercials (LCVs) and medium commercials (MCVs) – compared with July 2010.  Ford's total vehicle share for the month, 15.5 per cent, and for the year to date, 15.4 per cent, were both up compared with the same periods in 2010.

The Ford Focus closed on the Ford Fiesta at the top of the July car sales chart as they once again held the first and second spots both for the month and for the year to date.  Ford Transit continues as the best-selling commercial vehicle in the UK.

Official figures released Thursday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that total UK car sales in July, compared with July 2010, were down 3.5 per cent to 131,634 units.

Ford car sales of 18,245 were down 1.1 per cent compared with July 2010, while Ford's share of total car sales was 13.9 per cent, up from 13.5 per cent.  For the year to date, Ford total car sales are 162,726 and its share is 14.0 per cent. For the year to date the Ford share of retail car sales is 12.5 per cent, up from 11.7 per cent compared with the same period in 2010.

Boosted by the introduction of the all-new model, the Ford Focus is narrowing the gap to the best-selling Ford Fiesta.  Ford Focus sales in July were 6,235, up from 4,208 in July 2010, and its share increased from 3.1 per cent in July 2010 to 4.7 per cent last month.  Ford Fiesta sales in July were 6,695, identical to July 2010, and share was 5.1 per cent, up from 4.9 per cent last year.

Total Ford commercial vehicle (CV) sales increased in July to 5,436 from 5,242, compared with July 2010 and for the year to date have increased to 42,713 from 34,674,compared with the same period last year.

Ford Fiesta Van and Ford Transit led the charge for Ford in the LCV and MCV sectors, respectively.  Ford Fiesta Van share in July was 16.7 per cent, up from 13.8 per cent in July 2010 and Ford Transit share was 28.5 per cent up from 25.4 per cent.

Ford Transit has been the CV industry leader since it was launched in 1965 and its sales continue to climb with July sales of 4,457 up from 3,905 in July 2010.  For the year to date, Transit sales rise to 33,760, from 24,987 during the same period in 2010.