Ford posts best September share in European market since 2001

(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.

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.

"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," Sviggum said.
"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," Sviggum said.