Ford sales in Europe continue to rise in April

(May 16, 2016) COLOGNE, Germany — Ford’s total vehicle sales in April in its European 20 traditional markets were the best of any April since 2009, with passenger car sales at their highest since 2010, and commercial vehicles achieving their peak April sales since 1993.

Ford total vehicle sales rose 6.3 percent to 113,400 vehicles, with market share down 0.3 of a percentage point at 7.6 percent, and flat for year-to-date at 8.1 percent.

Across all of 50 European markets, Ford vehicles sales increased by 4.7 percent to 129,600 vehicles. Market share was down 0.2 of a percentage point for the month at 7.4 percent, but up 0.1 of a percentage point to 7.8 percent for the first four months of the year.

“We are off to a fast start in 2016, especially with our new SUVs, commercial vehicles and incredible performance line-up,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “With Mustang becoming Germany’s top-selling sports car among retail buyers, and Focus RS beating some of the German premium sports car brands in comparison tests, we are showing that Ford can compete and win against the premium brands when we play to our strengths.”

Ford’s sales in higher value sales channels improved in April, with retail and fleet sales accounting for 72 percent of Ford’s car sales in month, 1 percentage point up on the same month last year and 3 percentage points better than the industry.

Commercial vehicles

Ford is Europe’s No.1 commercial vehicle brand in the first four months of the year. Ford commercial vehicle sales in April rose 18.9 percent and market share rose 12.3 percent on increased demand for the expanded Transit range and the Ranger pickup. Ranger sales were up almost 56 percent, making April 2016 the best April sales result ever for the pickup since its launch in 1998 and making it the best-selling pick-up in Europe for the month. In total, Ford sold 26,040 commercial vehicles in April in its European 20 traditional markets.

Ford also launched in April a freshened Transit Custom and Transit 2-tonne with an all-new 2.0-liter Ford EcoBlue advanced technology diesel engine equipped with an SCR exhaust after-treatment system. The new engine improves fuel efficiency by up to 13 percent compared with the previous 2.2-liter TDCi diesel engine, whilst also delivering increased power and torque, with 20 percent more torque at low rpm (1,250 rpm) and enhanced driving refinement.

SUVs

Kuga had its best-ever April sales with sales of 9,800 – a 14 percent increase on April 2015. EcoSport sales in the month stood at 4,900, equivalent to a 120 percent increase in sales compared with the same month last year. To date, almost 2,000 European customers have ordered a Ford Edge prior to the SUV being at their local Ford dealerships, while more than half a million people across Europe have built and priced their a new Edge online.

Performance cars

Combined sales of Ford’s performance line-up — the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Focus ST diesel, Focus RS and Mustang — rose 62 percent in April and 91 percent year-to-date. Focus RS customer order take now stands at 6,832 since last September, while 17,707 orders for Mustang have been placed since the third quarter of 2015