(December 27, 2011) COLOGNE, Germany — Ford's new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX have proven a major success with European consumers with sales increasing by more than 100 per cent over the previous model and a high percentage of customers opting for new technology features.

Since the new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX were introduced in late 2010, more than 135,000 vehicles have been sold across Europe. Through November, Ford sold 118,800 C-MAXs in Europe, more than doubling C-MAX sales from a year ago.

This remarkable sales growth has seen the model's European segment share grow to 12.7 per cent in 2011 (up from 6.7 per cent in 2010), with the C-MAX range claiming segment leadership in Italy, Turkey and Ireland.

Underpinned by the Ford Focus, the C-MAX will be coming to the United States in a few months.

“The C-MAX's proves that even in an extremely competitive market and a difficult economy, customer will respond to great new products,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “The only way to double sales and segment share in one year is win over new customers from the competition and that’s what C-MAX is doing.”

The Grand C-MAX has been an immediate hit with customers across Europe and has contributed one-third of the overall C-MAX sales volume. This model has twin rear sliding doors, 7-seat capability and an innovative walk-through seating concept, where the second row middle seat folds away under the outer seat and makes it possible to walk through to the third seat row. More than 60 per cent of customers buying this model have moved to Ford from other manufacturers.

Consumers also appreciate the smart driver-assistance features offered in the C-MAX.  For example, 35 per cent of customers are selecting Ford Active Park Assist for easier parallel parking, three times more than initially predicted.