(January 15, 2011) COLOGNE — Ford remained a strong sales leader in Europe in 2010, despite a volume and market share decrease compared to the previous year.

Maintaining its position as the No.2 passenger car brand in Europe for the third successive year, Ford's market share in its main 19 European markets was 8.4 per cent, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from 2009.

Total vehicle sales volume at 1,279,000 was 160,000 units down on the previous year, about 1.1 percent

"2010 was a challenging year for the European auto industry, including Ford," said Stephen Odell, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. "It was almost inevitable Ford would lose some share and sales in Europe. This was in part due to some of the competitive actions in the market, but also because we received a boost in 2009 introducing the all-new Ford Fiesta and Ka models just as scrappage schemes were taking effect."

"We're a volume manufacturer and we will maintain our leading position in Europe. But we will not undermine our fundamentally efficient and strong business by buying share or volume through widespread and excessive incentives that can damage residual values and brand image.

"Our goal in Europe is to continue to provide our customers with the great products they want to drive and own. The latest Ford vehicles provide exceptional fuel economy and refined driving performance, and levels of customer-focused technology that are often only found in premium vehicles," said Odell.

Ford sells 13,000 C-Max
units in just over two months

Ford is currently rolling out the next-generation Ford C-MAX models across Europe and has already sold 13,000 units in just over two months, and is about to launch the all-new Ford Focus, one of the most significant new cars in Ford's history.

Ford is also introducing at least 20 new products and derivatives in Europe over the next three years. These include an all-new Ford Kuga and B-segment vehicle, as well as a completely freshened commercial vehicle range starting with the Ford Ranger later this year. Plus, Ford will launch its first all-electric vehicle in 2011 — the Ford Transit Connect Electric — and the Ford Focus Electric follows next year.

Ford's reduced share and volume was set against the backdrop of an overall decline in total European vehicle sales — including the second-lowest December monthly sales since 2001 (only December 2008 was lower, at the peak of the global economic recession) — and unprecedented market incentives offered by some competitors.

At around 15.3 million in the full year, the total market was more than half a million units below the 2009 level. Ford is currently forecasting a European market of around 14.5 to 15.5 million units in 2011, the wide spread being the result of continuing uncertain pace of the European economic recovery.

In terms of individual market performance, Ford ended 2010 as the UK's top selling car and commercial vehicle brand for the 34th and 45th year, and was also total sales market leader in Denmark, Hungary, Ireland and Turkey for the full year 2010, whilst remaining the No.1 imported brand in Italy and the Czech Republic throughout the year and in December.

"Our focus is on continuing to strengthen further our performance, not only in our more established markets but also in the growth markets," said Roelant de Waard, vice-president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "We're particularly pleased that in a difficult year Ford managed to strengthen its position in the important growth markets of Russia, Turkey and Eastern Europe, with improvements of 64, 61 and 18 per cent respectively."