2009 Ford Fiesta Sales Continue to Soar
NEW FIESTA SALES APPROACH 170,000 AS FORD OF EUROPE CONTINUES TO GROW MARKET SHARENew Fiesta sales continue to soar Double-digit monthly market share a first since September 2001 First quarter share the highest since 1998 Market share increases in 16 out of 19 markets Retail share up in March Blue oval consolidates its position as Europe's number two best-selling brand COLOGNE, April 15, 2009 – Ford of Europe has sold over 108,000 new Fiestas this year, bringing to almost 170,000 the total purchased by customers since the car was introduced last autumn. In March alone the company sold 52,800 Fiestas – the highest retail sales month ever for the new car and making it once more the company's best-selling car across the main Euro 19 markets. Ford of Europe increased its market share in March in the Euro 19 markets to 10.0 per cent, up 0.2 percentage points versus the same month last year, consolidating its position as Europe's number two best-selling brand. This is the first time Ford of Europe's market share has been in double digits since September 2001 and it continues the company's upward trend. In total in March Ford of Europe sold 163,000 vehicles in the Euro 19 markets and increased market share in 16 out of its 19 main European markets, with only France, Spain and Switzerland showing declines. "It is very encouraging to see Fiesta doing so well and also our market share developing so positively, given the declining market we are continuing to face in Europe," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe. "With 56 per cent of our March sales generated by retail customers – up from 43 per cent in March 2008 – we have clear evidence of consumer confidence in our Ford product range," he added. March performance Top selling Ford models in the 19 main European markets were the new Fiesta (52,800), the Focus (32,300), and Transit (14,100). Britain was the company's best performing market in March and delivered 62,300 new vehicles, a reduction of 21,100 units versus the same month in 2008. This March performance led to a share of 17.9 per cent, up by 1.6 percentage points compared to the same month last year. Fiesta was Britain's best-selling car for the fifth consecutive month. In Germany, which had the largest passenger car industry volume since March 1999 driven by a very successful scrappage scheme, Ford sold 28,300 vehicles, up by 39.6 per cent or 8,000 units on March 2008. Ford market share in Germany last month was 7.2 per cent, an improvement of 0.7 percentage points over the same period last year. March was also Ford of Germany's best sales month for the Ka since 2002 and the best March for the Fiesta since 1998. In Italy, March sales rose by 21.7 per cent or 4,200 to 23,800 and a 10.1 per cent market share was up by 2.3 percentage points on March 2008. Ford remained Italy's leading import brand and the Fiesta was the best-selling imported car. In France, the C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling imported vehicles in their segments for the third successive month. For the first time since March 2007, Ford was the top-selling foreign brand in Russia, giving it an 8.4 per cent record March share, an increase of 1.8 percentage points on 2008. This was the company's highest share in any month in Russia since December 2006. Across all its 51 European markets, Ford sold 185,100 vehicles in March 2009, down 16.3 per cent or 36,000, when compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date performance In the first quarter of 2009 Ford of Europe sold across its Euro 19 markets 352,200 vehicles, down 69,200 or 16.4 percentage points versus 2008. Market share soared by half a percentage point to 9.4 per cent, the highest Q1 share since 1998. Ford of Britain sold 97,800 vehicles, a reduction of 25.6 per cent or 33,700 when compared to last year. The UK industry was down by 32 per cent during the same period. However, Ford's market share in Britain continued to rise and in this first quarter of the year increased by 1.5 percentage points to 18.2 per cent. Ford of Germany saw sales increase over the first three months of the year by 33.5 per cent. They sold 64,800 vehicles, an increase of 16,300 over the first quarter of 2008. Market share over the same period was 7.4 per cent, up 1.4 percentage points when compared to the same period in 2008. Ford Italy sold 58,400 vehicles over the first quarter 2009, down 3,900, while market share rose by 1.6 percentage points to 9.8 per cent. Fiesta rose from third to second place in the list of best-selling vehicles in Italy. Year-to-date market share in France increased by 0.3 percentage points to 5.6 per cent, with sales at 35,100, a reduction of 3,600 versus 2008. In Spain, the market remained one of the most depressed in Europe, with industry falling by 40 per cent and Ford sales totaling 19,800 (a reduction of 22,100). Market share there was at 8.7 per cent, down 1.6 percentage points. Despite this challenging market environment, the Ford Mondeo led its segment in Spain in the first quarter of 2009. In Russia, sales of 28,900 (although down by 12,500 versus the same period last year) enabled Ford's market share in the first three months of the year to rise by 1.4 percentage points to 7.5 per cent. Year-to-date, Ford of Europe sold 404,900 vehicles in its 51 markets, a reduction of 97,000 or down 19.3 percentage points on the first quarter of 2008. Ford Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A. Status: not an ad Tags: 2009 Ford Fiesta Sales Continue to Soar, car, micro car, ARTICLE, fuel efficient