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New Fiesta Powers Ford of Europe to Highest January Market Share Since 2004

Posted on: Wednesday, 11 February 2009, 09:48 CST

COLOGNE, Germany, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Led by strong sales of the new Fiesta, Ford of Europe (NYSE: F) reported a January market share of 9.3 percent in Europe's main 19 markets, its highest January share since 2004.

Ford of Europe sold 98,300 vehicles in its main 19 markets in the first month of 2009, including 28,300 new Fiestas, making it the best-selling Ford car in January. Since the Fiesta's European launch in August 2008, sales of the popular small car have totaled 89,000 units. The new Fiesta, the first in a series of global, fuel-efficient small cars from Ford, is also being rolled out in China and other Asia Pacific markets. It will go on sale in North America in early 2010.

Ford's January sales across its main 19 European markets were down 23.1 percent from the same month a year ago, less than the overall industry decline of 27.2 percent. Ford's share of 9.3 percent was an increase of 0.5 percentage points over January 2008.

"We're delighted that our new products are wanted by the motoring public, and that this desirability is being reflected in the share growth that we are seeing," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice president marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

"Unfortunately, this share improvement is taking place in the context of a deeply declining market across Europe, so we are in effect taking a larger slice of a much smaller cake. This is why we're taking actions to reduce our costs in response to lower revenue - so that we can protect the flow of exciting new products which is finding such favor, and thus ensure that we come out stronger when we finally get through this deep recession," Sviggum said.

Market share up in 17 markets

Ford of Europe had January market share gains in 17 of its 19 main European markets, with declines coming in Spain and Greece. Ford was market leader in the U.K., Hungary and Ireland, and among the top three in 14 out of the main 19 European markets.

In addition to the Fiesta, top-selling Ford models in the 19 main European markets were the Focus, with 21,400 units, and Transit, which sold 8,200 units. In France, the Fiesta and C-MAX were the best-selling imported vehicles in their segments. In Spain, the Fusion, Focus, Mondeo and Galaxy led their segments.

Across all its 51 European markets, Ford sold 112,000 vehicles in January 2009, down 24.6 percent when compared to the same month last year.

Among other highlights:

Ford of Britain again confirmed its market leadership with sales of 24,300 vehicles, boosting Ford's market share by 1.4 percentage points to 19.1 percent in January.

Ford Ireland market share soared by 4.2 percentage points to 17.9 percent in the first month of 2009, giving it the highest market share increase within the Ford of Europe sales organization.

In Germany, with the help of a government modernization incentive program, Ford sales rose by 14.2 percent to 15,500 units, an increase of 1,900 versus January 2008 and lifting its market share by 2.1 percentage points to 7.7 percent.

The market share for Ford France rose by 0.5 percentage points to 5.9 percent, the highest retail share for Ford in France since January 2000.

Although the Spanish market continued to be one of the most difficult in Europe, with sales falling 48.8 percent to 6,700 units, Ford was passenger car and medium commercial market leader, with a market share of 9.8 percent.

Ford Italy market share rose by 0.8 percentage points to 9.3 percent and the Fiesta was again segment leader in January and the third best-selling vehicle in Italy overall.

In Russia, Ford's January market share rose over 2 percentage points to 7.4 percent.

January 2009 sales volume January 09 January YTD 09 Euro 19 (1) 98,300 98,300 Changes vs. 08 down 29,500 /(23.1)% down 29,500 /(23.1)% vs. 01/08 vs. Jan. YTD 08 Euro 21 (Euro 19 + Russia and Turkey) 109,100 109,100 Changes vs. 08 down 33,700 /(23.6)% down 33,700 /(23.6) % vs. 01/08 vs. Jan. YTD 08 EDM 30 (2) 2,900 2,900 Changes vs. 08 down 2,900 /(49.3)% down 2,900 /(49.3) % vs. 01/08 vs. Jan. YTD 08 Total EURO 51 (EURO 21 + EDM 30) 112,000 112,000 Changes vs. 08 down 36,600 /(24.6)% down 36,600 /(24.6) % vs. 01/08 vs. Jan. YTD 08

(1) The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finnish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.

(2) European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

January 2009 market share (3) January 09 January YTD 09 Euro 19 (3) 9.3% 9.3% changes vs. 08 up 0.5 ppts. up 0.5 ppts. vs. vs. Jan. 08 Jan. YTD 08 Euro 21 (incl. Russia and Turkey) 9.3% 9.3% changes vs. 08 up 0.7 ppts. up 0.7 ppts. vs. vs. Jan. 08 Jan. YTD 08

(3) Not available for EDM, where we base our share on non-domestic sales volumes.

January sales by vehicle line (Euro 19) (4) Model January 09 o(u) January January YTD o(u) January 08 09 YTD 08 Ka 900 (3,000) 900 (3,000) New Ka 5,200 5,200 5,200 5,200 Fiesta 2,600 (25,800) 2,600 (25,800) New Fiesta 28,300 28,300 28,300 28,300 Fusion 4,000 (1,300) 4,000 (1,300) Focus 21,400 (10,700) 21,400 (10,700) Focus Coupe-Cabriolet 600 (500) 600 (500) C-MAX 5,900 (4,100) 5,900 (4,100) Kuga 4,200 4,200 4,200 4,200 Mondeo 8,000 (8,400) 8,000 (8,400) S-MAX 3,000 (1,800) 3,000 (1,800) Galaxy 1,800 (1,100) 1,800 (1,100) Transit 8,200 (6,600) 8,200 (6,600) Transit Connect 2,900 (2,600) 2,900 (2,600) Ranger 900 (700) 900 (700)

(4) Figures do not include vehicles such as the Fiesta van, Maverick, Explorer imports and Turkish-built Cargo heavy trucks.

Notes to Editors:

-- Ford of Europe's market share refers to the traditional main 19 European markets (Euro 19) - excluding Turkey and Russia (as the other main markets) and the 30 European Direct Markets (EDM), where we base our share on non-domestic sales volume.

-- We also report our sales performance (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) for the total region for which Ford of Europe is responsible (51 markets in total).

-- Sales data for specific car lines refer to the Euro 19 markets.

-- The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finnish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.

-- European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Source: PR Newswire

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