OREANDA-NEWS. Ford Motor Company sales in Europe rose 12 per cent in August fuelled by increasing demand for the new Mondeo and strengthening sales of SUVs and commercial vehicles. Ford sold a total of 69,000 vehicles in its 20 traditional European markets last month, and 838,900 vehicles in the first eight months of the year – a year-over-year increase of 12 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. The company’s total vehicle market share rose a tenth of a point to 7.9 per cent in August and 8 per cent year-to-date. Ford was the No.1 selling brand for commercial vehicles sales in Europe in both August and year-to-date, and remains Europe’s No. 2 selling brand in Europe for total vehicle and passenger car sales.

"Ford is becoming a much more vibrant, emotionally appealing brand in Europe -- from the new Mondeo Vignale, S-MAX and Mustang to our new flagship FordStores opening across Europe -and customers are responding,” said Jim Farley, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe. “We look forward to building on this momentum with the fully refreshed EcoSport SUV arriving now to the upscale new Edge large SUV early next year.”

The company’s combined sales in the retail and fleet market accounted for 81 per cent of its passenger car sales in August and 73 per cent in the first eight months, 8 percentage points and 3 percentage points better than industry average, respectively.  Ford said it was also seeing a strong take rate for more upscale and well-equipped versions of its vehicles, such as Titanium series.

Passenger Car Sales
Ford’s momentum comes on the back of growth across the company’s product range, led by new model introductions. More than 8,000 European customers have ordered the all-new Ford Mustang which went on-sale in Europe this summer for the first time in the iconic Muscle car’s 51-year history. Sales of the all-new Mondeo doubled year-over-year in August and were up 61 per cent year-to-date. Customer orders for the new Focus were up nearly 60 per cent in August. Ford’s SUV range also continued to increase sales. Kuga sales in August and year-to-date were the highest since the launch of the first-generation Kuga in 2008. Sales of the EcoSport compact SUV rose 81 per cent in August compared to August 2014. 

Commercial Vehicle Sales
Ford was No.1 in commercial vehicles sales in August and year-to-date as demand continued to grow for its completely new and expanded Transit range – including Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier – and the Ranger pickup. Commercial vehicle share was up 2.3 percentage points and 1.7 percentage points at 14.3 per cent and 12.5 per cent, respectively – the best share performance in almost two decades.  Demand for the Ranger pickup continued to grow with August sales up 44 per cent, the best August since the model’s launch in 1999. The Ranger claimed the No.1 sales position in the European pickup market from January to July this year, according to the latest available data. Customer orders for Transit Courier more than doubled in August and customer orders for Transit grew 75 per cent.

Market highlights
Ford closed a strong August across many markets in Europe. Thanks to new product introductions, Ford’s Russian joint venture, Ford Sollers, saw a 17 per cent sales growth in August compared to the same month last year, in a market that declined by 19 per cent. In Germany, passenger car and commercial vehicle sales grew double digit, outperforming industry growth.
Ford was market leader in the UK in total vehicle sales, with Fiesta and Focus the No.1 and No. 2 in the passenger vehicle chart, respectively, while Transit led the commercial vehicle industry sales. Ford also was market leader in total vehicle sales in Ireland and in Hungary, and achieved market share improvements in 11 of its 20 traditional European markets.

Ford at 2015 Frankfurt IAA
At the 2015 Frankfurt IAA, Ford will reaffirm that it is launching five all-new or redesigned vehicles that will compete in the SUV and crossover space in Europe in the next three years, starting early next year with the Edge large SUV.