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UK Market Leader Ford Boosts Retail Sales Share


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BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – November 5, 2010: Ford has strengthened its lead in the retail market, underwriting its UK market leadership in October and for the year to date. Ford total vehicle retail share of 11.5 per cent in October was up 1.1 percentage points compared with October 2009.

Official figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that Ford was overall car sales leader in October and for the year to date, with 16,344 and 246,770 registrations respectively. Ford's share of car sales for the month was 12.4 per cent and for the year to date 14 per cent.

Ford's car retail share for October increased from 10.4 to 10.8 per cent compared with October 2009. There was also a corresponding increase for Ford - from 8.9 to 9.4 per cent - in its share of the "private" segment, which more closely reflect sales to individual retail customers.

Ford Fiesta continues as UK best seller in October and for the year to date. Ford Fiesta on its own captured 5.4 per cent of the market in October and its share stands at 5.7 per cent for the year to date.

Ford's long-standing UK commercial vehicle (CV) sales leadership was matched by increases in sales volume and share for October and for the year to date, compared with the same periods in 2009. Ford CV sales in October of 5,351 were up from 3,429 in October 2009 and for the year to date sales were 52,335 up from 47,532 for the same period in 2009. Ford CV share was 24.6 per cent in October up from 20.1 per cent in October 2009.

The Ford Transit remains the top selling CV in the UK, while the Ford Fiesta Van leads its segment with a 66.3 per cent share in October and 57.5 per cent for the year to date. Ford Transit sales were up from 2,333 in October 2009 to 4,162 last month and for the year to date they increased from 30,912 to 38,845.

Nigel Sharp, managing director Ford of Britain, said: "Our UK market leadership is supported by a strengthening in retail sales that accurately reflects the customer appeal of our best ever vehicle range, now including the all-new Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX and the significantly freshened Ford Mondeo. Our disciplined approach to the market is supported by a clear pricing and communications strategy that is helping to further build the positive perception of the blue oval brand."