Ford Of Europe Increases Market Share Despite Weaer Industry

COLOGNE, September 15, 2008: Ford of Europe improved market share for August across its major 19 countries by 0.4 per cent to 8.0 per cent, despite continued weakening of the industry in many key markets. Market share for the first eight months of 2008 remained stable at 8.6 per cent.

Ford of Europe's total sales in its main 51 markets increased to 1,253,600 in the first eight months this year – an increase of 0.4 per cent or 5,500 units.

Strong momentum in markets such as Russia, where sales increased by more than 36 per cent to 11,900 units, and also in Ford's European Direct Markets (EDM) region, with a gain of 21.8 per cent to 7,500 units, helped to offset weaker sales in some of the traditional 19 countries.

"We are pleased to see our market share growing substantially in many markets despite lower overall volumes because of the general weakness in the industry", said Ingvar Sviggum, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.

"Given the difficult economic conditions and changing vehicle mix it is even more important that we offer customers an unbeatable portfolio of products, and the new Fiesta and Ka models will be valuable additions to our range," Sviggum added. "Also, with our new, class-leading ECOnetic line of low CO2 emission vehicles we are able to meet growing customer demand for more fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly cars".

Highlights for the Month
In the Euro 19 markets, Ford of Europe sold 72,300 vehicles (down 14.5 per cent). When sales from Turkey, Russia and its 30 Direct Markets are added, Ford of Europe's August total sales were 98,400 units (down 10.3 per cent).

The top selling Euro 19 models were the Focus (18,000), Fiesta (14,900) and Transit (9,400). In France, the Fiesta, S-MAX and C-MAX were the best-selling imported vehicles in their segments.

Ford of Germany and Ford of Britain performed well in August, despite the tough economic conditions.

Germany became Ford of Europe's largest single market in August with sales of 18,000 units. Monthly share in this market went up 0.7 ppts to 7.6 per cent – Germany's highest share this year.

Britain's August share was 16.1 per cent, up by 2.2 per cent versus the prior year and the highest August share since 2003, with sales of 12,600.

Despite difficult market conditions in Spain, the company's market share improved by 0.4 per cent to 8.7 per cent, a total of 5,800 units and the best August since 1997. Italy achieved sales of 6,800 units and 7.8 per cent share, up 0.5 per cent versus 2007, and the highest August since 2002.

The Year So Far
In the first eight months of this year Ford of Europe sold 1,013,400 vehicles in the Euro 19 markets with eleven of those markets posting increases. Sales for the company's main 51 countries increased by 0.4 per cent to 1,253,600 units.

Britain was the company's top performing market, selling 280,400 vehicles with a share of 16.4 per cent. Germany sold 157,700 vehicles (up 5.5 per cent) and France 98,100 (increase of 10.4 per cent). Ford retained year-to-date market leadership in Spain for the first year ever with a share of 9.6 per cent, up by 0.2 per cent on 2007.