Ford Of Europe Breaks 10 Per Cent Market Share Barrier

COLOGNE, GERMANY - October 12, 2009: Ford achieved a 10.1 per cent market share in September 2009 in its 19 European main markets – the best share for any month since September 2001 and a 0.8 percentage point increase on the same month 2008.

A total of 51,400 new Ford Fiestas were registered in Europe last month – the best September for Fiesta since 1994.

For the fourth consecutive month, Ford of Europe increased its year-over-year monthly sales volume, again outperforming the industry. Ford of Europe sold 152,600 new vehicles in its 19 main markets in September, 12.3 percentage points more than in the same month last year and better than the industry which was up 2.9 per cent. Ford's September share increased in 14 of its 19 European markets versus the same month 2008.

"Traditionally we expect Ford to have a good month in September given the surge of new car sales in the UK due to the registration plate change, but September 2009 has surpassed expectations," said Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's Vice-President for Marketing, Sales and Service. This really was an outstanding performance. I'd like to thank Ford employees, our dealers and, most of all, our customers, for helping to achieve such a strong performance in September.

"Our continuing success in gaining market share despite the difficult economic situation shows that customers are willing to place their faith in Ford because we are providing them with the exciting and innovative new vehicles that they want to buy. This is particularly true of the new Ford Fiesta, which achieved its highest September sales volume since 1994."

"Ford has now gained nine months of year-over year monthly sales share improvement, and month-on-month volume increases for the last four months. But market share and volume success are only valuable if they are achieved through high quality sales that generate good revenue, and we certainly saw that in September with retail sales accounting for 60 per cent of Ford passenger car sales.

"However, we remain concerned about the continuing fragility of the underlying market. With the sudden ending of some scrappage schemes and the more-controlled phasing out of others, the industry faces an uncertain future in terms of market demand as 2010 approaches. It is clear that there is still a need for government intervention in Europe to help bolster the market until demand reaches a more sustainable level," said Mr. Sviggum.

September year-to-date
Ford succeeded in increasing its share by 0.5 percentage points to 9.2 per cent, the best year-to-date September share for Ford in its main 19 European markets since 1999. Share was up in 17 out of the 19 main markets.

In the first nine months of 2009, Ford of Europe registered 1,097,100 vehicles in these 19 European markets, a reduction of 51,100 units or 4.5 per cent lower than in the same period in 2008. This compares with a total industry decline of 9.7 per cent in the period. Year-to-date across its 51 markets, Ford of Europe sold 1,243,700 vehicles, a decrease of 172,000 units, or 12.2 per cent fewer than in the same period in 2008.