Ford Sales Outpace UK Market Thanks To New Model Boost

BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – May 7, 2012: UK market leader Ford has maintained its car sales surge in 2012, with volume and share increases in April and for the year to date, compared with 2011.

A significant factor in this success is the introduction of new high-technology features and models. For example, the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in Focus, with its combination of outstanding fuel efficiency and strong performance, is already proving an asset in Ford showrooms, accounting for 17 per cent of Focus sales in April – its first full month of sales.

Ford car sales were up 11.5 per cent in April, compared with April 2011, while the market as a whole was up 3.3 per cent, according to the official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):

Ford car sales and share up in April and for the year to date

Ford’s UK car sales lead is increased in April and for the year to date

Ford Fiesta leads UK car sales in April and for the year to date

Ford commercial vehicles lead the market for 46th successive year

Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director, said: "Ford’s car range is maintaining its strong sales momentum through 2012, stretching our sales lead over our nearest rival and hitting a higher sales rate than the overall market.

“Our best-ever range of vehicles and our unmatched dealer network continue to set the pace in the UK. Apart from the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine in Focus and the new Ford Ranger we are looking forward to launching more exciting new products this year, including the Focus ST, the new Ford B-MAX, and the new Ford Transit."

The official figures released by the SMMT today show that total car sales in April were up 3.3 per cent to 142,322 units, compared with April 2011. Ford car sales of 20,535 were up 11.5 per cent, from 18,411 in April 2011. For the year to date (end April) total UK car sales were 705,878 up 1.4 per cent compared with 2011, while Ford car sales for this period in 2012 were 103,132 up 4.8 per cent compared with 2011.

Ford Fiesta continued as the UK best seller in April, taking 6.2 per cent of the total car market with 8,780 sales, up from 4.9 per cent and 6,755 sales in April 2011. Ford Fiesta is also the UK best seller for the year to date; its sales have increased from 34,679 to 42,170, compared with the same period in 2011.

Other Ford models that performed strongly in April and secured sales and share increases compared with April 2011 were the Ford Focus, Ford Mondeo and Ford Galaxy. For the year to date the top sales performers with sales and share increases are the Ford Ka, Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus.

In April, the UK light commercial vehicle and medium commercial vehicle segments combined were down 15.8 per cent, compared with April 2011. Ford’s combined sales in these segments were down 19.8 per cent. Sales of Ford commercials in April were down from 4,769 to 3,822, compared with April 2011.

Ford medium commercials, headed by the industry-leading Ford Transit, accounted for 29.7 per cent of sales in that segment for the year to date, up from 28.3 per cent in 2011.