Ford reported a 19.8 percent increase in European market share compared to the same month last year – helping to bring Ford to its highest year-to-date market share since 1999. The strong showing for November follows Ford’s strongest October sales in the European market in 12 years.
According to Ford, the increase in market share can be largely attributed to the strong consumer sales across its lineup compared to last year.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Europe’s vice president of sales, said, “In November, 63 percent of our car sales were to retail customers, 13 percentage points up on last year. Last month, 77 percent of Fiesta, 74 percent of Ka, 73 percent of Kuga and 69 percent of Fusion sales were to retail customers.”
Not only do stronger consumer demands help to drive up market share and total volume, it is also more profitable on average than fleet sales, according to De Waard.
Ford has also benefited from several programs similar to the American “Cash for clunkers” government subsidy program in major markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany and France. The government programs called for the trade-in of older, less fuel-efficient models in exchange for a discount on a newer, “greener” model and did well with Ford’s strong European small car offerings.
Ford was the top automaker in the United Kingdom and Ireland in November – a market where Ford typically enjoys strong sales and market share. Ford also reported being the top imported brand in both France and Italy for November.
The European new car market is down six percent compared to a year ago through the first 11 months, with Ford beating the industry average decline with a year-to-date decline of just 1.4 percent.
12/16, 1:58 AM
posted by:
howsmydriving
It’s like that old saying, “Bore us to death on Sunday, sell on Monday….”
12/16, 3:00 AM
posted by:
A4
How are Ford’s European offerings boring? I’d say they’re quite good.
12/16, 5:27 AM
posted by:
SomeGreek
Fiesta.-
12/16, 7:40 AM
posted by:
livelyjay
Good to hear Ford is doing well. The down side to this is had they designed the US market vehicles as well as the Euro market, they would be doing better here as well. I remember watching Casino Royale, when 007 is driving the Mondeo, and being angry at Ford for not selling good looking vehicles in this market.
12/16, 9:00 AM
posted by:
Bubs Solo
Howsmydriving has no clue. He can’t find Europe on the map yet alone figure out why Ford is achieving what they have.
12/16, 9:20 AM
posted by:
wakeNbake
What car is pictured in this article? Looks like the Outlander.
12/16, 9:30 AM
posted by:
ignorance123
Why it’s the Ford Kuga, Mr. wakeNbake. This should be the replacement for the current Ford Escape here in North America in a couple of years.
12/16, 9:45 AM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
and if the fiesta had launched before the US Cash for Clunkers program, ford would’ve gained more market share here, imo…
12/16, 9:49 AM
posted by:
Borat
By the time it is reaches our shores it will so bastardized that it will not be selling. I see plethora of of cute Ford Transits on Ford lot nearby and haven’t seen one on the road yet. Anyway, I reckon it is good for Ford at expense of GM.
12/16, 10:18 AM
posted by:
jacobdexter
Hey borat I don’t know where you live but here in California the Ford Transit connects are selling really well. I’ve seen a lot of them on the road here.
12/16, 10:27 AM
posted by:
wakeNbake
Thanks 123, the kuga looks like a huge improvement over the current escape.
12/16, 10:33 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Ditto. I saw two on the ride in this morning.
12/16, 11:00 AM
posted by:
JakeK66
Same here – I have driven one a couple times now too – Ford lent us a Transit for trial and it just sits there, so I use it for going out to lunch and stuff. We also have a 2010 Super Duty and Taurus – suprisingly the Taurus isn’t very popular as no one really likes it like they did the Flex – which was a hit around the office.
I’m actually trying to get my brother to buy one to replace his Focus Wagon.
12/16, 12:38 PM
posted by:
masteryoda83
@ JakeK66 yeah the Taurus is nice looking but kind of a let down. However I am not suprised that Ford is on the incline with their sales because they do build good vehicles, especially in Europe. Its only a matter of time before perception on my side of the pond changes and we start to hear this same kind of news in the US. Besides the Ford Fusion just won Motor Trend car of the year!!!! good job Ford keep it up
12/16, 1:03 PM
posted by:
0-60
Great job Ford!!
12/16, 1:24 PM
posted by:
A4
I’ve seen a buttload of Transit Connects on the road as well… only seen one Taurus though, and a cop owned it. Not that there’s anything wrong with that… piggies.
12/16, 2:16 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
I see a boatload of Transits on the Ford dealer lots but not on the roads here
Glad to see European consumers liking Ford’s lineup. Built decent looking and handling vehicles, and the customers will come a calling
12/16, 2:24 PM
posted by:
volo
good looking cars, good and robust diesel and gasoline engines, good interior, and at a reasonneable price. No wonder that they are doing well in Europe.
12/16, 3:41 PM
posted by:
j-dubb
Ford is still junk whether it’s here or round the world
12/16, 4:02 PM
posted by:
TornadoGTI
Fords European offers VERY good cars compared to the ones here in the states. They need to start bringing those models here if they want to be a better company. Start with the Focus RS and then with the Mondeo ( i have always liked that car).
12/16, 4:37 PM
posted by:
Elvacano
That Kuga is a nice looking vehicle, I bet that was Hyundai’s inspiration for their Tuscon
12/16, 5:44 PM
posted by:
Road_AMS
Most of you praise Ford’s european lineup and say that it’s so much better than it is here in the states. In most cases I agree with you, but there’s a reason for it. Their engines, interior components and materials, wheels and edgy styling all come at a price. Ford’s euro lineup on average is very much more expensive than the cars we see here. If they brought those vehicles over here and they kept their US dollar converted price there is a very slim chance the average consumer (the majority of people that buy Ford) would buy one. I’m personally shocked they were able to bring down the price of the Fiesta to what it is. That car should cost $18k base if my 1.6 dollars per British pound conversion is correct.
12/16, 7:36 PM
posted by:
The Realist
Amazing what decent, quality product will do for you.
It would be nice if we could get some of that here in the states (and not on the form of an overpriced, cheap, ugly roller skate).
12/16, 8:00 PM
posted by:
The Realist
Road-AMS:
Please……you cannot take the European price and simply convert it to figure out the price here in the states. That’s NOT how it works.
Take the fantastic Focus ST for example. A direct conversion (last time I did it) rendered a price of about $30K. Now, take the price of the version of that same car as it’s sold in Mexico and you have a US price of $25K.
12/17, 12:40 PM
posted by:
Road_AMS
Then explain to me how it works. They had to make cost cuts on the Euro Fiesta to get it down to $15k. That and it’s built in Mexico…