Cork, 30 July 2008 – Ford Europe sold a record 1,003,700 vehicles in the first half of 2008, a rise of almost 2 percent on the same period last year. The 1 million sales threshold comes despite a general softening of the industry and the challenging economic environment.

 

In the major markets of Germany, France and Spain, sales rose 5.8%, 13.7% and 0.5% respectively. In all, Ford posted sales increases in 12 of the Euro 19 countries. In Ireland, Ford increased its share to 13.5%, in a market down almost 20%. 

Further afield, Russia continues to be a big success story for the blue oval, with sales up almost 20% to 97,300 units. The European ‘direct markets’* collectively brought a sales increase of nearly 40%, with a total of 44,400 units.

 

In the Euro 19 countries, Ford Transit retail sales rose by 7,500 to a record 99,400. Top sellers in the car range were the Focus (204,000 units), Fiesta (181,200), Mondeo (91,700) and C-MAX (63,900).

 

“These sales results speak for the strength of the overall Ford line-up” comments Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford Ireland. “With an incremental model in the Ford Kuga cross-over coming on stream, and the promise of a brand new Fiesta later this year, the Ford range will be stronger in 2009 than I can ever remember it.”

 

Ford Europe posted pre-tax profits of $582 million for the 2nd quarter of 2008, up from $262 million for the same period in 2007.