In all 51 of the European markets, Ford Europe sales fell 0.9% to 118,300 in July.
Ford of Europe said sales in its traditional 19 markets fell 4.4% to 93,700 in July, EU economic woes continued. In all 51 of the European markets, Ford Europe sales fell 0.9% to 118,300 in July. For the first seven months of the year, Ford sales in those markets totaled 953,800, up 1.3%, boosted by sales gains in Germany, Russia and Turkey.
Nonetheless, it appears that Ford Europe was second best-selling vehicle brand in July and through the first seven months of 2011, far behind the Volkswagen brand with more than two times the market share of Ford. Final numbers won’t be available until September since ACEA, the automakers trade group, takes the month of August off.
Ford Europe’s market share in its traditional 19 European markets was 8.3% for the first seven months of the year, 0.3 percentage points lower in the same period 2010 as Ford continues to lose ground to competitors who are employing a combination of heavy incentives and new models to increase share. As a result Ford’s market share in July fell 0.2 percentage points to 8.1%.
“Our newest vehicles are breaking through with customers, especially the new C-MAX and Focus, and we are making substantial progress in Germany, Russia and Turkey,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Europe.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
