Ford UK is accelerating sales momentum in 2014

Ford is accelerating sales momentum in 2014, with the latest results for February confirming a stretched market lead and increased total vehicle sales and share. This puts Ford in prime position heading into March, when sales increase significantly due to the registration plate change.

According to official sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):

Ford leads UK overall, car and commercial vehicle (CV) sales. Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus are the No 1 and 2 best-selling cars. Ford Transit and Ford Transit Custom are the No 1 and 2 best-selling CVs. Ford total vehicle sales and share up for the year to date. Ford’s lead over its nearest rival in total vehicle sales has grown by over 80 per cent for the year to date, compared with the same period in 2013.

According to the official SMMT figures, February car sales in the UK were up 3.0 per cent at 68,736, compared with February 2013. Ford car sales were 9,935.

Ford Fiesta was the number one best seller in February, notching up 4,415 registrations, up from 3,655 in 2013. Ford is extending its lead in retail car sales with increases for February and for the year to date compared with 2013. In February Ford retail car sales share grew significantly to 15.3 per cent, a 1.6 percentage point increase over February 2013.

UK commercial vehicle sales, at 13,677, were up 16.1 per cent for the month, compared with February 2013. Ford CV sales were 2,783 and for the year to date Ford CV sales were 7,851, 10.4 per cent up from 2013, while share was up 1.5 percentage points at 23.2 per cent.

Ford medium commercials, headed by the industry-leading Ford Transit and Ford Transit Custom, were 2,475, and for the year to date sales were up from 5,764 to 6,939 and Ford’s share of MCV sales was 32.0 per cent, up from 31.3 per cent for the same period in 2013. Ford Fiesta Van, Ford Transit Custom and Ford Transit were all leaders in their respective segments in February.

The sales success of its car and CV ranges saw Ford total vehicle registrations for the year to date grow 7.6 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013, with sales at 39,442 and share up 0.1 of a percentage point at 15.3 per cent.

In the keenly competitive net fleet sector, Ford cars and CVs continue to make significant progress, with net fleet car share for the year to date up 3.7 percentage points to 13.6 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013.

Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain chairman and managing director, said: “Ford’s fast sales start to 2014 is solidly based on growth in the more profitable retail and net fleet sectors and is a result of our continued investment in exciting products and industry-leading technologies, delivered through the strongest dealer network in the UK.

“More retail and fleet buyers choose Ford over any other vehicle brand and we are building on this with a range of new products planned for this year, including new Transit, new Focus and new Mondeo.”