Ford recorded its highest sales volume in eight years in August, posting a 22.9 per cent increase year on year.
Ford's new car sales far outpaced the average for the UK market in August, according to data published by the company yesterday (September 4th).
It claims it sold close to 15,000 vehicles in the 31-day period – an impressive 22.9 per cent increase on the number it shifted in August 2013 and an eight-year high for the manufacturer.
For comparison, a contemporaneous report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders showed the UK market as a whole grew 10.1 per cent year on year – itself a respectable figure, as August is typically one of the slowest times of the year for new car registrations.
Discounting commercial vehicles, Ford shifted over 11,000 passenger cars over the course of the month – up 25.6 per cent on August 2013. The UK market as a whole grew 9.4 per cent to around 72,000 cars.
Ford's first and second hottest sellers were the Fiesta and Focus respectively, with the Fiesta in particular clocking up an incredible number of sales. Achieving a 42 per cent increase on August 2013, the supermini sold over 4,600 units – enough that if Ford were to discontinue all of its other models, it would still be the UK's fifth top-selling car maker.
On the commercial vehicles side, the Transit was Ford's second most popular nameplate, pipping plenty of passenger cars from rival manufacturers to the post. Overall, Ford achieved a sales lead of 88 per cent over its closest competitor.
Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, commented that the company was "building strong sales momentum" for the September registration plate change – always a time that activity on the UK motoring market accelerates.
"We are delighted that private customers have driven up our share of more profitable retail sales, which account for a higher proportion of registrations in September," he continued.
"In August our retail share of 16.3 per cent was the highest for more than five years and the highest ever recorded for August."
Posted by George Davis