Sun shines on Ford sales

Ford is out in front on 2006 car sales by miles – leading the market by more than 18,000 units, according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The Ford blue oval, the UK's top brand for cars and commercial vehicles, is growing in popularity across the board. Ford results out today include:

More than 155,600 Ford cars sold in first five months of the year, with nearest rival 18,238 behind

16.3 per cent of car and commercial vehicle sales so far this year – half a percentage point up on 2005

Ford Focus – Britain's top-selling car – has outsold its closest competitor by a third.

Buoyed by the acclaimed new turbocharged 2.5-litre Ford Focus ST, sales of Focus are fast approaching 65,000 this year

Focus and Mondeo are first and second in diesel top 10

Almost one in five new small cars is a new 2006 Ford Fiesta – the favourite among retail (private) buyers

Ford's car market of 15.2 per cent year-to-date is running a full point ahead of the brand's 2005 full-year figure

For commercial vehicles, Ford's share totals almost 23 per cent – 0.5 of a point up on last year


Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, commented: "Ford's strong sales performance in 2006 in an ultra-competitive market clearly shows that we have our best-ever car and commercial vehicle line-up.

"Our vehicle range will be further strengthened by the new Ford S-MAX and Galaxy when they become available this month, and the new Transit, the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet and the Ford Ranger later in the year."

Even before the new Transit has been launched, Ford commercial vehicle sales have been an outstanding success in 2006. Over 38,300 Ford commercial vehicles have been sold so far – a substantial rise of five per cent. Ford Transit reigns supreme as Britain's favourite commercial vehicle with 24,461 registrations year-to-date. The smaller Ford Transit Connect has topped 9,460 sales this year.