Ford leads UK’s October market with increased car sales and share

Ford extended its UK market lead in October with increased car sales and market share compared with October 2010.
 
Official figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that total UK car sales in October, compared with October 2010, were up 2.6 per cent at 134,944 units.  Ford's car share for October was 13.7 per cent and it sold 18,476 units, up 2,132 units and 1.3 percentage points compared with October 2010.
 
The Ford Fiesta was the UK best seller in October and the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Focus were the No 1 and 2 top sellers for the year to date.  Ford Transit continues as the UK commercial vehicle (CV) sales leader, capturing 21.7 per cent of sales in the medium CV sector in October and 24.8 per cent for the year to date.
 
There were significant sales increases across the Ford car range in October with Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus, Ford C-MAX, Ford Kuga and Ford Galaxy all gaining compared with October 2010.  Ford Fiesta, for example, grew to 7,308 from 6,024, Focus increased to 5,203 from 3,888 and C-MAX to 1,723 from 460.  Ford's share of retail car sales in October was 12.2 per cent, up from 10.8 per cent a year before, and fleet share was also up to 14.9 per cent from 13.9 per cent.
 
Ford's UK CV sales leadership is in its 46th consecutive year.  Total Ford CV sales for the year to date have increased to 61,493 from 52,335, in the same period last year, while Ford's 23.9 per cent CV share is level.  Ford Transit remains the UK’s best-selling CV with sales for the year to date at 48,693, compared with 38,845 in the same period in 2010.
 
“Ford comfortably beat the positive trend in the UK car market in October, which is a great credit to our strong dealer network,” said Mark Ovenden, Ford of Britain managing director.  “Against intense competition our best-ever vehicle range is helping to strengthen Ford’s continued UK market leadership.  Particularly pleasing is the success of our most recently launched models such as Focus and C-MAX, which are boosting customer appreciation of the distinctive attributes of the blue oval brand.”