Ford Increases European Market Share

ÂNorway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and
The Ford Motor Company is proving to be resilient inSwitzerland.
the face of difficult times. Though Ford is losing billionsIn addition, the automaker serves what they call their
in the US and market share at that, the company isEuropean Direct Market where the automaker bases
holding firm in Europe, even increasing its share of thetheir share of the market on non-domestic sales
sales pie.volume. These markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra,
Through August 2008, Ford saw its market share inArmenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Europe increase from 7.6% to 8.0%, fueled by its bestCyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan,
August in the UK since 2003 and its best month everKyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova,
in Germany. Moreover, across its 19 EuropeanMontenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia,
markets, Ford has sold 5500 more cars year to dateSlovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine,
than last year, an amazing feat considering theUzbekistan. Finally, Ford includes Turkey and Russia in
economic times we're in.their non-traditional markets, for a total of 51 markets
"We are pleased to see our market share growingacross Europe and North Africa.
substantially in many markets despite lower overallFor August 2008, the strongest seller for Ford was its
volumes because of the general weakness in theFord Focus followed by its previous generation Fiesta.
industry," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice president, Marketing,Also in that month, Ford began production of its all-new
Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.Fiesta selling 800 models which will only increase in the
"Given the difficult economic conditions and changingmonths ahead. The Ford Focus, Fiesta, Transit,
vehicle mix it is even more important that we offerMondeo, and C-Max are the top five vehicles sold by
customers an unbeatable portfolio of products, and theFord in the European market, with only an
new Fiesta and Ka models will be valuable additions toAmericanized version of the Focus sold stateside.
our range," Sviggum said. "Also, with our new,Good news for Ford of Europe will likely mean good
class-leading ECOnetic line of low CO2 emissionnews for Ford of America especially as Ford starts
vehicles we are able to meet growing customerproducing some of its popular European models on
demand for more fuel-efficient andAmerican, Canadian, and Mexican assembly lines
environmentally-friendly cars."beginning in 2009. Ford says that six European models
Ford calculates its sales totals through19 mainwill be built in North America, radically reshaping the
European markets which includes: Austria, Belgium,Blue Oval and hopefully spurring sales all across the
Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,fruited plains.
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands,