- Saudi Arabia leads regional growth with a stunning 50 percent boost over last year
- SUV and Truck sales shoot up 27 percent, while passenger-cars grow 34 percent
- All new Taurus leading Ford’s sales in passenger-cars across GCC
- Company expects positive trend to continue with the launch of the new 2011 Edge and Mustang models featuring awesome technologies
Ford Middle East today reported a 31 per cent increase in its year to date vehicle sales across GCC markets, compared with the same period last year. Sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury SUVs and trucks led the growth, with sales up by nearly a third (27 per cent) region-wide in the first nine months of the year. Passenger cars too saw increased demand, showing a boost of 34 per cent – with Ford’s latest launches, the new Fusion and Taurus leading the charge.
Saudi Arabia recorded the highest levels of growth, registering a staggering 50 per cent boost over the same period last year, with a 46 per cent increase in SUV and truck sales, and passenger car sales up by 54 per cent.
Ford’s continued success is attributed to unrelenting dealer commitments and investments in new facilities, coupled with growing consumer preference towards the Ford brand and its latest products, as well as increased focus on customer satisfaction efforts, according to Larry Prein, Ford Middle East’s managing director. “2010 has proved to be a good year for Ford,†he said. “The strength of our product line up is being recognised here in the region as well as globally.
“We’re building new and exciting vehicles that are designed with the region’s customers in mind. With a renewed commitment to quality and affordability, the changes we’ve been making as a company are clearly being recognised and appreciated by consumers and industry experts across the region and the globe,†Prein added.
For the region’s motorists, Ford’s SUVs are a clear favourite, with Explorer leading sector sales, up nearly 70 per cent in the first nine months of 2010, followed by Flex and Expedition having registered 40 and 35 per cent more sales, respectively.
In the passenger car segment, sales of the innovative full-size sedan Taurus quadrupled in the first three quarters of 2010, compared to 2009. Following Taurus’ lead, Fusion’s GCC sales jumped 80 percent in the same period.
“The first three quarters of 2010 have been very successful for Ford and we are pleased with the performance of our products,†said Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East’s regional director for Sales. “We are equally optimistic about the last quarter thanks to the great new products we’re going to launch in the next few weeks, featuring industry- and sector-leading technologies,” he added.
“With the upcoming new 2011 Edge and not just one, but two new Mustangs about to charge just around the corner, we are set to end the year on a high, and take the positive product buzz well into next year,†added Murad.
Sales in the United Arab Emirates recorded a 10 per cent increase year to date, with the Taurus, Fusion and Mustang contributing to a seven per cent increase in passenger car sales. Kuwait too enjoyed a healthy performance led by Taurus sales shooting up about 130 per cent while truck and SUV sales registered a 14 per cent increase led by Explorer. Oman, Bahrain and Qatar witnessed increasing popularity in the new Taurus, Fusion and Mustang which contributed to an encouraging performance in the passenger car lineup.
This week Ford launches the new 2011 Edge featuring its revolutionary MyFord Touch™ driver connect technology at the 2010 GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, taking place in Dubai, October 17-21. Ford is the official automotive partner for the region’s largest technology exhibition for the third consecutive year. The new Ford Edge features best-in-class technologies and horsepower featuring unsurpassed V6 highway fuel economy.
Exceeding customers’ expectations with industry leading features in safety, quality, and technology, Ford is now the most considered auto brand in its domestic US market, as announced by the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence Brand Watch research. Ford also claimed the most segment awards, more than any other brand, in the recent J.D. Power and Associates’ 2010 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study and now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS).
Ford continues it gains in its domestic market, with the US reporting strong growth and putting the manufacturer on the right track to gain market share for the second year in a row. Its sales in September were up 46 per cent versus a year ago. Ford’s market share also increased in September, marking the 23rd time in the last 24 months that Ford’s share of the retail market has increased. Year-to-date sales totaled 1.44 million, up 21 per cent – growth more than double the overall industry rate.
Recent Business Highlights:
- Earned $5 billion in the first half of 2010 and has now reported a pretax operating profit for four consecutive quarters
- All Ford business units – North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific Africa and Ford Credit – were profitable in the first half of 2010
- Generated $6.9 billion in Automotive operating-related cash flow over past four quarters
- Completed the sale of Volvo to sharpen focus on the core Ford brand around the world
- Strengthened balance sheet by paying back $7 billion in debt in the second quarter; by 2011, Ford expects to move to a net Automotive cash position
- Ford is the only major U.S. automaker approved for the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentives Program, having received a $5.9 billion credit line for the development of fuel-efficient vehicles
- On track to in-source 1,975 hourly jobs to Ford plants by 2012, exceeding pledge to the UAW by more than 25 percent
- Announced plans to invest $450 million to produce a new hybrid and plug-in hybrid at its Michigan Assembly Plant beginning in 2012; Michigan Assembly is adding 1,000 new jobs
- Committed to invest $400 million in Chicago Assembly Plant, creating 1,200 new jobs to support production of the new Ford Explorer
- Announced investment in two Michigan parts plants of $135 million to support production of electric vehicle components, creating 220 new jobs
- Invested $155 million in Cleveland Engine for new fuel-efficient powertrains
Recent Product Highlights, Accolades and Sales:
- Launched the new global Fiesta small car in the U.S.Launched the Figo economy small car in India
- Debuted new Explorer SUV with at least 30 percent better fuel economy
- Announced aggressive vehicle electrification strategy to launch five new electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. by 2012 and in Europe by 2013; Transit Connect Electric debuts this year
- Preparing launch of the new global Focus, which will be sold around the world2010 Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect won North American Car and Truck of the Year respectively
- Ranked No. 1 among non-luxury brands in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study; Ford won an industry-leading five segment awards in the J.D. Power APEAL study
- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded Ford seven Top Safety Picks for 2010, tying the industry highFord has gained U.S. retail market share in 21 of the past 22 months
- Launched MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology
- Announced plans to bolster Lincoln with seven new or refreshed vehicles within four years
