Ford South Africa Sales Up 8% in September Thanks to Ranger, Fiesta
Ford Motor Company of South Africa reported sales totaling 6,175 vehicles in September, up 8% from its sales of 5,707 vehicles in September 2016. Ford’s growth was two percentage points higher than industry growth for the month, which was up 6% at 50,675 vehicles delivered. Ford also held a 12.2% market share for September, bringing its to-date market share in South Africa to 12.5%.
“It’s encouraging to note the increase in sales volumes in both the passenger car and LCV segments over the past four months, and we anticipate this trend continuing for the remainder of the year,” said Neale Hill, Director of Marketing, Sales, and Service, Ford Motor Company South Africa. “However, consumers remain under pressure due to the subdued economy. The fuel price increases in September and October will only exacerbate the situation further, and we expect customers to increasingly prioritize fuel economy when making purchasing decisions. Ford’s multiple award-winning EcoBoost engines are gaining fantastic traction in the market due to their outstanding performance and fuel efficiency.”
Ford’s retail sales were up with a total of 4,735 vehicles, fleet sales were up at 1,440 vehicles, passenger vehicle sales grew to 3,746 vehicles, and light commercial vehicle sales were down slightly at 2,429 units.
September was yet another big month for the Ford Ranger; domestic sales totaled 2,237 vehicles, making it Ford’s best-selling vehicle and the second-best-selling light commercial vehicle in South Africa, and exports reached a new record at 7,780 vehicles to markets including Europe and the Middle East.
Other highlights for Ford included the Figo earning its best sales for the year, Fiesta and Everest earning their second-best sales of the year, and EcoSport topping the compact SUV class yet again. September also marked the launch of the new Ford Kuga in South Africa.
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