UK SALES MARCH - The Blue Oval has it's best March since 2008, and remains the UK's #1 brand.

According to the official sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT):

March 2016 highlights:

• Ford total vehicle sales 81,084, up from 79,963 in March 2015 – highest monthly volume since March 2008
• Ford total vehicle sales share 13.8 per cent, 3.9 percentage points ahead of nearest rival
• Fiesta is UK best-seller, Transit Custom and Transit first and second in CV sales
• Ford Fiesta, Focus, Galaxy, Fiesta Van, Transit Custom, Transit and Ranger lead their respective segments
• Ford records highest-ever monthly CV sales and 29.4 per cent CV market share

First quarter 2015 highlights:

• Ford total vehicle sales were 125,614, up from 121,274, for the same period in 2015
• Ford is the UK market leader in total vehicle, car and commercial vehicle sales
• Ford extends its retail car sales lead – 4.5 percentage points of retail car sales share ahead of its nearest rival
• Ford CV sales and share up dramatically, sales volume is up 16 per cent compared with the same period in 2015

Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said:  "Exceeding 80,000 sales in March, the highest monthly volume since 2008, firmly underlines the success of our expanding model range.

“Ford grew its UK total vehicle sales lead for the year to date as the result of sustained investment in our brand, the strongest dealer network in UK and the delivery of exciting products like the Mustang and the Focus RS, which has been awarded the much coveted Car of the Year by Top Gear magazine. Launches of new Ford vehicles continue with the all-new Edge joining the Kuga and EcoSport in our SUV range."

The official figures released by the SMMT today show that total car sales in March were up 5.3 per cent to 518,707 units, compared with March 2015. Ford car sales were 60,349, 8,447 registrations ahead of its nearest rival.  For the year to date (end March) total UK car sales were 771,780 up 5.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2015.  Ford car sales for this period were 93,897 18,865 registrations ahead of its nearest rival.

Ford is also the clear leader in retail car sales, which most accurately reflect the preferences of private buyers.  For March, Ford is 3.5 percentage points of retail car sales share ahead of its nearest rival and for the year to date, the lead is 4.5 percentage points.

The Ford Fiesta remains the UK’s best-seller with 23,467 registrations in March, 6,099 sales and 1.2 percentage points of share ahead of its nearest rival. The broad customer appeal of Ford’s car range is demonstrated by Fiesta, B-MAX, Focus, C-MAX, Kuga and Galaxy all occupying top three places in their respective market segments in March and for the year to date.

UK commercial vehicle sales in March were up 4.1 per cent at 70,947 compared with March 2015.  Total sales of Ford CVs were at the highest level ever recorded, up 21.3 per cent at 20,877, compared with March 2015, three times the sales volume of its nearest rival.

Ford light commercials sales in March were up from 3,755 to 3,959, compared with March 2015, and LCV market share increased from 20.9 to 25 per cent.  Ford medium commercials sales in March were up from 13,449 to 16,918, compared with March 2015, and MCV market share increased from 30.2 to 34.2 per cent.

For the year to date there were corresponding increases in LCV and MCV sales and share and Ford’s total CV sales increased from 26,470 to 31,975 compared with the same period in 2015 with total CV sales share increasing from 25.2 to 28.6 per cent. 

The full availability of Ford’s extended CV family has helped deliver these significant increases in sales and share.  Fiesta Van, Transit Courier, Transit Connect, Transit Custom, Transit and Ranger all placed in the top three in their respective market segments.