USA - Ford launches the EcoSport to North America, after being in Europe (not that successfully) for some time.

• Ford introduces all-new EcoSport for North America today during the world’s first-ever Snapchat vehicle reveal; event kicks off a three-day interactive experience in Hollywood open to the public through Wednesday
• Fun, capable and connected, EcoSport gives drivers the freedom and versatility to go small and live big
• Technology – including SYNC 3 with a high-resolution 8-inch floating touch screen, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ – easily integrates your smartphone and keeps you connected to friends and family while on the move

Ford today introduces the all-new EcoSport for North America for those who want space-saving convenience and SUV capability.

The EcoSport – a fun, capable, connected compact SUV – stars in the world’s first-ever vehicle reveal on Snapchat, kicking off a Hollywood pop-up event open to the public through Wednesday evening.

The interactive event showcases how EcoSport is a perfect companion for those who believe in going small and living big.

“More people are choosing to spend their time and money sharing experiences with friends and family instead of buying more stuff,” said Chantel Lenard, ‎executive director, Ford U.S. marketing. “EcoSport fits perfectly into this growing lifestyle. It’s our smallest SUV, packed with features and personality.”

Fun sound, color and style

EcoSport’s available premium B&O PLAY audio system brings your music to life. HARMAN acoustic engineers spent hundreds of hours perfecting the in-vehicle music experience.  

The Ford-exclusive B&O PLAY audio system, standard on EcoSport Titanium, features 10 speakers, including B&O PLAY-branded tweeters and woofers in the front doors and a subwoofer in back. The 675-watt system unlocks the power of your favorite music and transforms every drive into a “living big” experience.

EcoSport also features available HD Radio technology, SiriusXM® satellite radio and a dual FM radio antenna that boosts the range and clarity of FM signals.

Customers looking to stand apart from the crowd will find plenty of ways to personalize their EcoSport. Along with 10 exterior color choices, there are seven ambient lighting options and four trim level offerings – S, SE, SES and Titanium. All series feature a swing-gate-style tailgate.

The personality-packed SES series makes the biggest splash. It features Intelligent 4WD, sport-tuned suspension and steering, and unique styling cues inside and out – including bold copper accents for the interior and sport seats.

Connected technology

EcoSport makes it easy to stay in touch with friends and family with SYNC^® 3, Ford’s communications and entertainment system. Faster, more intuitive and easier to use, the system provides more conversational voice recognition and enhanced response to driver commands. Optimized for hands-free use, SYNC 3 for EcoSport is coupled with a touch screen similar to a smartphone or tablet. The 8-inch screen gives front-row occupants easy access to operate available Apple CarPlay^™ and Android Auto^™ commands, and B&O PLAY audio settings.

Drivers also have the ability to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle from almost anywhere using available SYNC Connect with FordPass^®. The mobile app lets owners view vehicle information, such as the fuel level and odometer reading, when not in the vehicle.

EcoSport features two fast-charging USB ports to ensure owners’ devices are always juiced. Plus, there’s a 12-volt power outlet. An available 110-volt outlet positioned behind the center console and another 12-volt outlet allow rear-seat passengers to stay plugged in, too.

Capable, powerful and sporty

Equipped with either the award-winning, 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost^® or 2.0-liter four-cylinder, EcoSport provides power and control. Drivers opting for the 2.0-liter engine get Ford’s Intelligent 4WD standard. Both come with six-speed automatic transmissions.

As many as 30 stowage pockets, bins, hooks make efficient use of every interior inch. A cargo management system at the rear features a movable floor board and fold-away second-row seats to provide a flat area for moving furniture and other larger items.

EcoSport consumer experience in Hollywood

Located at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, the Ford EcoSport Go Small, Live Big experience is open to the public Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 to 10 p.m. Registration and tickets are managed by FordPresents.com.

The EcoSport event consumer experiences include:

• Small stage, big entertainment: A sound and light environment showcases the EcoSport’s available B&O PLAY audio system, ambient lighting and LED display. Special musical performances include Chromeo (DJ set), Echosmith, Phillip Phillips, Atlas Genius and Chord Overstreet – plus a popular DJ for the big reveal
• Small bites, big flavor: Downtown L.A.’s super-trendy Smorgasburg hosts local food vendors. Mama Musubi, Donut Friend, Goa Taco and Amazebowls serve up bite-sized food, while Paloma’s Paletas and Wanderlust Creamery are on hand with food carts
• Small footprint, big life: Two tiny homes from 84LUMBER – a cabin and a beach cottage – are on display. Both are less than 200 square feet and inspired by EcoSport’s personality and spirit of adventure. These custom art installations by L.A.-based Onch Movement and “The Most Famous Artist” Matty Mo encourage stylish, simple living. After the event, Ford and 84LUMBER are donating one of the homes in partnership with the Ron Finley Project – a south Los Angeles nonprofit dedicated to promoting healthy communities
• Small animals, big joy: Los Angeles Wildlife Learning Center experts teach you about the group’s tiny rescue animals, including owls, chinchillas, foxes, sugar gliders, prairie dogs, bunnies and hedgehogs
• Small beach, big oasis: Paying homage to Venice Beach, surf culture comes alive with real sand and Surfset Fitness, surf-inspired exercise equipment and group fitness classes via the world’s first total body surf trainer designed to mimic the instability of a surfboard on water. Nail artist group Cutepolish features the hottest nail art designs, do-it-yourself nail techniques and trendy polish styles

EcoSport visitors also can share their experiences on social media platforms. Collect and share unique Snapchat geo-filters, an all-new Snapchat innovation exclusive to Ford’s EcoSport consumer experience. An overall Snapchat geo-filter allows attendees to post unique Go Small, Live Big content.

The all-new Ford EcoSport starts arriving in dealerships in early 2018.

CHINA SALES - Ford posts growth numbers ranging from 6% to 15% dependant on it's joint ventures.

• Ford and its joint ventures sell 88,189 vehicles in July, up 15 percent
• Changan Ford Automobile sells 69,074 vehicles, up 20 percent
• Jiangling Motor Corporation sells 17,748 vehicles, up 6 percent

Ford and its joint ventures in China continued their strong sales performance with 88,189 vehicles sold in July, up 15 percent compared to July 2015. Year-to-date sales for Ford, Changan Ford (CAF) and Jiangling Motor Corporation (JMC) total 652,836 vehicles, up 6 percent compared to the same time last year.

July sales for CAF, Ford's passenger car joint venture, reached 69,074 vehicles, up 20 percent compared to July 2015. Year-to-date sales for CAF accelerated past the half million mark with 503,719 vehicles sold, up 11 percent compared to last year.

CAF’s strong performance was led by the Ford Escort, which saw July sales up 82 percent, and the new Ford Focus, with monthly sales up 13 percent.

JMC, Ford's commercial vehicle investment in China, sold 17,748 vehicles in July, up 6 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales total 139,262 vehicles, down 5 percent.

Ford UK adds another model to it's expanding ST-Line range, The New Kuga is the latest model to join this exclusive group.

• Ford Kuga ST-Line SUV offering bold styling and sporty driving dynamics on sale from 1^st September
• Part of Ford’s technologically advanced new Kuga, upscale Ford Kuga Vignale, compact EcoSport and all-new Edge SUV family
• Ford Performance-inspired Kuga ST-Line joins Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line with sports styling, powerful and efficient engines at attractive price

Ford has announced a new Kuga ST-Line version of the popular mid-size sports utility vehicle (SUV) on sale later this year, offering sporty styling inspired by Ford Performance models, alongside powerful and efficient EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel engines as well as sports-tuned driving dynamics.

The new Kuga ST-Line will feature among Ford’s expanded SUV range and the most comprehensive Kuga line-up ever, including the sophisticated new Kuga and the upscale Ford KugaVignale, as well as the compact EcoSport and large all-new Edge. 

New Kuga prices will start from £20,845 and Kuga ST-Line prices from £25,845 for delivery by the end of this year.

Kuga ST-Line delivers bold exterior and interior styling including unique alloy wheels and sport seat designs; powertrains including Ford’s 182PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol with Ford Intelligent All Wheel Drive (AWD); and a sports chassis with specially tuned suspension and steering.

“With our sporty Kuga ST-Line joining the new Kuga and our upscale Ford Kuga Vignale, Ford will offer a Kuga for every lifestyle,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “We predict sales of 200,000 Ford Kuga, EcoSport and Edge SUVs in Europe this year – up by 200 per cent from 2013.”

Ford’s expanded range of SUVs in Europe meets increasing demand among European car buyers. The percentage of SUVs sold in Europe compared with total car sales has grown from six per cent in 2005 to 23 per cent in 2015.* 

This is expected to increase to 27 per cent by 2020, according to industry sales analyst IHS, fuelled by growing popularity with an unusually diverse group of buyers, according to a recent Ford survey.

Nearly one in three “Modern Mums”, mothers with young kids, are considering an SUV for their next car, as are one in four Millennials (17- to 34-years-olds); and one in five “Quintastics” (active and youthful buyers in their fifties), according to the Ford-sponsored survey of 5,000 people in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain who own a car or who intend to buy one in the next 12 months.**

New Kuga ST-Line

Kuga ST-Line delivers Ford Performance-inspired styling that includes:

• Upper grille finished in high-gloss Ebony Black; honeycomb design for the lower front grille in high-gloss Ebony Black with unique, matching sports mesh finish on the fog lamp bezels
• Front skid plate, side-skirts, mirror caps, door handles, door cladding, rear roof spoiler and wheel arches in body colour; high-gloss Ebony Black rear skid plate; black roof rails; tinted front and rear lights; and privacy glass
• A black beltline beneath the windows and ST-Line exterior badging on the front fenders
• A choice of unique new 18in high-gloss black alloys wheels with a bright machined surface or 19in alloy wheels in Ebony Black
• Unique sport seat design in partial leather; contrasting stitching for the seats, gear lever gaiter and steering wheel; special two-layer metallic-effect Deep Space paint on the centre console; and black headliner

The new Kuga ST-Line will offer the sportiest Kuga driving dynamics yet, with chassis enhancements including thicker anti-roll bars and a 10mm lower ride height for reduced body roll and sharper responses.

Stiffer suspension bushes help to reduce unwanted movement in the suspension system, while spring and damper rates are fine-tuned to deliver comfort and performance. Ford’s Electronic Power Assisted Steering system also features a revised calibration to deliver a tighter, more responsive and sporty feel.

“Ford ST-Line models are designed to deliver a fun to drive experience, and we placed a strong focus on ensuring that Ford’s first performance-orientated SUV in Europe offered the same driving characteristics as the Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line models”, said Frederick Vrancken, Kuga ST-Line vehicle dynamics engineer, Ford of Europe.

The full range of Kuga powertrains will be offered, including Ford’s 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that replaces the outgoing 120PS 2.0-litre TDCi diesel – expected to enhance fuel efficiency to 64.2mpg and deliver up to 115g/km CO_2.***

Also available will be a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine with 150PS and either front-wheel drive or Ford Intelligent AWD, offering from 60.1 mpg and 122g/km CO₂; and 180PS with Intelligent AWD homologated to 54.3mpg and 134g/km CO₂.

Ford’s 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in 120PS or 150PS front-wheel drive form is expected to achieve from 45.6mpg and 143g/km CO₂; and a 182PS Intelligent AWD version from 38.2mpg) and 171g/km CO₂.

In addition to the new Kuga ST-Line, SUV customers in Europe will later this year be able to order the stylish and sophisticated new Kuga that offers technologies and updates to make driving simpler, safer, more enjoyable and more affordable, including Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system.

Kuga Vignale

A new upscale Ford Kuga Vignale also will be offered for the first time. The production version of the meticulously crafted SUV recently was revealed in pearlescent-metallic Vignale Milano Grigio exterior colour with Cashmere leather interior trim as part of an exclusive specification.

Expanding ST-Line range

The new Kuga ST-Line joins the Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line as part of Ford’s new range of ST-Line models that offer bold styling, sporty driving dynamics and great value.

Fiesta ST-Line is priced at £15,645, Focus ST-Line from £20,595 and newly announced Mondeo ST-Line, first shown at last month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, is available from £24,745.  These three ST-Lines can be ordered now for early autumn delivery.

CHINA - Ford grows by 6% over last year with the joint ventures, Lincoln and Ford all showing gains.

• Ford Motor Company first half sales in China total 577,097 vehicles, up 6 percent
• Changan Ford Automobile first half sales total 434,645 vehicles, up 10 percent; 64,377 vehicles sold in June, up 4 percent
• Jiangling Motor Corporation first half sales total 121,514 vehicles, down 7 percent; 19,351 vehicles sold in June, up 5 percent 
• Lincoln first half sales in China total 12,450 vehicles, an almost three-fold increase and exceeding 2015 full-year sales

Ford Motor Company continued its strong performance in China with vehicle sales in the first half for Ford, Lincoln and its joint ventures reaching 577,097 vehicles, a 6 percent increase compared to the same time last year.

Vehicle sales for Ford and its joint ventures in the first half were up 5 percent over last year to 564,647, with June accounting for 85,105 units sold. June results were 3 percent higher than June 2015.

“We continue to see solid growth in China during the first half,” said Dave Schoch, Ford Motor Company group vice president and president of Asia Pacific. “Even as the pace of growth slows and the market matures, customers continue to respond well to our products, particularly our world-class SUV lineup.”

Demand for Ford and Lincoln sport utility vehicles (SUVs) continues to be high in the first half of 2016, with combined sales of the Ford EcoSport, Kuga, Edge, Everest and Explorer and Lincoln MKC, MKX and Navigator surpassing 150,000 vehicles, a 27 percent increase over 2015.

The Ford Edge saw sales surpass the 50,000 mark during the first half. First half sales for the Ford Explorer increased nearly 50 percent over last year to 6,884. 

First half sales for Changan Ford Automobile (CAF), Ford's passenger car joint venture, reached 434,645 vehicles, a 10 percent increase compared to last year. In June, CAF sold 64,377 vehicles, up 4 percent compared to June 2015.

Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), Ford's commercial vehicle investment in China, sold 19,351 vehicles in June, an increase of 5 percent compared to last year. First-half sales totaled 121,514 vehicles, down 7 percent.

Lincoln continues to see strong growth in China with 12,450 vehicles sold in the first half of 2016, an almost three-fold increase compared to last year. With this, the luxury brand already has exceeded last year’s full-year sales of 11,630.

Ford year to date sales in china are have risen to nearly half a million, and still growing at a steady rate.

• Ford year-to-date sales total 479,542 up five percent; 88,248 vehicles sold in May.
• Changan Ford Automobile year-to-date sales total 370,268, up 11 percent, 67,055 vehicles sold in May.
• Jiangling Motor Corporation year-to-date sales total 102,163 vehicles, down nine percent; 19,692 vehicles sold in May.

Ford’s performance in China remains strong with year-to-date sales reaching 479,542, a five-percent increase compared to 2015. May sales totaled 88,248.

Year-to-date sales for Changan Ford Automobile (CAF), Ford's passenger car joint venture, reached 370,268, an 11-percent increase compared to last year. CAF sold 67,055 vehicles in May, matching the company’s best-ever May performance of 2015.

The Ford Edge had another strong month in May with more than 8,500 sold.  The new Ford Taurus also is off to a strong start with nearly 2,500 sold during May.

Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC), Ford's commercial vehicle investment in China, delivered year-to-date sales of 102,163 vehicles, a nine-percent decrease compared to the same time last year, generally in-line with the traditional commercial vehicle market. In May, JMC sold 19,692 vehicles, a four-percent decrease compared to May 2015. 

Ford's super frugal 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine takes it's ninth win in the International Engine of the Year awards.

• Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is named 2016 International Engine of the Year “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” for the fifth consecutive year – despite increased competition from major global automotive manufacturers in the sub 1.0-litre class
• Ford achieves ninth win for fuel-efficient and sporty engine, previously overall winner a record three times, and best newcomer; powers one in five Ford vehicles sold in Europe
• Ground-breaking 1.0-litre EcoBoost is class winner for drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology. EcoBoost ingenuity now being employed in new EcoBlue diesel engines

Ford’s tiny yet powerful 1.0‑litre EcoBoost engine has been voted best in class at the International Engine of the Year Awards for the fifth year in a row. Judges praised the combination of drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology that continues to set the standard.

The frugal three-cylinder EcoBoost engine was named “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” by a panel of 65 automotive journalists, from 31 countries, to win its class each and every year since launch. This year it finished ahead of 32 competitor engines, 19 more than it competed against in 2012. Significantly, 2015 also saw an increase in competition from global automotive manufacturers of sub 1.0-litre, turbocharged engines with direct fuel injection.

In 2014, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost became the first engine to be named overall International Engine of the Year for a third time in a row, and also was in 2012 named “Best New Engine.”

“The 1.0-litre EcoBoost was a game-changer, and despite others following our lead, it remains the undisputed benchmark in its class five years on,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The spirit of innovation continues to drive us as we look to use the same smart thinking for a new breed of efficient, clean and powerful down-sized diesel engines.”

Available with 100 PS, 125 PS and 140 PS, and even 180 PS in the Ford Fiesta R2 rally car, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine powers vehicle