DEARBORN (dpa-AFX) - Automaker Ford Motor Co. (F) said that its sales in Europe grew 12 percent in March and 11 percent in the first quarter.
The company's market share at 8.9 percent in March and 8.0 percent for the first quarter rose by 0.2 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively, compared with the same periods last year.
Ford sales volumes to European retail and fleet customers increased by one percentage point to 73 percent of total sales in the first quarter, two percentage points above industry average. Likewise, Ford sales in less profitable market segments - such as daily rentals and dealer registrations - declined year-over-year to 27 percent in the first quarter, down from 28 per cent a year ago.
Ford sales in the UK grew by 13 percent in March and 11 percent in the first quarter. In Germany, Ford sales improved by 19 percent in March and 24 percent in the first quarter, while market share was up 0.8 of a percentage point in March and 1.0 percentage point year-to-date.
Ford's commercial vehicle sales totalled about 50,000 in the first quarter, up 10 percent. CV market share was 10.4 percent, up 0.2 percentage points.
More than 326,000 vehicles were sold by Ford in its main 22 European markets in the first quarter of the year. The company noted that Fiesta and Focus were the No. 1 and No. 2 top-selling Ford vehicles for the first three months of the year. Fiesta sales were up by 7 percent, and Ford recently announced it had increased daily production of the car at its Cologne plant by 200 units to 1,850 units to cope with the increased demand.
Effective January 2014, Ford of Europe reports its sales for the 20 European markets where it is represented through National Sales Companies. Previously, Ford referenced 19 countries. Romania has been added as the 20th market.
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