Ford announced that its European sales rose 7.7 percent from January to May compared to the same period last year, outpacing the industry growth of 6.6 percent.

The Blue Oval sold 98,600 vehicles in its European 20 markets in May and 496,400 vehicles year to date, accounting for a year-over-year increase of 35,500 units or 7.7 percent. Thanks to increasing sales, the brand’s market share rose 0.1 percent to 7.9 percent year-to-date.

Ford’s European sales growth was boosted by new vehicles, as more than 50 percent of sales between January and May were all-new or significantly freshened vehicles. The Ford Kuga SUV saw the strongest sales improvement among the Ford vehicle range with an increase of around 40 percent in the first five months. The Fiesta remained Ford’s No.1 top-selling model, followed by Focus, C-MAX and Kuga.

Ford’s commercial vehicle sales rose 12.8 percent in May and 8.1 percent year-to-date, boosting the company’s CV market share to 10.5 percent in May and 10.2 percent year-to-date, the highest level in 16 years. The Ford Transit remains the best-selling nameplate in the combined one- and two-ton commercial vehicle segment in Europe.

“Our newest vehicles – such as Fiesta, Kuga and Transit — have helped Ford make a strong start to 2014 and we have much more to come this year including the new Focus and new Mondeo,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

By Andrei Nedelea

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford-Kuga