NEW FIESTA BOOSTS FORD OF EUROPE MARKET SHARE

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• Fiesta best-selling Ford car year-to-date across Europe's main 19 markets (Euro 19)

• 117,000 new Fiestas sold since global debut in late 2008

• Ford increased February market share (in Euro 19) by 0.8 percentage points to 8.5 per cent vs. the same month in 2008

• Year-to-date blue oval market share up in 15 out of 19 European markets

• Ford has consolidated its position as Europe's number two best-selling brand

COLOGNE, March 12, 2009 – Ford of Europe increased its market share in February across the company's 19 main markets (Euro 19) by 0.8 percentage points to 8.5 per cent versus the same month last year.

While overall industry Euro 19 sales declined by 20.1 per cent, Ford sales in February were down by 14.2 per cent, or 15,000 units, compared to the same month in 2008.

Ford of Europe sold 91,100 vehicles in its Euro 19 markets in February, including 27,900 new Fiestas, making it the best-selling Ford car again this month, and the second-best selling car in the industry.

Already this year 56,200 Fiestas have been delivered to European customers and since the market launch started in August 2008, sales of new Fiesta have totaled 117,000.

"We're excited, but not surprised, to see the new Fiesta doing so well in the market place given the current economic conditions," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

"There are a number of bright spots for us this month, particularly Germany where Ford sales are up by 21,000 vehicles, or 43.7 per cent, versus last February, thanks in no small part to the scrappage scheme which is proving extremely popular and generating a lot of additional showroom traffic. However the underlying trend we face is still one of an overall sales decline across the industry as a whole. We will continue to do all that it takes to stay competitive and protect the flow of our exciting new products," he added.

February market share up in 15 out of 19 markets
Ford of Europe sold 91,100 vehicles across the Euro 19 markets in February 2009. Ford's share rose in 15 out of those 19. Only Ireland, Norway, Portugal and Spain were down in February.

Top selling Ford models in the 19 main European markets were the new Fiesta (27,900), the Focus (20,800), and Transit (7,100).

Boosted by the scrappage scheme, the German market bucked the general trend and Ford of Germany sold 21,000 vehicles, up by 43.7 per cent or 6,400 on February 2008, making it the company's best-performing market by sales in Europe for February.

In Britain, where market share rose by 1.1 per cent to 17.6 per cent, the Fiesta was the best-selling car for the fourth consecutive month and in Italy, Ford was the leading import brand and the Fiesta was the best-selling imported car.

In France, the Fiesta, C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling imported vehicles in their segments.

Across all its 51 European markets, Ford sold 107,800 vehicles in February 2009, down 18.5 per cent or 24,400, when compared to the same month last year.

Ford of Europe’s sales in the first two months of 2009
In the first two months of the year, Ford of Germany sold 36,500 vehicles, up by 29.5 per cent year-over-year, or 8,300, making it the largest sales market in Europe for Ford so far in 2009. Market share there was at 7.6 per cent, up by 1.9 percentage points when compared to the same period last year. German industry year-to-date was up 2,100 or 0.4 percentage points on 2009.

In complete contrast to Germany, the industry in the UK was down by 32.2 per cent (-89,400). Ford of Britain sold 35,500 vehicles, down 12,400 or 25.9 per cent. However, Ford's market share in Britain continues to rise and for the first two months of the year increased by 1.2 percentage points to 18.5 per cent.

Year-to-date market share in France increased by 0.5 percentage points to 5.7 per cent, with sales at 21,500, a reduction of 2,600 on the same period in 2008.

In Spain, Ford remained passenger car leader in the first two months of 2009 with sales of 12,500 (- 15,000) and a market share of 8.9 per cent. The Spanish market remains one of the most depressed in Europe, with sales falling more than 50 per cent versus last year.

Ford Italy sold 34,600 vehicles over this period (- 8,200) and market share rose by 1.2 percentage points to 9.6 per cent. Fiesta rose from third to second place in the list of best-selling vehicles in Italy.

In Russia, sales of 17,800 (-5,800) enabled Ford's market share in the first months of the year to rise by 1.6 percentage points to 7.3 per cent.