Motoring 2014: Growth is strong for Ford PH

Kay Hart (right) and Dino Obias, managing director and assistant vice president for cars, respectively, of Ford Philippines, present the all new Escape and twin-turbo Explorer Sport SUV. PHOTOS BY EUGENE ARANETA

LAST SEPTEMBER, Ford announced its target to boost global vehicle sales by 52 percent by 2020. That’s about selling 9.4 million vehicles annually. and to do this, the Detroit-based automaker is relying heavily on the fast-growing Asian markets that include the Philippines.

Unlike the markets of Europe and South America, Asia is showing no sign of quenching a seemingly insatiable thirst for the American badge.

No wonder Ford is expecting its Asia-Pacific sales to rise of between 51 million and 53 million vehicles by 2020, a significant increase from previous expectation of 40 million to 42 million in 2015.

As a reflection of Ford’s regional marketing effort, Ford Philippines is continuously expanding its nationwide dealer network with the recent opening of Ford Alabang (its the biggest dealership in the country and one of the largest across the Asean region), Baguio City, and Tacloban City in Leyte (which was re-opened after super typhoon Yolanda struck the Eastern Visayas and destroyed the facility last year).

With the plan to open another one in Leyte, this time in Ormoc City, Ford Philippines will be strengthening its nationwide dealer network to 37.

More accessible

“We are helping make the Ford brand even more accessible to customers nationwide, allowing us to better serve them and their needs. The quality of customer service we provide is equally as important as the quality of the vehicles we deliver to customers,” said Kay Hart, managing director, Ford Philippines.

The expanded dealership network is working extremely well for the company now that it is continuously adding new models and upgraded variants to its lineup. With this year’s introduction of the new EcoSport, the third-generation Escape, Explorer Sport with EcoBoost V6, Ford Philippines is set to introduce more next year, including the Mustang, Expedition and Everest sometime in the first half of 2015.

The all-new Escape comes in two variants, the 1.6-liter and 2-liter, both EcoBoost engines. The US-sourced SUV comes into the Philippines as completely built units (CBU). Meanwhile, the Explorer Sport is the high-performance variant of Ford’s popular seven-seat SUV and features a twin-turbo version of the 3.5-liter V6.

Market acceptance of its current lineup has been very encouraging. The company announced their best-ever November performance with total retail sales jumping 62 percent year-over-year to 1,924 units, led by continued strength in demand for the Ranger, EcoSport and Everest nameplates.

Doing well

“We certainly see positive involvement in Asean and the Philippines will be a big contributor to that, with its market share of 8 percent,” said Asean Ford Motor Co. president Matt Bradley during a recent press briefing.

He added that Ford is doing quite well, particularly in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Last year, Ford Philippines, posted sales growth of 41 percent (13,285 vehicles), a figure the company hopes to beat this year.

Currently, Ford Philippines has already sold 18,438 units (as of end-November), a 53 percent increase over last year. Sales of the class-defining Ranger jumped 56 percent year-over-year to 746 units, led by strong consumer demand for the pickup truck’s 13 variants in the Philippines, driving year-to-date sales of 7,040 units, a 68 percent increase over last year.

New models in 2015

What to anticipate next year? indeed, 2015 would be very exciting for Ford Philippines as it prepares the arrival of the six-generation Mustang.

The base model car will be powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower and 433Nm of torque, while the flagship GT will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 Coyote engine producing 435 horsepower and 542Nm. Both engines will be available either with an improved six-speed manual or a reworked six-speed automatic with steering wheel paddles (note: the V8 version will feature a built-in burnout mode!

This technology, the so-called electric line-lock feature, works by locking on the front brakes with the push of a button to enable the car’s rear wheels to spin, thus allowing the driver to achieve that lovely tire squeal, smoke as well as perfect catapult as soon as the lights go green.

Another exciting upcoming model is the sixth generation Expedition, which will be powered by a new 3.5 liter direct-injection twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 engine that produce 365 horsepower with 569 Nm of torque.

Meanwhile, the all-new Everest promises to be one of the most capable, technologically advanced, safest and most fuel efficient SUVs of its kind when it launches in the Philippines sometime in March.

The new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine will make its Asia Pacific debut in the Everest. Ford claims the EcoBoost engine that comes with the model is expected to deliver more power than a conventional 3.5-liter V6 and is also predicting class-leading fuel economy.