Ford PH sales rise 27 percent

THE FORD Ecosport SUV has greater ground clearance and taller ride height.

Ford Philippines announced April retail sales of 1,632 units, helping drive its year-to-date sales up 27 percent year-over-year to 6,905 units.

The April performance was driven by continued strength in demand for the Ranger, EcoSport and Fiesta nameplates.

Concerns over the timing of license plate distribution had led some customers to defer their bookings in April, resulting in slower growth for Ford and the industry.

“We’re pleased that our momentum continued through April as Filipinos continue to show their confidence in the Ford brand and appreciation for the way our global Ford vehicles are meeting their lifestyle and transportation needs,” said Kay Hart, managing director, Ford Philippines.

“We appreciate that the Land Transportation Office is working hard to streamline the new vehicle license plate process, as we continue to work very closely with our Ford dealers to ensure each of our customers has a smooth and worry-free purchase experience,” she added.

The EcoSport urban SUV continued to attract a wide range of customers in April with retail sales of 667 units. The EcoSport has helped define a whole new vehicle segment in the Philippines, combining a sporty design with an array of smart technologies and sensible value proposition.

Year-to-date sales of EcoSport have now reached a total of 2,824 units, which makes it Ford’s best-selling nameplate in the Philippines.

The class-defining Ranger – the best-selling pickup truck in the Philippines in 2014 – continued to the lead the segment in April with sales rising 44 percent to 691 units. Year-to-date Ranger sales have increased 31 percent to 2,749 units as the full lineup of 11 variants available in the Philippines continues to appeal to a wide range of work and lifestyles.

The sporty Fiesta contributed to the April performance with sales of 100 units, helping drive its year-to-date sales to 491. The Fiesta features Ford’s high-performance 1.0L EcoBoost engine, which delivers outsized power with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions levels.

The premium mid-sized Explorer delivered sales of 69 units in March. The high-performance Explorer Sport was launched in April and features a powerful 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine, as well

as smart technologies that include PowerFold third-row seats, Hands-Free Tailgate and inflatable rear seat belts.

Ford expects its sales to be given a further boost with the introduction and start of bookings for the all-new Everest next week, with customer deliveries beginning in August.

“Since revealing the all-new Everest at the Manila International Auto Show last month, customer interest and inquiries at our showrooms across the country have been awesome,” explained Hart.

Later this month, Ford will celebrate the official opening of Ford Malolos in Bulacan, Central Luzon as it continues the expansion of its nationwide dealer network this year to a total of 40 locations. Ford Sta. Rosa in Laguna and Ford Ormoc in Leyte will open in June.

The dealer expansion is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to further enhance its customer and ownership experience to support Ford’s rapidly growing customer base across the country.