Ford Celebrates 26 Consecutive Years At The Top Of The British New Car Sales Chart

Ford was Britain's best-selling nameplate for new cars for the 26th consecutive year in 2002.

Sales performance highlights for Ford last year included:

• The Ford Focus was Britain's best-selling new car in 2002 for the fourth successive year with sales of 151,209 – the best-ever British sales figure for the Ford Focus in a single year. The Focus was also the best-selling fleet car.
• The Ford Transit was the medium commercial market leader for the 37th successive year with a total of 55,112 sales.
• The Ford Ka had its best year ever for sales with 62,863 sold in Britain.
• Sales of Ford diesel-engined cars were up by 43 per cent on 2001, and accounted for 18.4 per cent of all Ford new cars sold in Britain.
• Ford was number one in the fleet new car market with sales of 221,255 new cars, equivalent to 20.3 per cent of the total fleet new car market.
• Ford had four cars in the top ten best-sellers for 2002 – the Ka, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo.
• The Ford Galaxy was the best-selling large MPV, with 26.9 per cent of its segment.

" Our British customers again gave Ford a huge vote of confidence in 2002 by making us the new car sales market leader for the 26th successive year, something we – and by 'we' I not only mean Ford people but also our unparalleled dealer network and our suppliers – are all extremely proud of achieving," said Paul Thomas, managing director, Ford Motor Company Limited.

In a total new car sales market of 2,563,631 last year, an all time record for the industry, Ford sold 400,808 new cars, equivalent to 15.6 per cent share of the total market. Ford also sold 74,507 commercial vehicles.

Paul Thomas continued: "Whilst I am pleased with our success, 2002 was also an intensely competitive year in the new car and commercial vehicle markets and I have every expectation this competition will only increase in the year ahead. However, Ford is ready to meet the challenges and the opportunities 2003 will bring.

"Last year we launched a number of new vehicles, including the all-new Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus RS, Ford Fusion and the Ford Transit Connect. These will be joined this year by other new niche and volume models, such as the Ford Streetka and the Ford Focus MAV. 2003 will see Ford's best range of new car and commercial vehicles ever offered in Britain."