autoevolution
 

Ford Demands Swift Action as European Sales Slow

Ford has announced combined sales for the 51 European markets it does business in for the month of November. Despite a visible cooldown, the arrival of the new Focus as well as the introduction of new engines and transmissions have translated into a 2.5 percent increase for the year to date to 123,700 vehicles.
The bad news is that while its overall figures are up for the year, November has brought only a 1 percent increase. What’s more, Ford saw 4,4 percent less demand in the traditional 19 European markets. Sales were still booming in emerging markets like Russia and Turkey.

“We’re pleased that we continue to see strong demand for new products like the Focus and C-MAX, and have been able to take advantage of growth opportunities in Germany and key Eastern European markets”, said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Services, Ford of Europe.

“But the overall market in Europe remains challenging as consumer confidence has been dampened by the economic turmoil in the region. We urge decision makers to move quickly and decisively, even if the actions are painful in the short term, to begin reducing volatility in the markets and rebuilding consumer and market confidence,” the Ford execs warns.

The European market is struggling so badly in Europe that they will temporarily cut some 4,000 workers next year, all of them at their plant in Valencia, Spain. The workers there will take leave of absence from work 39 days over the course of the year.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories