Ford China set sales records in March, selling 81,387 wholesale vehicles for the month, a 65% increase from last year, bringing first quarter sales to a record-breaking 186,596 wholesale vehicles, up 54% from the first quarter of 2012.
“Ford China’s record sales for March and the first quarter demonstrate the tremendous momentum we are building in China as we deliver on our promise to bring 15 exciting new products to the Chinese customers by 2015,” said John Lawler, Ford China chairman and CEO.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
“In the first quarter of 2013 alone, we launched three high-quality, fuel-efficient SUVs, our very first performance car the Ford Focus ST, and the all-new Ford Fiesta. These great new Ford products have significantly expanded our offering in dealer showrooms and we are encouraged by the exceptional customer demand as shown by these sales figures.”
Record monthly and quarterly numbers were led by continued high demand for the Ford Focus. Focus sales more than doubled in March, up 148%, with 37,814 wholesales sold compared to 15,267 wholesale cars in March last year. First quarter sales were also strong, growing a phenomenal 156% in March, with 96,180 wholesale cars sold compared to 37,607 wholesales in the first quarter of 2012.
The New Ford Kuga had its very first full sales month in March and demand was strong with nearly 10,000 wholesale units sold.
Ford’s passenger car joint venture Changan Ford Automobile (CAF) saw sales soar in March, reaching a record 55,348 wholesale vehicles, up 102%, more than double the 27,374 wholesales in March 2012. CAF’s quarterly sales nearly doubled as well, up 92% with 128,006 wholesales sold compared to 66,790 wholesales in the first quarter of 2012.
Ford’s commercial vehicle investment in China Jiangling Motors (JMC), also delivered strong March and quarterly sales, with 25,600 wholesale vehicles sold in March, up 16% from 22,005 wholesales sold in March 2012; quarterly sales were up 7% to 56,420 wholesales sold in the first quarter of 2013 compared to 52,692 wholesales sold in the first quarter of 2012.
