Ford Motor Company sales in Europe increased 11% year on year in 2015 and the company said it became the region's top commercial vehicle brand last year for the first time in 18 years.

The automaker sold 1.3m vehicles in its 20 traditional European markets last year. Market share increased by 0.1% to 8.0%, marking a second year of share growth in Europe.

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Across all 50 European markets, Ford sold 1.5m units, up 10%, driving market share up by 0.5% to 7.7%.

"In 2015, we showed our customers a more emotional, vibrant and upmarket vision of Ford with cars like the new Mustang and Mondeo Vignale, and we're poised for an exciting 2016 with vehicles such as the Edge SUV and RS Focus performance car," said Jim Farley, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe.

"We're especially proud that our commercial vehicle customers have made Ford Europe's No.1 CV brand. We'll continue to grow and serve customers in 2016, including offering our top-selling Transit and Transit Custom with a new powertrain and new technology."

Ford's commercial vehicle sales grew 23% last year on growing demand for the new and expanded Transit range and the Ranger pickup. Market share rose by 1.2% to an industry-leading 12.6% (Europe 20).

For both total vehicle and passenger car sales, 2015 was the best year since 2011. For commercial vehicle sales, it was the best year since 2007 (Europe 20).

Sales channels

Ford's sales in the higher value retail and fleet market, accounted for 74% of its car sales in 2015, 3% better than the industry average.

Series mix

Titanium (high series) passenger car sales were up 7% on average year-over-year. High series sales range from 78% for the S-Max, to 27% for the Fiesta. Ranger Wildtrack – the highest series version of the model – improved from 25% to 34% of total Ranger sales last year. 

Vehicle highlights

Sales of the redesigned Mondeo increased by 75% last year versus 2014.

With sales of 311,700 units, the Fiesta is expected to have been the top-selling small car in Europe, and the second best-selling car overall, for the fourth consecutive year.

Ford SUV sales were up 31%. Kuga sales rose 19% to 102,800 units last year, its highest annual volume since the first generation vehicle was launched in 2008. Sales of the EcoSport compact SUV more than tripled last year.

Sales of performance cars were up 62% in 2015 (Europe 20). Sales of the Focus ST – launched in 2015 – were at 12,200 units, 47% of which of the diesel variant offered for the first time as a Focus ST model. More than 13,000 customers to date have ordered the Mustang which went on sale in Europe last summer for the first time in the icon's 51-year history; 4,700 units of the 13,000 were sold in 2015.

Sales of the Transit range of commercial vehicles rose by 24% to 233,000 units. Plus, with sales of 27,300 units, the Ranger became the top pickup in Europe last year.

December sales

December sales rose 22% in Ford's traditional European 20 markets, and were up 13% across all 50 European markets. The Euro 20 market share improved by 0.5% to 7.7% in December while Euro 50 share was up by 0.8% to 7.8%.

2016 Outlook

"We're expecting great things from our SUVs in 2016 as we will soon have a complete range of vehicles in this dynamic growth segment," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe. "We'll have a full year of the enhanced EcoSport; the new Edge coming on stream midway through 2016; and our popular Kuga as well. Across the main European markets, we expect to surpass 200,000 SUV sales for the first time in Ford's history in Europe – a growth of more than 30% on 2015.

"We also anticipate that 2016 will be a record year for Ford Performance product sales including a full year of Focus ST and ST Diesel sales, continued strong sales of Fiesta ST, arrival of the new Focus RS and a full year of Mustang sales across Europe."

Ford will launch eight new or updated vehicles in Europe in 2016 – one more than in 2015 when more than 50% of the model range by sales was freshened.