Ford will post a profit in Europe in 2006, buoyed by increasing revenue, higher vehicle sales and lower costs, Ford of Europe president and chief executive John Fleming said on Wednesday.


“My expectation is profit in 2006,” Fleming told Reuters on the sidelines of the Geneva motor show, though he declined to give a detailed forecast.


“We have got new vehicles. That will help us to grow profit and revenues,” Fleming reportedly said. “Underpinning all that is a laser focus on costs.”


Reuters noted that Ford of Europe, which is battling high commodity prices and stiff competition, posted a pre-tax profit of US$136m in 2005, up from a pre-tax profit of $114m the previous year, while revenue reached $30.2bn.


Fleming told the news agency Ford could see its sales grow in Europe this year from the 1.49m vehicles sold last year though volatile oil prices and the soft UK vehicle market remained concerns.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Jim Padilla, Ford’s president and chief operating officer, told Reuters the automaker’s European operation is on the road to recovery because of the implementation of tough measures, which included aligning manufacturing capacity with demand.


“The strategy we have in the US is comparable” to the measure taken in Europe, he reportedly said. “It is going to take a little while.”