Ford Philippines sales zoom 20% in first quarter

MANILA, Philippines - Ford Group Philippines (FGP) said its first quarter sales grew 20 percent to 1,926 units compared to the same period a year ago.

 “We are excited to see the momentum of FGP continuing this year, driven by the genuine excitement and demand that Filipino customers have for our world-class Ford and Mazda products,” said FGP president Rick Baker.

“The entire FGP team is contributing to our continued success, and by working together is helping further enhance both the best brand and customer service experience in the market.”

FGP’s strong first quarter was supported by Ford vehicles sales that increased 14 percent from the same period last year and Mazda sales that were up 38 percent.

In March alone, sales of Ford and Mazda vehicles increased 26 percent over February, and 19 percent year-on-year. This strong performance was powered by a refreshed FGP portfolio featuring products that are leading in fuel economy, quality, safety, smart design and value.

“In April, we expect to exceed our 72,000-vehicle sales mark for FGP, surpassing both our 60,000- and 12,000-vehicle sales milestones for Ford and Mazda respectively,” Baker added.

The Ford Everest remained the top performer, with March sales up 26 percent over the previous month and first quarter sales increased three percent from a year ago.

Sales of Ford Focus rose an impressive 68 percent in March, supported by the popularity of the Ford Focus 2.0L TDCi with PowerShift dual-clutch transmission technology, which accounts for one-third of Focus sales. Consumers can look forward to the introduction of the Ford Focus TDCi sedan (4Dr) variant later this month.   

Ford Escape’s robust sales performance also continued, increasing 17 percent in March from the same month last year. The model also performed impressively in the first quarter with an increase of 43 percent compared to 2009.

In February, FGP upgraded the standards of luxurious driving with the introduction of the 2010 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer EL, Ford E-150 Club Wagon and Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer. FGP expects these 2010 models to further boost sales, as they offer global technological features that enhance safety and convenience critical to the most demanding customers.

Mazda Philippines continues to make significant contributions to the FGP business with the new Mazda2 that helps enhance its growing product line-up. Reflecting a promising start for the company’s entry to the fast-growing B-Car segment, the Mazda2 has already sold 136 units after being officially launched just last month.

The Mazda3 has also been a consistent sales leader in the Mazda portfolio, reflected by a 7.5 percent increase in first quarter sales from the same period last year.

 “The One Ford plan is working in the Philippines, and we have more exciting plans in the pipeline built around the introduction of more Ford and Mazda products our consumers. We are continuing to redefine the way we do business,” Baker added.