National Press Release

- Fiesta was best-selling Ford car year-to-date across Europe's main 19 markets

- Ford increased February market share for the main 19 markets by 0.8 percentage points to 8.5 percent vs. the same month in 2008

- Ford has consolidated its position as Europe's second best-selling brand

COLOGNE, Germany, March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The new Ford Fiesta remained Ford of Europe's (NYSE: F) best-selling car in February as demand pushed the company's market share for the 19 main markets up nearly a full percentage point to 8.5 percent versus the same month last year.

Ford of Europe sold 91,100 vehicles in its Euro 19 markets in February, including 27,900 new Fiestas, making it the best-selling Ford car again this month, and the second-best selling car in the industry. Already this year, 56,200 new Fiestas have been delivered to European customers. Since the European market launch started in August 2008, sales of new Fiesta have totaled nearly 117,000.

"We're excited, but not surprised, to see the new Fiesta doing so well in the market place given the current economic conditions," said Ingvar Sviggum, vice-president marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

The new Fiesta, the first in a series of fuel efficient new small cars developed through Ford's global product development process, is also on sale in China, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. It will be launched in North America and other Asia Pacific markets early next year.

Germany sales rise in challenging European market

While overall industry Euro 19 sales declined by 20.1 percent, Ford sales in February were down by 14.2 percent compared to the same month in 2008. Top selling Ford models in the 19 main European markets were the new Fiesta (27,900), the Focus (20,800), and Transit (7,100).

"There are a number of bright spots for us this month, particularly Germany where Ford sales are up by 21,000 vehicles, or 43.7 percent, versus last February, thanks in no small part to the scrappage scheme which is proving extremely popular and generating a lot of additional showroom traffic," Sviggum said. "However the underlying trend we face is still one of an overall sales decline across the industry as a whole. We will continue to do all that it takes to stay competitive and protect the flow of our exciting new products."

Ford's 8.5 percent market share for February represents an increase of 0.8 percentage points from the year-ago month. Ford's share rose in 15 out of the main 19 markets across Europe. Only Ireland, Norway, Portugal and Spain were down in February.

In Britain, where market share rose by 1.1 percent to 17.6 percent, the Fiesta was the best-selling car for the fourth consecutive month, and in Italy, Ford was the leading import brand and the Fiesta was the best-selling imported car. In France, the Fiesta, C-MAX and S-MAX were the best-selling imported vehicles in their segments.

Across all its 51 European markets, Ford sold 107,800 vehicles in February 2009, down 18.5 percent or 24,400, when compared to the same month last year.

Ford of Europe's sales in the first two months of 2009

In the first two months of the year, Ford of Germany sold 36,500 vehicles, up by 29.5 percent year-over-year, making it the largest sales market in Europe for Ford so far in 2009. Market share there was at 7.6 percent, up by 1.9 percentage points when compared to the same period last year. German industry year-to-date was up 0.4 percentage points on 2009.

In contrast to Germany, the industry in the U.K. was down by 32.2 percent. Ford of Britain sold 35,500 vehicles, 25.9 percent. However, Ford's market share in Britain continues to rise and for the first two months of the year increased by 1.2 percentage points to 18.5 percent.

Year-to-date market share in France increased by 0.5 percentage points to 5.7 percent, with sales at 21,500, a reduction of 2,600 from the same period in 2008.

In Spain, Ford remained passenger car leader in the first two months of 2009 with sales of 12,500, a decline of 15,000 units, and a market share of 8.9 percent. The Spanish market remains one of the most depressed in Europe, with sales falling more than 50 percent versus last year.

Ford Italy sold 34,600 vehicles over this period, down 8,200 units, and market share rose by 1.2 percentage points to 9.6 percent. Fiesta rose from third to second place in the list of best-selling vehicles in Italy.

In Russia, Ford sold 17,800 vehicles, a decline of 5,800. However, Ford's market share in the first months of the year to rise by 1.6 percentage points to 7.3 percent.

February 2009 sales volume

                           February 09              February YTD 09

    Euro 19 (1)            91,100                   189,400
    Changes vs. 08         down 15,000 /(14.2) %    down 44,600 /(19.0) % vs.
                            vs.  02/08               Feb. YTD 08

    Euro 21 (Euro 19
     +.Russia and Turkey)  104,400                  213,500
    Changes vs. 08         down 21,100 /(16.8) %    down 54,900 /(20.4) % vs.
                            vs. 02/08                Feb. YTD 08

    EDM 30 (2)             3,400                    6,400
    Changes vs. 08         down 3,300 /(49.1) %     down 6,200 /(49.2) %  vs.
                            vs. 02/08                Feb. YTD 08

    Total EURO 51 (EURO 21
     + EDM 30)             107,800                  219,800
    Changes vs. 08         down 24,400 /(18.5) %    down 61,000 / (21.7) % vs.
                            vs. 02/08                Feb. YTD 08

(1) The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finnish National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also included within Euro 19.

(2) European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

February 2009 market share(3)

                           February 09            February YTD 09

    Euro 19 (3)            8.5 %                  8.9 %
    changes vs. 08         up 0.8 ppts. vs. Feb.  up 0.6 ppts. vs. Feb. YTD
                            08                     08

    Euro 21 (incl. Russia
     and Turkey)           8.5 %                  8.8 %
     changes vs. 08        up 0.9 ppts. vs. Feb.  up 0.7 ppts. vs. Feb.
                            08                     YTD 08

(3) Not available for EDM, where we base our share on non-domestic sales volumes.

February sales by vehicle line (Euro 19)(4)

    Model            February 09 o(u) February  February YTD o(u) February
                                            08            09        YTD 08
    Ka                       300        (2,800)        1,200        (5,700)
    New Ka                 5,800         5,800        11,100        11,100
    Fiesta                   800       (22,400)        3,400       (48,200)
    New Fiesta            27,900        27,900        56,200        56,200
    Fusion                 3,900        (1,200)        8,000        (2,600)
    Focus                 20,800        (5,600)       42,100       (16,300)
    Focus
     Coupe-Cabriolet         500          (400)        1,000          (900)
    C-MAX                  5,400        (3,200)       11,300        (7,300)
    Kuga                   3,700         3,700         7,900         7,900
    Mondeo                 6,800        (5,600)       14,800       (14,000)
    S-MAX                  2,800        (1,500)        5,800        (3,300)
    Galaxy                 1,600          (600)        3,400        (1,700)
    Transit                7,100        (6,000)       15,400       (12,500)
    Transit Connect        2,600        (2,400)        5,500        (5,000)
    Ranger                   800          (600)        1,600        (1,300)

(4) Figures do not include vehicles such as the Fiesta van, Maverick, Explorer imports and Turkish-built Cargo heavy trucks.

Notes to Editors:

    --  Ford of Europe's market share refers to the traditional main 19
        European markets (Euro 19) - excluding Turkey and Russia (as the other
        main markets) and the 30 European Direct Markets (EDM), where we base
        our share on non-domestic sales volume.
    --  We also report our sales performance (passenger cars and commercial
        vehicles) for the total region for which Ford of Europe is responsible
        (51 markets in total).
    --  Sales data for specific car lines refer to the Euro 19 markets.
    --  The Euro 19 markets are: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic,
        Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
        Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
        Ford reports sales for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through our Finnish
        National Sales Company, so sales data for the Baltic states is also
        included within Euro 19.
    --  European Direct Markets are: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia,
        Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia,
        Gibraltar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova,
        Montenegro, Morocco, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan,
        Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company