Ford Phl sales jump 87% in first half

MANILA, Philippines - Sales of the local unit of American automaker Ford Motor Co. jumped 87 percent in the first semester from a year ago amid strong demand for its vehicle models.

Ford Philippines sold a record 6,261 vehicles for the January to June period, higher than the 3,344 units sold in the same period last year.

The first-half performance, said Ford Philippines in statement, makes Ford the fastest growing automotive brand in the country this year.

“Exceptional response to our full lineup of segment-leading Ford vehicles is helping drive record sales,” Ford Philippines managing director Kay Hart said.

“Our widest-ever range of Ford vehicles in the Philippines is helping introduce our brand to even more customer segments and is helping attract so many new-to-Ford customers,” she said further.

The company said the Ranger remained its best-selling nameplate as its year-to-date sales reached a record 2,003 units.

Sales of the firm’s sports utility vehicles likewise contributed to the first-half performance, with 1,265 units of the Ford Everest sold and 640 units of the Ford Escape sold as of end-June, rising by 175 percent and nearly 15 percent respectively.

For the month of June alone, the company’s retail sales surged by 112 percent year-on-year to 1,245 units.

Ford Philippines said last month was its best-ever June sales performance.

As the company is set to introduce the new Ford Fiesta later this month, it is confident that the new Fiesta model could help support its sales performance.

“The new Fiesta offers exactly what our young and trendy customers are looking for today in a small car– expressive, fun, smart, and with class-leading fuel economy,” Hart said.

“With the new Fiesta arriving in our showrooms next month, we’re confident it will continue to increase in popularity and connect with an even wider variety of lifestyles and personalities,” she added.

With sales growing across Ford Philippines’ product lineup, the company is committed to offer customers accessibility through a wider dealership network.

Over the next six months, the firm intends to establish dealerships in Baguio, General Santos and Zamboanga.

The company aims to have dealerships in 35 locations in the country by year-end.