Ford sales zoom 8% in 8 months

MANILA, Philippines - Sales of the local Ford unit in the first eight months of the year zoomed eight percent to 13,616 units despite a slight slowdown in August.

In a statement, Ford Philippines said August sales reached 1,484 units, lower than the number of units sold in the same month last year as the company transitions to the new Ranger and all-new Everest.

“We’re continuing to build Ford as a brand of choice in the Philippines by providing a full lineup of global vehicles that appeal to such a wide range of Filipino lifestyles,” Ford Philippines managing director Kay Hart said.

“Our showrooms across the country remained very busy in August, and initial response to the all-new Everest and new Ranger has been extraordinary. We expect them both to give our overall sales a significant boost through the rest of the year,” Hart added.

Ford Philippines reported that the EcoSport continued its streak as one of the company’s top-selling models, with August retail sales soaring 55 percent year-on-year to 804 units.

Year-to-date sales of the compact SUV stood at 5,770 units, the company said.

“The EcoSport’s unique combination of sporty design, smart technologies, and sensible value proposition has helped it create its own niche in the market, and it continues to surpass even our own expectations,” Hart said.

The Ford Fiesta contributed 166 units to the firm’s August sales performance, while the Ford Ranger added 363 units.

Ford Philippines said the Ranger remains the best-selling pickup truck in the Philippines this year, with customer deliveries of the new Ranger to kick-off this month.

“With an array of smart technologies combined with off-road capability and fuel efficiency, we are confident that the new Ranger will continue to set the industry benchmark in the pickup truck segment for design, comfort and refinement,” Hart said.

Customer deliveries of the all-new Everest are also scheduled to start this month.

“We are thrilled to have the Everest nameplate back in our showrooms, and we are confident that it will exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Hart.

Meanwhile, Ford Philippines said it would continue the ongoing expansion of its nationwide dealer network this month with the opening of Ford Palawan in Puerto Princesa City.

The new location will be Ford’s 39th outlet across the country.