BUSINESS

Ford’s Europe sales rise 11.7% in February

Michael Martinez
The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co. said Friday that strong demand for new vehicles led to a 11.7 percent increase in its European sales last month.

The Dearborn automaker sold 78,100 vehicles in its 20 European markets in February and has sold 166,600 vehicles there during the first two months of the year. Its market share also rose 0.3 percentage points to 7.3 percent last month.

For the first two months of the year, Ford sales are up 6.8 percent and its market share is up to 7.5 percent.

“We are seeing very healthy customer response to our newest vehicles — from the Mondeo, Focus and EcoSport to our all-new line of Transit commercial vehicles,” Peter Fleet, vice president, sales, Ford of Europe, said in a statement. “The market is strengthening gradually and we expect to continue to build momentum this year with exciting new vehicles like the Focus ST, Mustang, S-MAX and the launch of our new upscale Vignale line.”

Sales of the all new Mondeo were up 33 percent year-over-year, Ford said. Sales of the new Focus were up 30 percent compared to the same month last year, and February sales of the Kuga SUV were up 40 percent — it’s best February since its 2008 launch.

Commercial vehicle sales — including Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Connect and Transit Courier — were up 40 percent in February and 36 percent year-to-date.

mmartinez@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2401

Twitter.com/MikeMartinez_DN