Ford Transit

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 18 February 2008 – New-generation Ford Transit vans carrying the blue livery of British Gas have gone into operation with the company, Britain’s biggest supplier of energy and heating breakdown services.

Built at Ford’s Southampton plant, the vehicles are the first of an order for 85 short-wheelbase Transit 300 models. Sporting the famous British Gas flame logo, the vans will be used by service engineers throughout Britain.

Powered by Ford’s popular 85PS 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engines, the low-roof panel vans are speed-limited to 70mph, an energy efficiency measure recommended by road safety groups.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 8 January 2008 – Ford enters the new year poised to add more new products to a range of exciting new cars and CVs that has already attracted thousands of new customers to the blue oval in 2007.

Highlights:
● Ford 2007 total sales up 7,275 vehicles
● 6.5 per cent rise in retail sales
● Commercial vehicle sales up by over 2,700 units
● Ford Focus is UK's best selling car again
● New Ford Mondeo doubles the model's retail sales – now making up 28 per cent of registrations versus 14 per cent for previous model

COLOGNE , December 13, 2007 – A strong performance in November has put Ford of Europe on course for record 2007 sales. With demand for its stylish new models continuing to rise, the company sold 149,600 cars and commercial vehicles in November 2007, an increase of 3.2 per cent over the same month last year. Ford's November market share was 8.7 per cent.

Highlights:
* Ford of Europe sales increase by 4,700 in November to 149,600
* Year-to-date sales rise by 5.4 per cent to 1,680,900

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 13 December, 2007 – Ford's latest commercial vehicle line-up is celebrating more than just Christmas. In 2007 Ford, Transit, Transit Connect and Ranger together picked up 17 awards from specialist media and key motor industry organisations.

Highlights:
* Ford won three prestigious manufacturer awards
* Ford Transit won nine awards
* Ford Transit Connect won four awards
* Ford Ranger voted Best Double Cab of the Year

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 6 December, 2007 – Ford's continued popularity surge among private customers has driven retail sales up three per cent in 2007, according to latest figures.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirmed the rise in Ford vehicles registered this year to retail customers. In January to November, Ford Focus and Mondeo models led the growth in retail business – up by almost 4,000 cars on the same period last year.

When fleet sales to company car buyers, and commercial vehicle registrations, are added, the SMMT revealed that a total of 416,118 new Fords went on the road this year – over 4,300 up on last year and accounting for 15.8 per cent of the total vehicle market.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 14 November, 2007 – Ford of Europe has won Autocar magazine’s annual Car Company of the Year Award for 2007.

The honour was announced by Chas Hallett, Autocar’s editor, at a ceremony in Westminster attended by more than 400 motor industry leaders and celebrities from Europe, the US and Asia.

Ford of Europe president and CEO John Fleming accepted the award, which recognised its development of outstanding cars and its consistent profitability. In 2007, the Ford S-MAX was voted Car of the Year and the Ford Transit was voted International Van of the Year.

* Ford of Europe sales increased by 11,400 in October to 147,000y
* Year-to-date total vehicle sales 5.6 per cent higher, at 1,531,600

COLOGNE, November 13, 2007– Ford of Europe's vehicle sales climbed by 8.4 per cent for the month of October when compared to last year. Total sales for the year so far are 1,531,600.

Across its main 21 markets, the company sold more than 147,000 cars and trucks in October, some 11,400 more than in the same month last year. Its market share for the month is 8.4 per cent.

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 22 October, 2007 – Following the announcement of the most powerful Transit engine (200PS), the largest Transit (4.6 tonne) and a heavy duty series, the Transit range now comes with a new six-speed transmission, more models with electronic stability programme (ESP), hill launch assist (HLA) and optional coated diesel particulate filters.

Highlights:
* New six-speed transmission together with upgraded powertrain
* ESP extends to dual rear wheel drive and incorporates hill launch assist
* New optional coated diesel particulate filter (cDPF)
* All models available to order now

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 22 October, 2007 – The new all-wheel-drive (AWD) 2008 Ford Transit is now available priced from £23,495 for the 330 short wheelbase panel van. The AWD system automatically provides stepless torque flow to the front wheels when traction loss at the rear is detected.

Highlights:
* Ford introduces an 'intelligent' all-wheel-drive system to Ford Transit line-up
* Available on Ford Transit with 2.4-litre 140PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission
* All-wheel-drive system increases traction without affecting ground clearance
* Ideal for utility companies, hotels, agricultural and forestry companies and police forces
* On sale now priced from £23,495

* September sales increased by 3.1 per cent to a record for the month of 179,200
* Sales for the first nine months of the year increased by 70,300, to 1,384,500

Cologne , October 15, 2007 – Ford of Europe’s 2007 sales success continued in September. Across its main 21 European markets, the company sold a record 179,200 vehicles, a 3.1 per cent increase over September 2006. Market share improved to 9.8 per cent.

For the first nine months of the year, the company's sales increased by 5.4 per cent, to 1,384,500.