Fiesta makes Ford number one in Europe
Some good news from across the pond: the Detroit Free Press reports that Ford sales in March were up 16.1 percent, making the Blue Oval brand number one across nineteen major European nations.
Ford credits strong sales of its Fiesta subcompact car for its success, noting that the recently redesigned car accounted for a full 35 percent of the brand’s sales volume. The Fiesta fell just behind the Volkswagen Golf to become the second-best selling car in Europe for 2009.
Though the blockbuster car has been on sale overseas since late 2008, American buyers will have to wait another few weeks for their chance behind the wheel. The Fiesta goes on sale stateside in May with every indication that it will continue to be a strong-seller.
The US version will be offered in both sedan and hatchback versions and Ford boasts that the fuel-sipping engine will get up to 40 miles per gallon. In Europe, the Fiesta has become known for energetic design and spirited handling, a combination the company expects will attract young American buyers.
Despite the excellent performance in March, Ford notes that the rest of the year may prove challenging for its European operations. The company predicts that without additional government incentives, automobile sales will drop from 15.8 million vehicles in 2009 to 14.5 million vehicles this year.
