It’s bittersweet news for the Ford Motor Company. We’ll start with the sweet. Ford had a great 2015 in the ASEAN region, posting a 3.3% increase in total sales to sell 103,975 vehicles in this neck of the woods.
The top performing markets were the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia with record sales while the imposing Thai-built Ford Ranger pickup accounted for 54,114 units of the 104,000 total vehicles sold; an all-time record. The Ford Ranger was the best-selling pickup in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar for the second consecutive year and second best in Malaysia and the Philippines.
“The successful introduction of more global Ford vehicles across ASEAN in 2015 – including the new Ranger pickup and all-new Everest SUV – helped an even more diverse range of customers connect with the Ford brand. Additionally, we continued to enhance our customer and ownership experience, as well as expand our Ford dealer network in markets across the region,” said Mark Kaufman, president, Ford ASEAN.
“The new Ranger sets the industry benchmark in the pickup segment with an array of smart technologies, unmatched capability, fuel efficiency, design, and comfort – all without compromising on its rugged, ‘Built Ford Tough’ heritage,” added Kaufman.
The popular EcoSport compact SUV also made an impact and contribute as Ford’s second-best seller in ASEAN with 20,518 units, a 13% increase. The all-new Everest, which was launched in the third quarter managed 11,233 units while the Fiesta hatchback sold 7,634.
By country, Thailand remains Ford’s biggest market with 36,643 vehicles sold despite the softer market which saw a third consecutive year in overall contraction. With sales outpacing the industry average, Ford managed to a 0.3% gain in market share to 4.6%. Naturally, the Ranger topped the sales chart with 23,846 units.
Ford had a record year in the Philippines with a 25% increase in sales to 25,372 units to become one of the top automotive brands there. The EcoSport led sales with 8,702 units followed by Ranger (8,445) and Everest (4,945).
Vietnam was also a strong market for Ford as they sold 20,740 units there with the Ranger being the most popular pickup in the country for the second consecutive year (8,685 units).
Meanwhile, Malaysia saw 12,130 new Ford owners with the Ranger again contributing the bulk of it (9,231 units). Emerging markets Cambodia and Myanmar recorded sales of 1,266 and 679 units respectively, an improvement of 41% and 6%.
Notably absent from Ford’s spectacular 2015 record is Indonesia. 2015 saw just 6,100 Fords sold in a challenging market which also saw the recent closure of General Motors’ manufacturing facility. According to reports, Ford will be pulling out from Indonesia; this is the bitter bit. A little bit further from ASEAN is Japan, which Ford is also planning an exit. Ford sold 5,000 units there last year.
Keyword: Ford Delivers Record 2015 Sales In ASEAN