In the first six months of 2015, commercial vehicle sales have risen by 56 per cent compared to the similar period in 2014. And another great sales performance in June has seen Ford extend its leadership of Ireland’s resurgent commercial vehicle market for the year to date.
According to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, Ford registered a total of 244 new CV units during the month of June 2015, almost 150 units more than its nearest rival Renault (98 units ) and 14 per cent more than in June 2014. This brings the company’s year-to-date CV sales to 3,813 units ahead of nearest rival VW (2,350 ) and a massive 70 per cent more than during the first six months of 2014.
Ford’s dominance of the commercial vehicle market is part of a wider economic success story, with van sales continuing to grow at a phenomenal rate as Ireland’s recovery continues. In the first six months of 2015, CV sales were up by 56 per cent compared to 2014, and the boom shows no sign of slowing down. This year the SIMI has said it expects to see van sales break the 20,000 unit barrier for the first time since 2008.
“Van sales are always a pretty good indicator of the prevailing industrial mood, and the latest SIMI figures definitely show that business confidence and activity are powering ahead,” said Ciarán McMahon, managing director of Ford Ireland.
“Ireland’s evolving economic recovery is of course the driving force behind the resurgence in CV sales. However there are other factors at play, including our 3.9 per cent low APR which is proving very attractive, especially to small business users, as well as a revamped Ford commercial line-up, at the heart of which is our new four-model Transit range,” Mr McMahon said.
Ford said the Transit continues to set the standard in Ireland’s van market, consistently out-selling all its rivals as demand for the Transit, Transit Connect, Transit Custom and Transit Courier grows strongly. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic Transit nameplate and it is doubtful there has ever been a more influential commercial vehicle in this country.
On the passenger car front, sales wavered slightly during the month of June as customers held off for the eagerly-awaited 152-reg plate, but overall sales for the year-to-date (82,337 ) are up by 25 per cent on the first six months of 2014. After another strong showing in June, Ford is currently No 2 in the combined car and commercial sales chart with 11,775 new registrations.
