Ford retains market-leading sales with record September

FORD has recorded 70,000 sales for September and outsells its nearest commercial vehicles rival by almost two-to-one, according to SMMT stats.

Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders today told of the manufacturer’s bumper month, which included its best-ever month of all time for commercial vehicle CV sales, with 16,526 registrations.

The totals sales figure of 71,296 is almost 2,000 up on the same period last year (69,438).

Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Vehicle sales are boosted in September due to the number plate change, and in combination with March sales account for a third of the UK annual total.

“Ford’s best-ever car and CV ranges have contributed to Ford sales for March and September combined exceeding 150,000.”

Ford’s strong results mean that it has headed the UK sales charts for 38 years for cars and 49 years for CVs.

Overall, today’s SMMT figures show that total car sales in September were up 8.6 per cent, compared with September 2014, to 462,517 units.

For the year to the end of September total UK car sales were 2,096,886, up 7.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2014.