Ford SUVs in the region posted a considerable increase in their sales during the first month of this year. The robust performance was boosted by strong demand for 2007 models of the Ford Escape, Explorer and Expedition.
The full-size Ford Expedition registered the biggest growth levels totaling 76 per cent increase for the region, followed by the mid-size Explorer which grew by nearly 30 per cent and the compact SUV Escape by 15 per cent.
In Bahrain, Explorer sales posted an increase by 55 per cent, while the Escape maintained its popularity with the younger customers and small families. The recently introduced 2007 Expedition however is receiving increasing levels of customer interest thanks to its bold new looks and improved Powertrain and driving dynamics.
"This outstanding performance is a true indicator of the increasing levels of consumer confidence in our Ford Tough SUVs," said Hussein Murad, Sales and Marketing director of Ford Middle East. "The new and improved 2007 Ford Expedition, and its brother, the all-new Expedition EL have proven instantly popular in the GCC thanks to their superior and class-exclusive features."
"As for the new Explorer and its smaller brother the Escape, they continue building on their success as the best value SUVs in their categories, thanks to the rich mix of standard features as well as class-leading safety features and driving dynamics that discerning customers look for and demand," he added.
For 2007, Ford features the largest and most diverse utility vehicle line up in the Middle East. The lineup includes the Edge (crossover UV), Escape (compact SUV), Explorer (mid-size SUV), Sport Trac (Sports Utility Truck), Expedition (full-size SUV) and the Expedition EL (extended wheelbase). Currently, no other manufacturer matches the diversity of the Ford lineup in the Middle East which enjoys a 60-year heritage in the region.
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Notes to the editor:
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
Ford Motor Company’s history in the Middle East goes back to nearly 60 years. The company’s local importer-dealers operate more than 55 facilities in the region and directly employ more than 4,000 people, the majority of whom are Arab Nationals.
Ford Middle East is also a responsible corporate citizen in the region, with the Ford Motor Company Conservation & Environmental Grants, a grass-root level program that has offered USD600,000 in grants to over 75 Middle Eastern environmental projects since 2000.
