<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/earnings-financials/" rel="tag">Earnings/Financials</a></p><a href="http://detnews.com/article/20091111/AUTO01/911110414/Ford-makes-strong-gains-in-Europe"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/ford-frog-island-assembly-fiesta-lot.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Ford's year-over-year sales were <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/03/by-the-numbers-october-2009-green-is-growing-edition/">up nearly four percent</a> for the month of October here in the United States, but the Blue Oval appears to be in even better shape across the Pond in Europe. The Dearborn, MI-based automaker saw its sales in the top 19 Euro nations rise by 12.8% versus October 2008, thanks in part to several government clunker programs. According to <em>The Detroit News</em>, Ford says its retail sales are up substantially as well, as 64 percent of all sales were of the non-fleet variety, compared to 48 percent in October 2008. Overall, this was the strongest October that Ford has had in Europe in 12 years.<br /> <br /> While Euro scrappage programs certainly helped Ford's cause, the Blue Oval's Euro lineup holds up very well against some very stiff overseas competition. Auto sales are down 8% for the year in Europe, yet Ford has only seen a 3% decline. Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Service, told the DetNews that Ford's recent sales push has made his company the "clear No. 2 best-selling brand in the European auto industry." But while Ford seems to be faring a bit better than the competition, Sviggum still feels the overall car market in Europe is on shaky ground, adding "further actions are needed at both the national and EU level to help bolster consumer confidence and demand." <br /> <br /> [Source: <a href="http://detnews.com/article/20091111/AUTO01/911110414/Ford-makes-strong-gains-in-Europe">The Detroit News</a> | Image: Jamie McDonald/Getty]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/report-ford-continues-strong-sales-in-european-market/">REPORT: Ford continues strong sales in European Market</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:09:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://detnews.com/article/20091111/AUTO01/911110414/Ford-makes-strong-gains-in-Europe>Read</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/report-ford-continues-strong-sales-in-european-market/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19233172/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/14/report-ford-continues-strong-sales-in-european-market/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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