6:02 am, June 16, 2011
FORD is increasing its Valencia plant’s line-speed to meet consumer demand for the all-new C-MAX.
Both the C-MAX and Grand C-MAX are surpassing the firm’s sales expectations, recording more than 100,000 sales and orders since their launch late last year.
This year through to May, UK sales of the Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX stand at 8,132 which is more than double the sales over the same period a year ago.
To meet demand the line speed at its plant in Valencia, Spain, has increased – resulting in almost an 18 per cent increase in daily production at the plant.
‘We expected a strong customer demand for the Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, but demand has exceeded our expectations,’ said Roelant de Waard, vice president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.
‘Sales of the all-new Ford C-MAX will contribute to our expectation that around 40 per cent of all the new vehicles we sell in Europe this year will be totally new or significantly freshened models.’
Over, 65 per cent of Ford C-MAX sales have been high-series trim levels, such as the Titanium models, compared to 32 per cent over the same period a year ago.
Of the 8,132 UK sales through to May, the most popular powertrain proved to be the 1.6 TDCi 113 bhp which represents 45 per cent.
Coupled with the 1.6 103 bhp, 1.6 123 bhp and 1.6 147 bhp petrol powertrain sales, 80 per cent of the C-MAX and Grand C-MAXs chosen by customers include engines that are built at the Bridgend plant in Wales or at Dagenham, Essex.
