JEDDAH: Ford products showed continued strength during the first quarter of 2011, posting an outstanding overall 52 percent increase in GCC sales compared to the same period last year. The upswing in sales volume continues thanks to the growing popularity of Ford's new generation of strong products that were introduced to the region in the last quarter of 2010, with the new 2011 Ford Edge, Mustang, Taurus and Fusion leading the charge. "It is a flying start for Ford in 2011, with a dynamic line up of award-winning, high quality products that customers have been giving great response to," said Hussein Murad, Ford Middle East's director of Sales. "Ford is truly on the fast track. Our continued growth is testament to increased preference for our products in the region as we offer our customers not only world-class, award winning models that they desire, but also industry-leading technologies and some of the richest features packages – all at an unbeatable value." In the UAE, sales saw an impressive 32 per cent increase over Q1 last year, with growth registered at 58 percent for passenger cars and 20 percent for utility vehicles and trucks. Kuwait noted a major boost of 50 percent during the first quarter of this year, driven by increasing retail as well as fleet businesses, further cementing Ford's lead in the Kuwaiti market. Kuwait currently holds the title for Ford's highest market share in the region. The highest performing market for the GCC was Saudi Arabia, with sales of Ford and Lincoln products increasing by a staggering 75 per cent over Q1 2010.
