Ford Motor Company has affirmed that its commitment to the Nigerian automobile market has waxed stronger in recent times as it announced a 33 per cent sales increase in Nigeria recently.
The motor company revealed that its sales in Nigeria have grown more than 40% from 2010 to 2011 and 8 percent from 2011 to 2012 despite overall challenges in the Nigerian auto industry.
According to Ford Motors Senior Manager, Sub-Sahara Africa, (SSA), Eugene Prinsloo, amidst other senior Ford management team who visited Nigeria, revealed at a press briefing in Lagos that “Nigeria is a very significant market in Ford’s sub-Sahara Africa region and accounts for a solid chunk of its regional sales”.
Prinsloo said, the company has recorded continued growth in key performance with a 33 percent increase in sales and that sales moved up by 44 percent through July “compared with the same month in the previous year’s total sales through July were 2,156 units compare to1,617 units sold during the same period in 2012.”
Commenting on the efforts of the company in upgrading its brand, he said that in the near future, Ford would be launching and establishing the EcoSport as a new, credible small urban SUV focusing on design, smart technologies and affordability.
The EcoSport is a nameplate that exemplifies the DNA of Ford’s global vehicles and is seen as a step forward in the company’s ‘One Ford’ strategy of producing best-in-class vehicles that take the lead in quality, technology, safety, fuel efficiency and design.
“We expect to see continued growth in the market as we move forward with plans to launch new products in key market segments, increase customer satisfaction with increased service outlets and parts availability, strengthen our connections and communications with consumers, increase our community involvement and overall presence in the market”, he further anticipated.
Prinsloo further revealed that the remarkable growth in sales experienced by the company was led by the high demand for the Ford Ranger pickup, Explorer SUV, Edge Crossover, Focus and Fusion sedans.
“These vehicles sales account for 78 percent of overall sales” he said, adding that their continued growth and stability in sales can be attributed to their strong dealers’ network.
According to him, part of their efforts to give customers the best service in Nigeria was when in 2012, Ford launched its extended warranty programme tagged the ‘Extended Service Programme, ESP’.
The first of its kind, the ESP is expected to offer customers free after-sales service of up to four years or 120,000km, whichever comes first through both of Ford’s dealer.
It was learnt that Ford, currently operates 30 outlets including showrooms and service centres throughout Nigeria through its dealers, Briscoe-Ford Motors and Coscharis Motors.
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