SMMT reports stable new car market

The SMMT has today released new car registrations figures for 2012 which shows a stable market. January 2012 saw 42 more new cars registered during the month compared to the same period in 2011, with a total of 128,853 cars finding homes. Diesel and fleet power continued to drive registrations, diesels now account for 53.7% of the market and fleets account for 54.8% of the market. There was also a modest rise in alternatively fuelled vehicles, up from 1.4% to 1.6% of the market. “The...

Ford offers £1m of scholarships at 12 British universities

Ford is donating £1 million worth of scholarships to 12 UK universities in a bid to help the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators plan their future careers in British industry. The Ford Blue Oval Scholarship Programme will provide 100 scholarships of £10,000 per student, over a three-year period, on a variety of different courses, ranging from science to automotive engineering and computer technology. The scholarships will be available at Bath, Bradford, Brunel, Cardiff,...

Ford reveals production ready B-MAX

Set for a star turn at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Ford B-Max sees the Blue Oval entering a new mini-MPV segment for the first time. As this first official photo of the production-ready model shows the designers have created a new approach to door construction with the centre pillars integrated into the doors themselves. The new model is set to be revealed by Ford president and CEO Alan Mulally at Geneva and the production model comes just 12 months after the company unveiled the...

Ford remains No.1 brand but see sales drop 5% in 2011

Ford Motor Co was named as the number one car brand in the UK for the 35th consecutive year in 2011 despite reporting a 5.2 per cent drop in sales. Ford sold 265,894 cars in the UK last year, down from 280,364 in 2010, giving it a 15 per cent share of the market according to official figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Overall the new car market declined by 4.4 per cent. Ford’s Fiesta remained the top selling car in the UK for the third year, with 96,112...

New Ford Fusion provides Mondeo clues

Over in the USA Ford is busy preparing for the launch of its next generation, mid-sized saloon the Fusion. This all new vehicle is the next global vehicle from the American carmaker – following last year’s successful Focus launch – and provides an indication as to what the UK can expect when the new Mondeo is launched next year. “Our vision for Fusion was clear – deliver the very best of what ‘One Ford’ stands for,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. “We...