Ford kicked-off the year the same way it ended 2014 – with record sales – as the company today announced its best-ever monthly performance in Malaysia with January retail sales jumping 38 percent year-over-year to 1,544 units.
The record month was fueled by continuing demand for the versatile Ranger pickup truck, sporty Fiesta, and EcoSport compact urban SUV.
“We hit the ground running in January, as more and more customers discover the safety, quality, and value for money offered by our full lineup of global Ford vehicles,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company. “We’re excited about further expanding our vehicle lineup, and together with our dealer partners, building on this great momentum throughout the year.”
The class-defining Ranger pickup continued as Ford’s best-selling nameplate in Malaysia and delivered a record monthly performance with retail sales surging 87 percent year-over-year to 1,169 units.
Strong demand continues to grow across the full lineup, from the base XL variant to the range-topping Wildtrak which offers an unmatched combination of power, payload capacity, towing and water-wading capabilities, as well as the market’s best safety package that includes Ford’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) across all variants.
“The unmatched safety features and capability of this extraordinary truck continues to define the pickup segment in the market today, and helping to further drive its appeal in Malaysia,” said Westerman.
The sporty Fiesta continued to gain traction with 168 units sold in January. Steady demand for Fiesta is being driven by its internationally-acclaimed 1.0L EcoBoost engine variant that delivers a class-leading combination of performance, fuel efficiency and emission levels.
“The Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost continues to connect with Malaysians who appreciate the class-leading combination of power, fuel efficiency and safety that makes it stand out from the crowd,” explained Westerman.
The EcoSport compact urban SUV contributed sales of 73 units in January. EcoSport combines the agility, affordability and fuel efficiency of a compact passenger car with the flexibility, style and right height of a SUV. In January, it was named Best Compact SUV/Crossover at the Autoworld Car of the Year (COTY) Awards 2014.
Sales of the stylish Kuga SUV also contributed sales of 71 units. Kuga is equipped with a variety of smart features and technologies that include Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, hands-free lift gate that operates with a gentle kicking motion, and Ford SYNC connectivity system.
January also saw the reopening of an upgraded Ford facility in Batu Pahat, Johor now offers sales, service and spare parts under one roof. This is part of Ford’s strategy to continue enhancing its customer and ownership experience, with SDAC investing RM140 million in new and existing dealerships over a two-year period.
“With more segment-leading global Ford vehicles coming to Malaysia this year, a growing network of authorized Ford dealerships and commitment to continue building on our overall customer experience, we are confident of further strengthening the Ford brand here in 2015,” said Westerman.
