The record March performance was driven by continued strength in demand for the Ranger, EcoSport and Fiesta nameplates, and capped an all-time record quarter for Ford in Malaysia with sales increasing 24 percent from the previous quarter to 4,611 units.
Strong overall industry momentum in March was driven in part by a surge in demand ahead of the April 1 implementation date of Malaysia’s new GST (Goods and Services Tax).
“We’re pleased that heightened March demand meant more and more customers were attracted to the leading safety, quality, smart technologies and value for money that our global Ford vehicles offer,” said David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.
The EcoSport.
“We are anticipating some market correction in the coming months due to the pull forward in demand that the GST’s impending implementation created,” explained Westerman.
The Ranger pickup continued as Ford’s most popular nameplate in Malaysia, with March retail sales increasing 42 percent from the prior month to 1,369 units. Overall first quarter sales rose 36 percent to 3,504 units.
“With a class-leading combination of active and passive safety features, the comfort of a passenger car, and the ruggedness and dependability of a pickup truck, the Ranger continues to be embraced for both work and play by Malaysians nationwide,” said Westerman.
The EcoSport compact urban SUV delivered its best sales month since being launched in Malaysia in the third quarter last year. March sales of the EcoSport reached 132 units, helping boost first quarter sales by 11 percent from the previous quarter to 271 units.
Agile enough for both city driving and outstation exploring, the EcoSport is helping define a whole new vehicle segment – a compact SUV that combines small-car practicality with the presence of a SUV.
“The EcoSport is a right-sized vehicle that was developed with the market’s traffic and road conditions in mind. Combine this with its practical smart features like SYNC and Hill Launch Assist, and a very attractive price point, and it’s really starting to create its own space in the market,” explained Westerman.
The sporty Fiesta contributed to the strong March performance with sales rising 38 percent from the previous month to 178 units. Fiesta finished the first quarter with sales of 474 units.
Healthy demand for Fiesta is being driven by its high-performance 1.0L EcoBoost engine that delivers a segment-leading combination of performance, fuel efficiency and emissions levels.
The Fiesta.
