Ford Motors gains market share for the first time since 1995

Higher sales in every product category and for every brand propelled Ford Motors sales to a 33-per cent increase in December versus a year ago, the Us automaker reported yesterday.

Ford estimates its full-year 2009 US total market share was about 15 per cent - about 1 percentage point higher than in 2008. This marks the company's first full-year US market share increase since 1995. In December 2009, Ford also improved its retail market share 14 times in the last 15 months.

Ford says sales of its cars rose 42 per cent, crossovers were up 51 per cent, sport utility vehicles rose 33 per cent, and trucks and vans were up 18 per cent.

Among brands, Ford sales were up 37 per cent, Lincoln sales rose 16 per cent and Mercury sales were up 6 per cent.

''Ford's plan is working,'' said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, US marketing sales and service in a statement. ''Customer consideration continues to grow for our high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles. In 2010, we will introduce an even higher number of new products, giving customers more reasons to Drive One.''

According to the auto maker, every consumer metric about the Ford brand - including favourable customer opinion, consideration, shopping and intention to buy - ended the year at record levels.