Ford Motor has continued to record a significant rise in its business in Nigeria, with an average increase of 33 per cent in the last one year.
The firm, which stressed that Nigeria had remained an important market in its Sub-Saharan Africa regional business, said the growth in sales was led by the high demand for the Ford Ranger, Explorer, Focus, Fusion and Edge.
The Ford’s Senior Manager, Sub Saharan Africa, Mr. Eugene Prinsloo, gave the report in a statement obtained on Tuesday.
Prinsloo had last Thursday led the Ford team from the SSA to Lagos for a test drive of all its vehicles currently being sold in Nigeria.
Although he did not give the actual number of vehicles sold in the last one year, the Ford spokesman rcalled that the increase in Ford’s sales became noticeable in2011.
“Sales in Nigeria grew more than 40 per cent from 2010 to 2011; and eight per cent from 2011 to 2012 despite overall challenges in the Nigerian auto industry. So far, we have recorded continued growth in our sales performance with a 33 percent increase in sales,” the statement said.
The firm said it sold 2,156 units in July this year, compared to 1,617 units sold during the same period of 2012.
According to Ford, the sales rose by 44 per cent through when compared to the same month in the previous year.
It said, “The growth in sales was led by the high demand for the Ford Ranger, Explorer, Focus, Fusion and Edge. These vehicle sales account for 78 per cent of overall sales.”
It attributed the continued growth and stability in sales to its strong dealers’ network, just as it foresaw greater results from the full line of vehicle choices available in its new product lineup.
It recalled, “In 2012, Ford launched its extended warranty programme tagged the ‘Extended Service Programme, ESP. The first programme of its kind, the ESP is offering customers free after-sales service of up to four-years or 120,000km, whichever comes first through both of Ford’s dealers.”
Ford has thus promised more commitment to the nation’s market in the third quarter of the year, and hinted of plans to launch new products in key market segments, increase its customer satisfaction with more service outlets and strengthen its communications with consumers, as well as increase its community involvement and overall presence.