Ford and Mercury SUVs have demonstrated a growing popularity in the UAE, posting significant growth figures for 2004 compared to 2003.
The highest achiever in the UAE was the Ford Escape which saw an astounding 230 per cent increase in 2004 sales over 2003, while the Ford Explorer experienced an increase of 30 per cent, and the Mercury Mountaineer mid-size SUV saw a boost of 175 per cent. The Expedition kept its firm grip within the full-size SUV segment, while Ford's latest addition, the Everest – which is based on the popular compact pickup truck, the Ranger – witnessed increasing demand following its introduction at the beginning of 2004.
“The performance of the Ford and Mercury SUV lineup in the UAE clearly demonstrates Ford’s growing leadership in this segment throughout the UAE and the GCC overall,” said Hussein Murad, Sales & Marketing director, Ford Middle East.
“These models set a benchmark in their respective classes for driving dynamics, space and comfort, performance and safety, all at a great value, and customers are more and more aware of the benefits these vehicles bring with them in terms of cost of ownership and overall experience. We have no doubt that this success will extend to 2005,” he added.
Ford Middle East has seen strong market representation across its network of dealer-partners in the GCC over the last few years with solid partnership actions, especially from the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers in Dubai and the Northern Emirates - Al Tayer Motors, and Premier Motors in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Earlier in 2004, the strength of the UAE dealer partnership was further established when Al Tayer Motors received the Award of Excellence from Ford Motor Company's Worldwide Direct Market Operations (WDMO), for achieving the highest sales ever for the three brands in the UAE for 2003.
“The sales increase in the UAE this year reflects the great strides the whole team has taken in sales, customer service and after-sales support, demonstrating their readiness to offer customer support and the best possible ownership experience of a Ford, Lincoln or a Mercury vehicle on the road at all times in the UAE,” continued Murad.
He concluded: “By offering an extensive product range that appeals to a wider range of customers, coupled with competitive after-sales service, we have been able to find the perfect formula in the region. We are committed to offering our customers world-class products with great features at superior value, with ongoing support from our dealer partners around the region.”
