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FGP sales in December increases 58% year over year

MANILA – January 7, 2010 – Ford Group Philippines (FGP) closed 2009 with an all time highest sales performance of 1,071 vehicles in the month of December since start of its operations in the Philippines, surpassing a thousand vehicle sales milestone in a single month for the first time at the back of a freshened product lineup coupled with strong sales effort by its dealer network.

The 58% increase in retail sales reflected in the last month of the year (versus the same period in 2008) was powered by the strong performance of the Ford Everest, Ford Focus, Ford Escape, Ford Ranger, Mazda 3, and newly launched Mazda CX-7.

Ford brand improved its sales performance over previous year same month by 49%, chalking up 805 vehicle sales, making the month of December its best ever single month sales. The Mazda brand increased its sales by a stunning 93% over same month previous year with 266 vehicle sales.

FGP final quarter 2009 sales performance had been equally strong with 38% increase over same quarter previous year, selling 2,703 vehicles last quarter 2009 versus 1,962 vehicles for the same period 2008.

Ford reaches new heights.

Sales of Ford vehicles likewise surpassed a record previously set in 2004 for full year sales. In 2009, a total of 6,142 Ford vehicles were sold, compared to 5,730 units in 2008 (a 7% increase YOY). Driving the increase was Ford's spectacular performance in the month of December where sales for Ford vehicles registered a 34% increase over prior month with 805 units sold (vs. 601 in November), reflecting a 49% sales boost over December 2008.

Ford Everest posted two monthly sales records in the same year. Everest sales in June (324 units) marked FGP’s highest single month sale for any nameplate since the Company started local operations over a decade ago (reflecting an 80% increase over June 2008), a record which it surpassed in December 2009. December sales of Ford Everest reached 336 units, a 47% increase over previous month.

Like the Everest, the Ford Ranger posted record monthly sales in December 2009, closing the year with its highest fiscal year sales ever. December retail sales of the Ford Ranger totaled to 173 units, with full year sales amounting to 1,255 units.

"Our completely refreshed Ford product line-up at showrooms has defied expectations throughout 2009 with the Ford Everest, Escape and Ranger leading the way and driving tremendous growth for the brand and our dealers,” explained FGP President Rick Baker. “Our performance reflects that our Filipino customers continue to appreciate Ford's efforts to produce vehicles they want and value."

Mazda Zoom-Zooms in 2009

Not to be outdone, Mazda likewise posted its 2nd highest fiscal year sales with a 1.2% increase in total sales versus 2008, with December's 266 vehicle sales as its highest monthly sales since July 2005 - a 17% lift from previous month and a 93% surge over December 2008.

Full year sales for Mazda Philippines totaled to 2,042 units (vs. 2,017 units in 2008). Sales performance was powered by the Mazda3 which ‘zoom-zoomed’ to an amazing 61% increase over November (192 vs. 119 units) and the newly launched sold-out Mazda CX-7 Crossover SUV which achieved 142 unit sales in the last two months of the year.

"The Mazda brand is really on a roll last year,” explained Steven Tan, Vice President for Marketing and Sales. “Our dealers were very excited with the launch of the 2010 Mazda CX-9 and all-new Mazda CX-7 last November. The new imported 5DR Mazda 2 just rolled into the showroom this month with public launch planned in the first quarter of this year. Mazda plans to Zoom-Zoom through 2010!"

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