Are Eco-Conscious Millennials Fuelling Record SUV Sales? Ford To Offer Fully Electric Suv With 300 Mile Range By 2020

February 2, 2017 by Ford

◾Forget gas-guzzling stereotypes – 4 in 5 Millennials say SUVs are now more eco-friendly

◾Industry SUV registrations were up 21 per cent in 2016, accounting for 1 in 4 new vehicles registered; 1 in 4 Millennials in the market for a new car say they are considering an SUV

◾Ford to launch fully electric SUV with an estimated range of 300 miles by 2020

BRENTWOOD, Essex, Feb. 2, 2017 – Motivated by a strong social conscience* and keen to rent, stream and share goods and services, the Millennial generation's revolutionary approach to spending is changing how companies – including carmakers – do business.

And their fresh thinking is influencing the cars they want to drive in ways you might not expect.

More than 4 in 5 Millennials believe SUVs have become more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly during the last 5 years. Having shed their gas-guzzling reputation, SUVs are now on the shopping lists of 1 in 4 Millennials in the market for a new car. **

Ford is introducing an all-new fully electric SUV, engineered to deliver an estimated range of at least 300 miles – enough to drive from London to Paris. The company introduced three new SUVs in Europe last year, and the new zero-emission model will be one of five arriving by 2020.

'SUV sales are rising faster than any other type of vehicle in Europe, and eco-conscious Millennials are a driving force behind growing SUV demand. Last year, Ford's SUV sales outpaced even this rapid industry growth,' said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. 'Customers are discovering the fuel-efficiency offered by advanced engines like our new 120PS 1.5-litre TDCi diesel that meets the latest Euro Stage 6 emissions requirements and delivers 115g/km CO2 in the new Kuga, *** and the multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine in the Ford EcoSport.'

Sales of Ford's SUV models in the UK – the compact EcoSport, medium-size Kuga and full-size Edge – are up 320 per cent in three years and grew 31 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015 in Europe. Industry SUV registrations were up 21 per cent across Europe in 2016, accounting for more than one quarter of all the new vehicles registered. †

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And it's not only younger drivers that are defying expectations with their choice of car. Ford data shows that the average age of customers buying hot hatchbacks – high performance versions of small and medium sized cars – increased by more than 10 per cent between 2010 and 2016.

Last year Ford performance car sales – including the Fiesta ST, Focus ST and Focus RS hot hatchbacks, as well as the Ford Mustang – grew by 60 per cent for the second year in succession.

* http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2015/green-generation-millennials-say-sustainability-is-a-shopping-priority.html

** Ford Motor Company-sponsored survey of 5,000 people in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K who own a car or who intend to buy one in the next 12 months. Millennial respondents aged 17 to 34

*** The declared Fuel/Energy Consumptions, CO2emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel/energy consumption, CO2 emissions and electric range. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.

≠ Ford of Europe reports its sales for the European traditional markets where it is represented through National Sales Companies. They are Austria, Belgium, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland

† JATO Dynamics results are based on information provided by JATO Consult, the company's bespoke consulting service. Figures are based on 30 European countries. For more information please visit www.jato.com

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company's core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.