Ford Vietnam has announced record retail sales for a second consecutive month in December. It sold 3,959 vehicles, a 56 per cent year-on-year rise.

The company said there had been strong sales across its lineup, with the Ranger, Everest and EcoSport each delivering their all-time best monthly performance.

"We had a fantastic finish to the year, which is being supported in part by the continued strength of Viet Nam’s economy and high consumer confidence,” Pham Van Dung, managing director of Ford Vietnam, said.

The Ranger saw sales jump by 38 per cent to 1,928 units and was the best-selling pickup for a fifth consecutive year in 2018 with 8,675 vehicles sold.

The EcoSport’s sales soared 59 per cent to 623 units as it finished the year as the leader of the compact SUV segment with sales rising 22 per cent to 4,844 units.

The versatile Transit van remained the best-seller in the commercial van and bus segment with full-year sales increasing by 2 per cent to 5,815 units, including 340 in December.

The mid-size SUV Everest’s December sales rose to 621 vehicles and full-year sales to 2,007.

The Focus’s December sales increased by 40 per cent year-on-year to 254 vehicles, and full-year sales by 69 per cent to 2,105.

The Explorer, imported from the US and equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, saw December sales jump 44 per cent year-on-year to 183 units. It was the leader in the premium SUV segment for a second consecutive year with 2018 sales of 785 vehicles. – VNS