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Ford raises its UK prices by 4% Ford raises prices for third time
(20 minutes later)
Carmaker Ford is to raise its prices in the UK by an average of 4%, and has blamed the weakness of the pound against the euro for its decision. Carmaker Ford is to raise its prices in the UK by an average of 4%, blaming the weakness of the pound against the euro.
It is the third time this year that Ford has raised prices. They rose 4.7% in February and 3.75% in April.
The list price of Ka, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo models will rise by £600 to £650 while an S-Max will cost £700 more and a Galaxy will go up by £800.The list price of Ka, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo models will rise by £600 to £650 while an S-Max will cost £700 more and a Galaxy will go up by £800.
The price rises will apply to orders received after 30 June.
Ford conceded that raising prices, in a recession with a scrappage scheme in place, "may seem counter-intuitive".Ford conceded that raising prices, in a recession with a scrappage scheme in place, "may seem counter-intuitive".
The price rises will apply to orders received after 30 June.
"With so many of our costs priced in euros, there is no choice if we are to maintain a viable business," said Nigel Sharp, managing director of Ford in the UK."With so many of our costs priced in euros, there is no choice if we are to maintain a viable business," said Nigel Sharp, managing director of Ford in the UK.
He said that sterling had been stable at about 1.43 euros for about 10 years up until the end of 2007, but that the pound had recently fallen to around 1.16 euros. Many of the Ford cars sold in the UK are assembled in Germany and Spain.
"The cost impact of this drop, on a car priced at £15,000, is close to £3,500, which has to be absorbed by the business," Mr Sharp said. 'Huge impact'
Mr Sharp said that sterling had been stable at about 1.43 euros for about 10 years up until the end of 2007, but that the pound had recently fallen to around 1.16 euros.
"The cost impact of this drop, on a car priced at £15,000, is close to £3,500, which has to be absorbed by the business," he said.
"The total revenue impact has been huge - well into nine figures - on Ford's UK business.""The total revenue impact has been huge - well into nine figures - on Ford's UK business."
Ford raised its average prices by 4.7% in February, a rise also put down to the strength of the euro. The three price rises will cancel out most of the savings from the government's scrappage scheme, which gives customers £2,000 off a new car if they trade in a vehicle that is more than 10 years old.