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| Ford to unveil several new models | Ford to unveil several new models |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Carmaker Ford will launch a string of new models later, including the latest versions of its best-sellers Fiesta, Mondeo and Kuga. | Carmaker Ford will launch a string of new models later, including the latest versions of its best-sellers Fiesta, Mondeo and Kuga. |
| A new family of Transit commercial vehicles will also be unveiled, as well as two completely new vehicles whose names have yet to be revealed. | A new family of Transit commercial vehicles will also be unveiled, as well as two completely new vehicles whose names have yet to be revealed. |
| The wave of new models is designed to revive sales in Europe. | |
| It comes soon after the US carmaker warned its European operations could suffer $1bn (£630m) losses this year. | It comes soon after the US carmaker warned its European operations could suffer $1bn (£630m) losses this year. |
| Surprisingly bad | Surprisingly bad |
| Ford's share price has fallen sharply in recent months, reflecting the carmaker's difficulties. | Ford's share price has fallen sharply in recent months, reflecting the carmaker's difficulties. |
| During winter, the stock was trading close to $13. Since spring, it has been slipping and it is now trading closer to $9. | During winter, the stock was trading close to $13. Since spring, it has been slipping and it is now trading closer to $9. |
| "The surprise to many is how poorly Ford is doing," observed IHS Global Insight in an analysis on 26 July. | "The surprise to many is how poorly Ford is doing," observed IHS Global Insight in an analysis on 26 July. |
| At the time, Ford's financial performance during the April to June quarter revealed that "North America is the only place in the world that Ford performed well", according to the analysts. | At the time, Ford's financial performance during the April to June quarter revealed that "North America is the only place in the world that Ford performed well", according to the analysts. |
| In Europe, the Ford's sales fell almost 10% during the first half of 2012 to its lowest level in 17 years. | |
| During the same period, South Korean rivals Hyundai and Kia saw sales surge, up 12% and 25% respectively. | During the same period, South Korean rivals Hyundai and Kia saw sales surge, up 12% and 25% respectively. |
| Sustainable productivity | |
| Latest figures from the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that the Ford Fiesta was the UK's best-selling car model in August, while the Ford Focus was the third most popular car. | |
| The SMMT added that the Ford Fiesta is the UK's best-selling car so far in 2012. | |
| German consulting firm Roland Berger said that, while it believes up to 10 car factories across Western Europe could close in the next few years due to production running below capacity, Ford is one of only two carmakers it thinks may escape that fate. | |
| "Apart from Volkswagen and Ford, other manufacturers are posting productivity rates in their plants that are unsustainable - and the market will not recover," said Roland Berger consultant Max Blanchet. | |
| Ford believes that new models should help it fight the longer-term slump. It says it expects the Fiesta to become the world's best-selling car, overtaking Toyota's Corolla. | |
| The company has also announced that it will export engines it builds in India to Europe for the first time. | |
| Ford expects to have the capacity to build 600,000 engines across its two Indian plants by 2015. |