The Puma was launched in 2019 and, in addition to the inexpensive EcoSport, provided Ford with a premium entry-level vehicle in the fast-growing small SUV segment. Last year, the Puma was Ford of Europe’s third bestseller after Focus and Fiesta.
The Puma’s strong sales this year have put it in fourth place in Europe’s small SUV segment, ahead of the Dacia Duster and Hyundai Kona, behind the 2008 Peugeot, Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross.
Sales of the Ford Focus fell 40 percent in the first six months, while sales of the Fiesta fell 9.4 percent, according to market researchers from JATO Dynamics.
The drop in sales for the two cars is even more dramatic as most models saw volume rebound in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2020 when many dealerships across Europe had to close as governments took action to curb COVID-19. Introduced pandemic.
As with other automakers, Ford’s production is also affected by the global scarcity of automotive semiconductors, which affects all European plants, including Craiova in Romania, where the Puma is built. From April 26 to May the factory in Craiova worked two instead of three shifts and, according to the company, had six days without production on April 28 and between May 10 and 14.
Ford said the Puma was given priority for no reason other than higher demand.
“Customer orders and CO2 compliance vehicles are prioritized across the range,” said a company spokesman.
Car manufacturers in Europe are prioritizing low-emission vehicles to avoid European Union fines for failing to meet mandatory CO2 reduction targets.
The Puma is not considered a compliance vehicle due to the lack of a plug-in hybrid variant. The car is offered with mild hybrid technology.
The SUV allows Ford to sell a small model with a much higher sticker price than the Fiesta. The Puma starts at £ 22,045 ($ 30,600) in the UK, Ford’s largest European market, while the Fiesta starts at £ 16,645.
