Ford looks set to retain its title as the number one brand in the commercial vehicle (CV) market in Ireland for 2012. 

Figures for the sector recently released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that Ford had sales of 1,647 vehicles up to the end of June. This compares with 1,475 for VW and 885 for Renault. 

The overall CV market for the six month period to the end of June 2012 totaled 7,789 units, down 382 units (or 4.6%) from a total of 8,171 sales for the same period last year.  With a 21.1% share of the 2012 sales, Ford managed to grow its share of the market, up from 19.7% in 2011.

"In a still weak market, it is heartening that Ford is maintaining and even growing its share," said Ciaran McMahon, CV Sales & Marketing  Manager for Ford Ireland.  "The backbone of our success in the CV sector continues to be the Transit which has been Ireland's number one van from when it arrived in Ireland nearly 50 years ago".

Although there is a new one on the way at the end of the year, the Transit topped the charts in its segment with sales of 928 units so far this year. Transit was followed by Renault Traffic / Master range 640 units and VW Transporter / Crafter range with 438.  With the launch of the all new Transit Custom model here in October, it looks like Transit will continue to dominate the sales charts for 2012 full year and into 2013.