An impressive performance by Ford's commercial vehicle range - in tandem with typically strong car sales - have pushed the Cork-based brand into the No.1 position for overall vehicle sales in the month of September.

Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that the car market was up on September 2013, with the full-year car market remaining on course to reach the 100,000-unit mark, as sales year-to-date total 93,289.

The month was dominated by Ford, which had two of the top five best-selling passenger models (Focus and Fiesta) however it was the performance of Ford's much-vaunted CV range that has grabbed most of the headlines.

With a total of 404 new units registered during the month of September, the Ford CV range not only out-sold its commercial competitors but also out-stripped almost all other manufacturers' car sales as well. The company also sold 390 passenger units to finish the month comfortably ahead of nearest rivals, VW and Toyota for overall sales.

"We have always held the view that the Ford CV range is a premium brand in its own right and the go-to commercial vehicle for large and small business users in Ireland," said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland.

"At the heart of our CV line-up is the Ford Transit, and Ireland's best-selling commercial vehicle of all time was again the driving force behind an excellent sales performance in September," Mr Murphy said.

"Our aim now is to push on towards the end of the year, when we'll have a new Focus and a new Mondeo to join our ranks, hopefully putting us in pole position to take advantage of a strongly resurgent car market in 2015," Mr Murphy added.

Top Selling Car Models September

Units

1  VW Golf               163

2  Ford Fiesta          157

3  Ford Focus          144

4  BMW 3 Series     125

5  Nissan Qashqai   123