The announcement comes as new car registrations data released today (6 February) by the SMMT shows that registrations by Ford were down 2.1% in January at 19,640 units compared to 20,061 for the same month last year.

However, Ford retail car sales in January were up 18% to 9,008, up from 7,628 in 2012.

Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain managing director, said: ‘Ford is intent on maintaining the quality of its business in a fiercely competitive market. This is reflected in Ford driving up its share of more profitable retail sales while taking out marginal fleet business by lowering sales to daily rental fleets.’