Ford Co. November 2003 Sales Down But F-Series Sales Rose 10 Percent
- F-Series sales were 64,737 - up 10 percent compared with a year ago. - Ford Escape sets November record as sales increase 14 percent. - Lincoln sales climb 17 percent. - Volvo sets November record as sales increase 37 percent. - Ford's overall November sales were down 2 percent, reflecting lower fleet sales. - Planned reduction in Ford Taurus daily rental sales trims fourth quarter North American production. First quarter 2004 production is 1.03 million vehicles - equal to first quarter 2003.
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 2 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 255,533 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in November, down 2 percent compared with a year ago. Sales to individual retail customers were equal to a year ago, but sales to fleet customers declined 10 percent.
Year-to-date, the company's sales were 3.2 million, down 4 percent compared with the same period a year ago.
"The U.S. economy is getting better by the minute," said Jim O' Connor, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "The momentum we are seeing in the economy should provide a solid foundation for auto sales in 2004. I can't think of a better time to introduce new products, like the Ford F-150, than at the beginning of an economic upturn."
Ford's all-new F-150 truck was introduced in September and has contributed to three straight months of double-digit sales increases for Ford's F-Series truck, the best selling vehicle in America for 22 years in a row. November F-Series sales were 64,737, up 10 percent from a year ago. Over 760,000 F-Series trucks have been delivered to U.S. customers in 2003.
"The sales curve for the new F-150 is very steep," said O'Connor. "It has gone from 13 percent of total F-Series sales in September to 36 percent in November."
Sales for the Ford Escape were 14,066 (up 14 percent), bringing year-to- date sales to 153,922. Escape is the best-selling small sport utility vehicle in the United States with over 500,000 units sold since it was introduced in late 2000.
Ford Mustang sales were 11,456 (up 51 percent) as consumers responded to a mid-November announcement that the $5-a-day lease program had returned to Ford dealer showrooms. The most recent announcement coincided with a production milestone -- Ford's 300-millionth vehicle. A similar offer was extended in conjunction with the company's Centennial celebration in June.
Lincoln sales climbed 17 percent in November, reflecting higher sales for the Navigator and Aviator sport utility vehicles. For the year, Lincoln sales were 6 percent higher than a year ago.
Volvo dealers delivered 10,615 units to U.S. customers in November -- a new record for the month. Volvo sales were 37 percent higher than a year ago, the thirteenth month in a row of higher sales, primarily reflecting the award- winning XC90 sport utility vehicle.
The company revised its fourth quarter 2003 North American production plan downward by 20,000 units reflecting a planned reduction in Ford Taurus sales to daily rental companies. The company now plans to produce 900,000 vehicles (232,000 cars and 668,000 trucks) in the fourth quarter 2003. In the first quarter 2004, the company plans to produce 1.03 million vehicles in North America (305,000 cars and 725,000 trucks), equal to the number of vehicles produced in the first quarter 2003.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOVEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
November % November Year-To-Date %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 210,279 217,972 -3.5 2,653,524 2,745,583 -3.4
Mercury 15,689 17,763 -11.7 185,622 244,390 -24.0
Lincoln 11,888 10,174 16.8 143,950 136,386 5.5
Jaguar 4,037 4,223 -4.4 50,217 56,507 -11.1
Volvo 10,615 7,770 36.6 122,839 99,216 23.8
Land Rover 3,025 3,803 -20.5 35,358 37,334 -5.3
Total Ford
Motor Company 255,533 261,705 -2.4 3,191,510 3,319,416 -3.9
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 79,613 88,201 -9.7 1,088,670 1,229,166 -11.4
Trucks 175,920 173,504 1.4 2,102,840 2,090,250 0.6
Total Ford
Motor Company 255,533 261,705 -2.4 3,191,510 3,319,416 -3.9
FORD BRAND NOVEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
November % November Year-To-Date %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Crown Victoria 5,753 5,539 3.9 71,966 74,895 -3.9
Taurus 16,693 25,168 -33.7 285,314 300,447 -5.0
Focus 16,866 17,435 -3.3 213,054 228,561 -6.8
Thunderbird 1,030 1,195 -13.8 17,196 17,847 -3.6
Mustang 11,456 7,576 51.2 128,101 129,855 -1.4
Escort 2,114 2,230 -5.2 24,317 50,002 -51.4
Total Ford Cars 53,912 59,143 -8.8 739,948 801,607 -7.7
Escape 14,066 12,297 14.4 153,922 130,994 17.5
Explorer 26,865 31,483 -14.7 339,805 395,202 -14.0
Expedition 11,854 16,445 -27.9 163,447 144,083 13.4
Excursion 3,199 1,934 65.4 23,649 26,892 -12.1
Econoline/Club Wagon 12,243 12,129 0.9 148,330 151,424 -2.0
Windstar 4,644 12,137 -61.7 109,942 138,307 -20.5
Freestar 6,251 0 NA 10,082 0 NA
Ranger 11,751 12,917 -9.0 196,674 209,697 -6.2
F-Series 64,737 58,934 9.8 760,929 740,817 2.7
Heavy Trucks 757 553 36.9 6,796 6,560 3.6
Total Ford Trucks 156,367 158,829 -1.6 1,913,576 1,943,976 -1.6
Total Ford Brand 210,279 217,972 -3.5 2,653,524 2,745,583 -3.4
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND NOVEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
November % November Year-To-Date %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Grand Marquis 6,110 6,412 -4.7 80,111 73,937 8.4
Sable 3,942 4,410 -10.6 57,260 93,445 -38.7
Cougar 0 1,535 -100.0 2,024 18,216 -88.9
Total Mercury Cars 10,052 12,357 -18.7 139,395 185,598 -24.9
Town Car 3,424 3,709 -7.7 52,242 54,981 -5.0
LS 2,165 2,328 -7.0 30,924 35,585 -13.1
Continental 0 757 -100.0 280 15,055 -98.1
Total Lincoln Cars 5,589 6,794 -17.7 83,446 105,621 -21.0
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 15,641 19,151 -18.3 222,841 291,219 -23.5
Mountaineer 4,883 4,352 12.2 44,715 43,482 2.8
Monterey 754 0 NA 1,512 0 NA
Villager 0 1,054 -100.0 0 15,310 -100.0
Total Mercury Trucks 5,637 5,406 4.3 46,227 58,792 -21.4
Navigator 3,689 2,433 51.6 33,753 27,356 23.4
Aviator 2,610 690 NA 26,598 690 NA
Blackwood 0 257 -100.0 153 2,719 -94.4
Total Lincoln Trucks 6,299 3,380 86.4 60,504 30,765 96.7
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 11,936 8,786 35.9 106,731 89,557 19.2
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 27,577 27,937 -1.3 329,572 380,776 -13.4
Total Lincoln Brand 11,888 10,174 16.8 143,950 136,386 5.5
Total Mercury Brand 15,689 17,763 -11.7 185,622 244,390 -24.0
JAGUAR BRAND NOVEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
November % November Year-To-Date %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
XJ 895 621 44.1 9,070 7,770 16.7
S-TYPE 987 1,339 -26.3 13,763 14,607 -5.8
X-TYPE 1,909 1,932 -1.2 24,735 30,504 -18.9
XK 246 331 -25.7 2,649 3,626 -26.9
Total Jaguar 4,037 4,223 -4.4 50,217 56,507 -11.1
VOLVO BRAND NOVEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
November % November Year-To-Date %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
S40 950 1,022 -7.0 12,100 14,295 -15.4
V40 191 191 0.0 2,739 2,521 8.6
S60 2,469 2,381 3.7 32,762 35,566 -7.9
S70 0 0 NA 0 1 NA
V70 1,057 912 15.9 10,799 10,023 7.7
V70 XC 1,287 1,205 6.8 15,742 18,212 -13.6
C70 210 169 24.3 3,979 3,390 17.4
XC90 3,305 881 NA 31,433 1,171 NA
S80 1,146 1,009 13.6 13,285 14,037 -5.4
Total Volvo 10,615 7,770 36.6 122,839 99,216 23.8
LAND ROVER BRAND NOVEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
November % November Year-To-Date %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Range Rover 1,088 970 12.2 10,330 7,533 37.1
Discovery 1,386 1,666 -16.8 16,216 15,955 1.6
Freelander 551 1,167 -52.8 8,812 13,846 -36.4
Total Land Rover 3,025 3,803 -20.5 35,358 37,334 -5.3
