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Ford's F-Series Truck Caps 22nd Year in a Row as America's Best-Selling Vehicle With a December Sales Record

- F-Series' December sales were 84,657 -- up 16 percent compared with a year ago. - Lincoln posts first calendar year sales increase since 2000. - Volvo sets new calendar year sales record. - Ford's overall December sales were down 4 percent as lower car sales offset record truck sales; full year sales also off 4 percent. - Ford's O'Connor: Improving margins in North America by focusing on retail business and selling a richer product mix.

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 5 -- Ford's F-Series truck, America's best-selling vehicle for 22 years in a row and best-selling truck for 27 years in a row, posted record December sales of 84,657, up 16 percent compared with a year ago. It was the fourth month in a row F-Series achieved a double-digit sales increase -- a streak that coincided with the introduction of the all-new F-150. For the full year, F-Series sales totaled 845,586. In December, F-150 was named Motor Trend magazine's Truck of the Year. Yesterday, F-150 was named North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

"Without a doubt, the launch of the new F-150 has taken its place among the very best in Ford's long history," said Jim O'Connor, Ford group president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "Bolstered by the confidence and excitement created by the F-150, we're ready to launch the next wave of new products."

Overall, U.S. customers purchased or leased 292,209 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in December, down 4 percent compared with a year ago. Record truck sales (up 2 percent) were offset by lower car sales (down 16 percent).

For the full year, the company's U.S. sales were 3.5 million, down 4 percent compared with a year ago. Higher truck sales (up 1 percent) were offset by lower car sales (down 12 percent).

"Although overall sales were lower, we're improving margins in North America by focusing on retail business and selling a richer product mix," said O'Connor. "We'll continue with that strategy in 2004."

In December, Lincoln sales were 14,889, up 9 percent compared with a year ago. For the full year, Lincoln sales were up 6 percent -- the first sales increase since 2000. Lincoln is benefiting from new products in one of the industry's fastest growing segments -- the market for premium sport utility vehicles. In December, the redesigned Navigator posted its highest sales month in history (4,989) resulting in full year sales of 38,742, up 27 percent. The all-new, mid-size Aviator achieved first year sales of 29,517. Lincoln dealers sold nearly twice as many SUVs in 2003 as the previous year.

Volvo also benefited from the introduction of a new premium sport utility vehicle as it set a new calendar year sales record. Volvo's full year sales totaled 134,586, up 22 percent. The award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle achieved its highest sales month ever (4,290) and became Volvo's top-selling product in the U.S. in its first full year on sale.

Other 2003 Sales Highlights

Ford was America's top-selling brand for the 17th year in a row with sales of 2.9 million cars and trucks. In the 17-year period from 1987 to 2003, Ford dealers sold over 52 million cars and trucks to U.S. customers, almost 9 million more than the next best-selling brand. Ford has best-selling products in the following segments: full-size pickups (F-Series), compact pickups (Ranger), sport utility vehicles (Explorer), full-size vans (Econoline), and sports cars (Mustang). In addition, the Ford Escape was the best-selling small sport utility vehicle with record sales of 167,678, up 15 percent.

Mercury full year sales totaled 202,257, down 23 percent for the year. Record sales for Mercury Mountaineer (49,692) and higher sales for Grand Marquis were offset by the impact of discontinued products (Villager and Cougar) and lower fleet sales.

Jaguar and Land Rover full year sales were slightly lower than 2002 when each brand reported record U.S. sales. Both Jaguar and Land Rover achieved substantial improvements in their sales mix after introducing all-new flagship products. Jaguar's XJ sedan posted a 22 percent increase in full year sales following its mid-year introduction and Land Rover's Range Rover achieved record sales of 12,086, up 41 percent.

                 FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES

                           December        %   December Year-To-Date    %
                        2003     2002   Change    2003       2002    Change
  Sales By Brand
     Ford              240,823  252,008   -4.4  2,894,347  2,997,591   -3.4
     Mercury            16,635   18,810  -11.6    202,257    263,200  -23.2
     Lincoln            14,889   13,671    8.9    158,839    150,057    5.9
     Jaguar              4,438    4,697   -5.5     54,655     61,204  -10.7
     Volvo              11,747   11,454    2.6    134,586    110,670   21.6
     Land Rover          3,677    3,653    0.7     39,035     40,987   -4.8
        Total Ford
         Motor Company 292,209  304,293   -4.0  3,483,719  3,623,709   -3.9

  Memo: Cars and
   Trucks
     Cars               80,763   96,551  -16.4  1,169,433  1,325,716  -11.8
     Trucks            211,446  207,742    1.8  2,314,286  2,297,993    0.7
        Total Ford
         Motor Company 292,209  304,293   -4.0  3,483,719  3,623,709   -3.9

                     FORD BRAND DECEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES

                            December        %   December Year-To-Date    %
                         2003     2002   Change    2003       2002    Change

  Crown Victoria         6,575    4,821   36.4     78,541     79,716   -1.5
  Taurus                15,182   32,243  -52.9    300,496    332,690   -9.7
  Focus                 16,299   14,638   11.3    229,353    243,199   -5.7
  Thunderbird              904    1,238  -27.0     18,100     19,085   -5.2
  Mustang               12,249    8,501   44.1    140,350    138,356    1.4
  Escort                 1,156    1,855  -37.7     25,473     51,857  -50.9
    Total Ford Cars     52,365   63,296  -17.3    792,313    864,903   -8.4

  Escape                13,756   14,477   -5.0    167,678    145,471   15.3
  Explorer              33,313   38,645  -13.8    373,118    433,847  -14.0
  Expedition            18,100   19,371   -6.6    181,547    163,454   11.1
  Excursion              2,610    2,150   21.4     26,259     29,042   -9.6
  Econoline/Club Wagon  13,391   13,661   -2.0    161,721    165,085   -2.0
  Windstar               3,523   10,568  -66.7    113,465    148,875  -23.8
  Freestar               5,689        0      NA    15,771          0     NA
  Ranger                12,443   16,397  -24.1    209,117    226,094   -7.5
  F-Series              84,657   72,884   16.2    845,586    813,701    3.9
  Heavy Trucks             976      559   74.6      7,772      7,119    9.2
    Total Ford Trucks  188,458  188,712   -0.1  2,102,034  2,132,688   -1.4

    Total Ford Brand   240,823  252,008   -4.4  2,894,347  2,997,591   -3.4

              LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND DECEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES

                                                 December Year-To-
                             December       %           Date            %
                           2003    2002   Change   2003     2002      Change

  Grand Marquis            6,875   6,334     8.5   86,986   80,271      8.4
  Sable                    4,082   5,553   -26.5   61,342   98,998    -38.0
  Cougar                       0   1,129  -100.0    2,024   19,345    -89.5
    Total Mercury Cars    10,957  13,016   -15.8  150,352  198,614    -24.3

  Town Car                 4,324   4,331    -0.2   56,566   59,312     -4.6
  LS                       2,657   4,190   -36.6   33,581   39,775    -15.6
  Continental                  0     380  -100.0      280   15,435    -98.2
    Total Lincoln Cars     6,981   8,901   -21.6   90,427  114,522    -21.0

    Total Mercury
      and Lincoln Cars    17,938  21,917   -18.2  240,779  313,136    -23.1

  Mountaineer              4,977   4,662     6.8   49,692   48,144      3.2
  Monterey                   701       0      NA    2,213        0       NA
  Villager                     0   1,132  -100.0        0   16,442   -100.0
    Total Mercury Trucks   5,678   5,794    -2.0   51,905   64,586    -19.6

  Navigator                4,989   3,257    53.2   38,742   30,613     26.6
  Aviator                  2,919   1,166   150.3   29,517    1,856  1,490.4
  Blackwood                    0     347  -100.0      153    3,066    -95.0
    Total Lincoln Trucks   7,908   4,770    65.8   68,412   35,535     92.5

    Total Mercury
      and Lincoln Trucks  13,586  10,564    28.6  120,317  100,121     20.2

    Total Mercury
      and Lincoln
       Vehicles           31,524  32,481    -2.9  361,096  413,257    -12.6

  Total Lincoln Brand     14,889  13,671     8.9  158,839  150,057      5.9
  Total Mercury Brand     16,635  18,810   -11.6  202,257  263,200    -23.2

                    JAGUAR BRAND DECEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES

                                                      December Year-
                                   December      %       To-Date        %
                                 2003   2002  Change   2003    2002  Change
  XJ                             1,032    516  100.0  10,102   8,286   21.9
  S-TYPE                         1,113  1,358  -18.0  14,876  15,965   -6.8
  X-TYPE                         2,037  2,514  -19.0  26,772  33,018  -18.9
  XK                               256    309  -17.2   2,905   3,935  -26.2
    Total Jaguar                 4,438  4,697   -5.5  54,655  61,204  -10.7

                     VOLVO BRAND DECEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES

                                                   December Year-To-
                                December       %          Date          %
                              2003    2002  Change   2003     2002   Change
  S40                           692   1,088  -36.4   12,792   15,383  -16.8
  V40                           187     208  -10.1    2,926    2,729    7.2
  S60                         2,533   2,980  -15.0   35,295   38,546   -8.4
  S70                             0       0     NA        0        1     NA
  V70                           966     841   14.9   11,765   10,863    8.3
  V70 XC                      1,435   1,605  -10.6   17,177   19,818  -13.3
  C70                           292     202   44.6    4,271    3,592   18.9
  XC90                        4,290   3,208   33.7   35,723    4,379  715.8
  S80                         1,352   1,322    2.3   14,637   15,359   -4.7
    Total Volvo              11,747  11,454    2.6  134,586  110,670   21.6

                  LAND ROVER BRAND DECEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES

                                                      December Year-
                                   December      %       To-Date        %
                                 2003   2002  Change   2003    2002  Change
  Range Rover                    1,756  1,016   72.8  12,086   8,549   41.4
  Discovery                      1,204  1,462  -17.6  17,420  17,417    0.0
  Freelander                       717  1,175  -39.0   9,529  15,021  -36.6
    Total Land Rover             3,677  3,653    0.7  39,035  40,987   -4.8