Ford Monthly Sales Off Again in October

DETROIT November 3, 2004; John Porretto writing for the AP reported that Ford sales in October fell 5 percent from October 2003, the eighth time this year monthly sales have been below year-ago results.

Sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brand trucks were up 3 percent at the nation's second-largest automaker, but that demand was not nearly enough to offset a 22 percent decline in car sales -- an all-too familiar trend for Ford this year.

Company officials, however, said they were bullish on prospects for the remainder of 2004 and beyond, given the recent rollout of several new cars and trucks, some of which are just beginning to reach showrooms in significant numbers.

They include the Ford Five Hundred flagship sedan, Freestyle crossover vehicle, Escape Hybrid sport utility vehicle and Mustang sports car.

Ford said last week that October sales of the Five Hundred and Freestyle -- their first full month on the market -- had exceeded company expectations. The Dearborn-based automaker said it has taken 50,000 orders for the Five-Hundred and 30,000 orders for the Freestyle.

"We're very encouraged by the early dealer and consumer response to our new products," said Jim O'Connor, Ford's group vice president for North American marketing, sales and service. "We have our sights set on stronger retail sales in the months ahead."

Other major automakers, including General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group, were scheduled to release October results later Wednesday.

Analysts have predicted that U.S. auto sales, which surged to the second-highest level of 2004 in September, likely cooled in October, more so for Detroit's Big Three carmakers than foreign brands.

Heavy-but-costly incentive spending at the end of September may have pulled ahead a portion of October sales for some automakers, while sagging consumer confidence may have hurt business, observers say.