Ford's March Sales Highest Level Since May 2004
* Ford Motor Company's March sales totaled 305,172 - best month since May 20, 200504. * Car sales equal to a year ago as new Ford Mustang, Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego reach new highs. * Truck sales decline 3 percent as gains from Ford F-Series, Lincoln Mark LT and crossover sport utility vehicles are offset by lower sales of traditional sport utility vehicles and compact pickups. * Overall, sales off 1.7 percent from a year ago.
DEARBORN, Mich., April 1 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 305,172 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo dealers in March -- the highest monthly total since May 2004. Compared with a year ago, overall sales declined 1.7 percent.
Sales of passenger cars continued to increase at the retail level. Total car sales (including fleet deliveries) were equal to a year ago, but retail car sales were up 6 percent, including a 20 percent increase at Ford Division as consumer demand grew for the Ford Five Hundred sedan and Ford Mustang. Both cars posted their highest sales since introduction late last year. The Mercury Montego sedan also achieved its best sales month since introduction.
"We're making a concerted effort to get back in the car business," said Earl Hesterberg, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "The effort appears to be paying off."
Sales of trucks (pickups, sport utility vehicles and vans) declined 3 percent from a year ago. On the positive side, Ford F-Series sales were 80,527, up 1 percent from a year ago, and the all-new Lincoln Mark LT added 569 units to the company's full-size truck results.
In addition, consumer demand continues to grow for the company's new small and crossover sport utility vehicles. The Ford Escape set a new March sales record (16,921), including the highest monthly sales to date for the Escape Hybrid (1,569). The Mercury Mariner also posted its best month ever (3,053). The company's new mid-size crossover model, the Ford Freestyle, also set a new record for monthly sales (6,191).
"Higher gas prices seem to be accelerating the demand for small and crossover sport utility vehicles," said Hesterberg. "Fortunately, we're in a position to offer consumers several choices in these categories and more are on the way."
In contrast, sales of traditional sport utility vehicles generally declined, except at Land Rover where sales were up 8 percent due to the all- new LR3, Motor Trend magazine's "Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year."
In addition, sales for the Ford Ranger, the company's compact pickup truck, were off 40 percent.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH 2005 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 252,636 259,791 -2.8 624,577 667,886 -6.5
Mercury 21,457 16,904 26.9 55,306 47,137 17.3
Lincoln 12,938 14,184 -8.8 31,662 34,521 -8.3
Jaguar 3,545 4,005 -11.5 8,707 11,240 -22.5
Volvo 11,614 12,925 -10.1 32,152 33,367 -3.6
Land Rover 2,982 2,756 8.2 8,444 8,144 3.7
Total Ford Motor
Company 305,172 310,565 -1.7 760,848 802,295 -5.2
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 107,834 107,766 0.1 270,043 265,642 1.7
Trucks 197,338 202,799 -2.7 490,805 536,653 -8.5
Total Ford Motor
Company 305,172 310,565 -1.7 760,848 802,295 -5.2
FORD BRAND MARCH 2005 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Crown Victoria 7,500 9,835 -23.7 17,614 21,772 -19.1
Five Hundred 9,375 0 NA 22,300 0 NA
Taurus 20,887 27,862 -25.0 55,114 68,679 -19.8
Focus 17,726 19,432 -8.8 46,666 48,161 -3.1
Mustang 17,926 15,799 13.5 42,261 36,339 16.3
Thunderbird 1,546 1,703 -9.2 3,062 3,460 -11.5
GT 44 0 NA 55 0 NA
Escort 0 0 NA 0 1,210 -100.0
Total Ford Cars 75,004 74,631 0.5 187,072 179,621 4.1
Freestyle 6,191 0 NA 15,922 0 NA
Escape 16,921 15,694 7.8 44,099 41,194 7.1
Explorer 24,858 29,862 -16.8 62,586 83,602 -25.1
Expedition 9,489 13,700 -30.7 26,296 35,932 -26.8
Excursion 1,461 1,877 -22.2 3,432 4,866 -29.5
Freestar 9,307 9,111 2.2 23,522 23,638 -0.5
Windstar 0 144 -100.0 0 2,950 -100.0
Econoline/Club Wagon 16,742 15,785 6.1 42,466 41,334 2.7
Ranger 10,764 17,796 -39.5 26,612 43,006 -38.1
F-Series 80,527 80,056 0.6 189,408 209,021 -9.4
Heavy Trucks 1,372 1,135 20.9 3,162 2,722 16.2
Total Ford Trucks 177,632 185,160 -4.1 437,505 488,265 -10.4
Total Ford Brand 252,636 259,791 -2.8 624,577 667,886 -6.5
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MARCH 2005 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Grand Marquis 7,913 7,066 12.0 20,328 20,169 0.8
Montego 2,297 0 NA 5,280 0 NA
Sable 4,048 4,184 -3.3 9,898 11,466 -13.7
Total Mercury Cars 14,258 11,250 26.7 35,506 31,635 12.2
Town Car 5,238 5,969 -12.2 11,820 13,269 -10.9
LS 2,595 3,318 -21.8 6,923 8,155 -15.1
Total Lincoln Cars 7,833 9,287 -15.7 18,743 21,424 -12.5
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 22,091 20,537 7.6 54,249 53,059 2.2
Mariner 3,053 0 NA 8,218 0 NA
Mountaineer 3,265 4,146 -21.2 8,973 11,814 -24.0
Monterey 881 1,508 -41.6 2,609 3,688 -29.3
Total Mercury Trucks 7,199 5,654 27.3 19,800 15,502 27.7
Navigator 2,722 2,924 -6.9 7,258 7,770 -6.6
Aviator 1,814 1,973 -8.1 5,062 5,327 -5.0
Mark LT 569 0 NA 599 0 NA
Total Lincoln Trucks 5,105 4,897 4.2 12,919 13,097 -1.4
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 12,304 10,551 16.6 32,719 28,599 14.4
Total Mercury
and Lincoln
Vehicles 34,395 31,088 10.6 86,968 81,658 6.5
Total Lincoln Brand 12,938 14,184 -8.8 31,662 34,521 -8.3
Total Mercury Brand 21,457 16,904 26.9 55,306 47,137 17.3
JAGUAR BRAND MARCH 2005 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
XJ 850 898 -5.3 2,333 2,591 -10.0
S-TYPE 1,023 997 2.6 2,441 2,782 -12.3
X-TYPE 1,435 1,935 -25.8 3,362 5,329 -36.9
XK 237 175 35.4 571 538 6.1
Total Jaguar 3,545 4,005 -11.5 8,707 11,240 -22.5
VOLVO BRAND MARCH 2005 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
S40 2,166 2,441 -11.3 6,381 5,324 19.9
V40 1 288 -99.7 2 573 -99.7
V50 466 0 NA 1,460 0 NA
S60 2,462 2,941 -16.3 6,320 8,556 -26.1
V70 659 886 -25.6 1,972 2,885 -31.6
XC70 1,264 1,231 2.7 3,410 3,301 3.3
C70 274 356 -23.0 697 898 -22.4
S80 1,166 1,681 -30.6 3,183 3,486 -8.7
XC90 3,156 3,101 1.8 8,727 8,344 4.6
Total Volvo 11,614 12,925 -10.1 32,152 33,367 -3.6
LAND ROVER BRAND MARCH 2005 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Range Rover 867 914 -5.1 2,515 2,547 -1.3
LR3 1,797 0 NA 4,611 0 NA
Discovery 124 1,181 -89.5 627 3,476 -82.0
Freelander 194 661 -70.7 691 2,121 -67.4
Total Land Rover 2,982 2,756 8.2 8,444 8,144 3.7
