Ford Achieves First Car Sales Increase Since 1999
* Ford Motor Company's December U.S. sales totaled 267,881, down 9 percent compared with a year ago. Full year sales totaled 3.17 million, down 5 percent. * Full year car sales totaled 1.04 million, up 2 percent compared with a year ago as consumer awareness and demand for new Ford, Mercury and Lincoln cars accelerates. December sales of Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr were 33 percent higher than previous month. * Full year CUV sales climbed 28 percent; Ford will introduce two more CUVs in 2006. * Ford's F-Series truck is America's best selling vehicle for the 24th year in a row as full year sales eclipse 900,000 for the second year in a row. * Land Rover achieves record monthly and full year sales.
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 4 -- Ford Motor Company achieved its first full year increase in car sales since 1999. Full year 2005 car sales totaled 1.04 million, up 2 percent from a year ago. Growing consumer awareness and demand for the company's new mid-size sedans (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr) built on the success of new cars launched in late 2004 -- the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego sedans and Ford Mustang.
Combined sales for the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr in December were 11,808, up 33 percent from November. The cars were introduced in October.
"Consumer response to our new mid-size sedans has exceeded our expectations," said Steve Lyons, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales, and Service. "We're confident we can build on our car sales success in 2006."
Consumer demand also continues to grow for the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego full-size sedans. December sales for the Five Hundred were 45 percent higher than a year ago and Montego sales were 87 percent higher. In their first full year, Five Hundred sales totaled 107,932 and Montego sales totaled 27,007.
Although Mustang sales declined in December, full year sales for the legendary pony car were 160,975, up 24 percent compared with full year 2004.
Sales of CUVs (crossover utility vehicles) were up 28 percent in 2005 -- outpacing overall growth in the U.S. auto industry's hottest segment. The company's gains in this category were paced by the new Ford Freestyle and Mercury Mariner, which were introduced in late 2004. In December, Freestyle sales were up 66 percent and Mariner sales were up 10 percent. In their first full year, Freestyle sales totaled 76,739 and Mariner sales totaled 34,099. The company's CUV products also include the Ford Escape, America's best- selling CUV, and Volvo's XC70 and XC90.
Later this year, Ford will add two more CUVs -- the Ford Edge and the Lincoln MKX.
"CUV sales growth will continue to outpace all other categories in the U.S. auto market between now and the end of the decade," said Lyons. "We believe we are in a great position to meet the needs of an increasing number of consumers with our new cars and CUVs."
Ford dealers delivered over 900,000 F-Series trucks in 2005 marking the first time in over 30 years any product has posted back-to-back sales years above this milestone. For the full year, F-Series sales totaled 901,463 -- the third best year in the 57-year history of the product. In 2004, F-Series sales were a record 939,511. Ford's F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle, car or truck, for 24 years in a row and the best-selling truck for 29 years in a row.
Land Rover dealers reported record monthly and full year sales. December sales were 6,913, up 26 percent and full year sales were 46,175, up 30 percent. Land Rover's record sales were paced by two all-new models -- Range Rover Sport and LR3.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES December Month % December CYTD % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change Sales By Brand Ford 223,324 245,594 -9.1 2,648,814 2,778,678 -4.7 Mercury 13,507 14,915 -9.4 195,949 193,534 1.2 Lincoln 12,612 12,642 -0.2 123,207 139,016 -11.4 Jaguar 2,445 3,417 -28.4 30,424 45,875 -33.7 Volvo 9,080 12,207 -25.6 123,587 139,067 -11.1 Land Rover 6,913 5,495 25.8 46,175 35,506 30.0 Total Ford Motor Company 267,881 294,270 -9.0 3,168,156 3,331,676 -4.9 Memo: Cars and Trucks Cars 78,407 83,200 -5.8 1,038,876 1,018,333 2.0 Trucks 189,474 211,070 -10.2 2,129,280 2,313,343 -8.0 Total Ford Motor Company 267,881 294,270 -9.0 3,168,156 3,331,676 -4.9 FORD BRAND DECEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES December Month % December CYTD % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change Crown Victoria 3,475 4,144 -16.1 63,939 70,816 -9.7 Five Hundred 8,321 5,730 45.2 107,932 14,106 665.1 Taurus 14,990 18,295 -18.1 196,919 248,148 -20.6 Fusion 7,568 0 NA 16,983 0 NA Focus 11,020 16,800 -34.4 184,825 208,339 -11.3 Mustang 10,226 13,342 -23.4 160,975 129,858 24.0 Thunderbird 281 910 -69.1 9,548 11,998 -20.4 GT 208 59 252.5 1,302 144 804.2 Escort 0 0 NA 0 1,210 -100.0 Total Ford Cars 56,089 59,280 -5.4 742,423 684,619 8.4 Freestyle 5,850 3,525 66.0 76,739 8,509 801.9 Escape 12,370 14,308 -13.5 165,122 183,430 -10.0 Explorer 18,996 24,994 -24.0 239,788 339,333 -29.3 Expedition 9,585 13,854 -30.8 114,137 159,846 -28.6 Excursion 785 2,296 -65.8 16,283 20,010 -18.6 Freestar 5,440 6,405 -15.1 77,585 100,622 -22.9 Windstar 0 0 NA 0 2,950 -100.0 Econoline/Club Wagon 14,498 15,422 -6.0 179,543 171,017 5.0 Ranger 8,434 8,670 -2.7 120,958 156,322 -22.6 F-Series 89,491 95,392 -6.2 901,463 939,511 -4.0 Low Cab Forward 286 0 NA 925 0 NA Heavy Trucks 1,500 1,448 3.6 13,848 12,509 10.7 Total Ford Trucks 167,235 186,314 -10.2 1,906,391 2,094,059 -9.0 Total Ford Brand 223,324 245,594 -9.1 2,648,814 2,778,678 -4.7 LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND DECEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES December Month % December CYTD % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change Grand Marquis 3,122 4,668 -33.1 64,716 79,329 -18.4 Montego 2,149 1,152 86.5 27,007 2,974 808.1 Sable 700 2,649 -73.6 24,149 42,737 -43.5 Milan 2,111 0 NA 5,321 0 NA Total Mercury Cars 8,082 8,469 -4.6 121,193 125,040 -3.1 Town Car 4,301 4,071 5.6 47,122 51,908 -9.2 LS 901 1,833 -50.8 19,109 27,066 -29.4 Zephyr 2,129 0 NA 4,985 0 NA Total Lincoln Cars 7,331 5,904 24.2 71,216 78,974 -9.8 Total Mercury and Lincoln Cars 15,413 14,373 7.2 192,409 204,014 -5.7 Mariner 2,700 2,462 9.7 34,099 7,171 375.5 Mountaineer 2,320 2,858 -18.8 32,491 43,916 -26.0 Monterey 405 1,126 -64.0 8,166 17,407 -53.1 Total Mercury Trucks 5,425 6,446 -15.8 74,756 68,494 9.1 Navigator 2,664 4,280 -37.8 25,844 36,398 -29.0 Aviator 838 2,458 -65.9 15,873 23,644 -32.9 Mark LT 1,779 0 NA 10,274 0 NA Total Lincoln Trucks 5,281 6,738 -21.6 51,991 60,042 -13.4 Total Mercury and Lincoln Trucks 10,706 13,184 -18.8 126,747 128,536 -1.4 Total Mercury and Lincoln Vehicles 26,119 27,557 -5.2 319,156 332,550 -4.0 Total Lincoln Brand 12,612 12,642 -0.2 123,207 139,016 -11.4 Total Mercury Brand 13,507 14,915 -9.4 195,949 193,534 1.2 JAGUAR BRAND DECEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES December Month % December CYTD % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change XJ 658 962 -31.6 8,304 10,552 -21.3 S-TYPE 879 787 11.7 8,897 10,975 -18.9 X-TYPE 778 1,456 -46.6 10,941 21,542 -49.2 XK 130 212 -38.7 2,282 2,806 -18.7 Total Jaguar 2,445 3,417 -28.4 30,424 45,875 -33.7 VOLVO BRAND DECEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES December Month % December CYTD % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change S40 1,424 2,305 -38.2 24,233 24,037 0.8 V50 371 581 -36.1 5,671 2,509 126.0 V40 0 2 -100.0 8 1,503 -99.5 S60 1,589 1,733 -8.3 24,695 27,835 -11.3 V70 549 553 -0.7 7,390 10,484 -29.5 XC70 879 1,059 -17.0 13,991 16,059 -12.9 C70 8 287 -97.2 1,442 4,067 -64.5 S80 519 669 -22.4 10,181 13,390 -24.0 XC90 3,741 5,018 -25.4 35,976 39,183 -8.2 Total Volvo 9,080 12,207 -25.6 123,587 139,067 -11.1 LAND ROVER BRAND DECEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES December Month % December CYTD % 2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change Range Rover 1,867 1,964 -4.9 13,430 13,546 -0.9 Range Rover Sport 2,505 0 NA 10,441 0 NA LR3 2,504 2,140 17.0 19,346 3,447 461.2 Discovery 4 912 -99.6 817 13,083 -93.8 Freelander 33 479 -93.1 2,141 5,430 -60.6 Total Land Rover 6,913 5,495 25.8 46,175 35,506 30.0