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Ford's September 2006 U.S. Sales Increased 5 Percent as Car Sales Climbed 26 Percent and Full-Size Trucks Stabilized


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* Ford's September U.S. sales totaled 238,848, up 5 percent compared with a year ago. * Car sales totaled 92,111, up 26 percent as demand for Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ and Mustang remain strong. * Truck sales totaled 146,737, down 5 percent, but F-Series, Explorer and Expedition post higher sales, reversing recent trends.

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 3 -- Ford Motor Company's dealers delivered 238,848 vehicles to U.S. customers in September, up 5 percent compared with a year ago. Car sales were up 26 percent as demand for the company's new mid-size cars (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ) and the legendary Ford Mustang remained strong. Truck sales were down 5 percent, but full-size pickup trucks and SUVs showed signs of stabilizing as the Ford F-Series, Explorer, and Expedition all posted higher sales compared with a year ago.

"We're pleased by the continued strong demand for our cars and the solid performance posted by the F-Series truck and Explorer and Expedition SUVs," said Al Giombetti, president, Ford and Lincoln Mercury sales and marketing. "The all-new Expedition and Navigator are on their way to dealers and production of the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover utilities starts soon."

The Fusion, Milan, and MKZ had a strong month in September despite limited availability resulting from the 2007 model changeover and a record sales month in August. Combined sales for the company's new mid-size sedans totaled 16,208. The 2007 models feature standard side air bags and available all- wheel drive. The Lincoln MKZ is equipped with a new 3.5 liter V-6 engine.

Mustang posted its highest September sales in two decades as sales climbed 31 percent. Total sales of 14,341 included nearly 800 Shelby GT 500s.

Although truck sales were down 5 percent for the month, the company's full-size trucks and SUVs reversed recent sales trends. Ford's F-Series, America's best-selling truck, was up 2 percent and posted its third highest sales month of the year (70,822). The next generation Super Duty F-Series was unveiled at the State Fair of Texas on September 27 and will be in production early next year.

Ford's Explorer and Expedition also posted higher sales in September. Explorer sales were up 22 percent and Expedition sales rose 8 percent. Mercury's Mountaineer and Mariner also were higher than a year ago.

               FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEPTEMBER 2006 U.S. SALES

                       September Month     %       September CYTD       %
                        2006     2005   Change     2006       2005   Change
  Sales By Brand
     Ford              204,070  190,012    7.4  1,911,193  2,090,838   -8.6
     Mercury            13,117   13,385   -2.0    146,418    161,205   -9.2
     Lincoln             7,362    9,686  -24.0     89,494     93,700   -4.5
     Jaguar              1,158    2,135  -45.8     16,508     24,284  -32.0
     Volvo               9,672    9,514    1.7     89,669     97,760   -8.3
     Land Rover          3,469    3,425    1.3     33,527     30,930    8.4
        Total Ford
         Motor Company 238,848  228,157    4.7  2,286,809  2,498,717   -8.5

  Memo: Cars and Trucks
     Cars               92,111   72,990   26.2    879,241    829,029    6.1
     Trucks            146,737  155,167   -5.4  1,407,568  1,669,688  -15.7
        Total Ford
         Motor Company 238,848  228,157    4.7  2,286,809  2,498,717   -8.5

                   FORD BRAND SEPTEMBER 2006 U.S. SALES

                        September Month     %      September CYTD      %
                         2006      2005  Change    2006      2005   Change

  Crown Victoria        4,150    4,161   -0.3    50,792    52,858    -3.9
  Five Hundred          6,054    9,094  -33.4    68,082    84,240   -19.2
  Taurus               22,811   13,897   64.1   147,996   161,667    -8.5
  Fusion               10,917        0     NA   111,086         0      NA
  Focus                14,160   11,712   20.9   140,830   155,072    -9.2
  Mustang              14,341   10,976   30.7   133,269   128,485     3.7
  Thunderbird               0      478 -100.0       469     8,617   -94.6
  GT                      133      176  -24.4     1,498       772    94.0
    Total Ford Cars    72,566   50,494   43.7   654,022   591,711    10.5

  Freestyle             3,801    7,146  -46.8    49,275    59,648   -17.4
  Escape               10,095   12,052  -16.2   123,063   132,234    -6.9
  Explorer             15,701   12,879   21.9   143,270   196,878   -27.2
  Expedition            6,374    5,906    7.9    60,206    91,778   -34.4
  Excursion                 0    1,740 -100.0       965    13,583   -92.9
  Freestar              2,576    3,948  -34.8    44,829    64,060   -30.0
  Econoline/Club Wagon 13,562   14,862   -8.7   133,391   135,801    -1.8
  Ranger                7,057   10,105  -30.2    72,179    99,907   -27.8
  F-Series             70,822   69,643    1.7   616,785   694,690   -11.2
  Low Cab Forward         332      131  153.4     2,805       291   863.9
  Heavy Trucks          1,184    1,106    7.1    10,403    10,257     1.4
    Total Ford Trucks 131,504  139,518   -5.7 1,257,171 1,499,127   -16.1

    Total Ford Brand  204,070  190,012    7.4 1,911,193 2,090,838    -8.6

           LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND SEPTEMBER 2006 U.S. SALES

                          September Month    %      September CYTD     %
                            2006    2005   Change   2006     2005    Change

  Grand Marquis             2,776   4,019   -30.9   46,159   56,503   -18.3
  Montego                   1,907   2,792   -31.7   18,151   21,230   -14.5
  Sable                         0   1,888  -100.0        0   21,849  -100.0
  Milan                     3,226       0      NA   28,334        0      NA
    Total Mercury Cars      7,909   8,699    -9.1   92,644   99,582    -7.0

  Town Car                  2,220   4,635   -52.1   29,209   37,008   -21.1
  LS                          446   1,222   -63.5    8,368   16,697   -49.9
  MKZ                       2,065       0      NA   24,003        0      NA
    Total Lincoln Cars      4,731   5,857   -19.2   61,580   53,705    14.7

    Total Mercury
     and Lincoln Cars      12,640  14,556   -13.2  154,224  153,287     0.6

  Mariner                   2,602   2,038    27.7   26,454   27,991    -5.5
  Mountaineer               2,136   1,771    20.6   23,539   26,611   -11.5
  Monterey                    470     877   -46.4    3,781    7,021   -46.1
    Total Mercury Trucks    5,208   4,686    11.1   53,774   61,623   -12.7

  Navigator                 1,428   1,559    -8.4   16,481   20,283   -18.7
  Aviator                       0   1,407  -100.0    1,711   13,785   -87.6
  Mark LT                   1,203     863    39.4    9,722    5,927    64.0
    Total Lincoln Trucks    2,631   3,829   -31.3   27,914   39,995   -30.2

    Total Mercury
     and Lincoln Trucks     7,839   8,515    -7.9   81,688  101,618   -19.6

    Total Mercury
     and Lincoln Vehicles  20,479  23,071   -11.2  235,912  254,905    -7.5

  Total Lincoln Brand       7,362   9,686   -24.0   89,494   93,700    -4.5
  Total Mercury Brand      13,117  13,385    -2.0  146,418  161,205    -9.2

                  JAGUAR BRAND SEPTEMBER 2006 U.S. SALES

                                 September Month  %    September CYTD    %
                                  2006   2005  Change   2006    2005  Change
  XJ                                33    827  -96.0   3,781   6,433  -41.2
  S-TYPE                           402    567  -29.1   5,021   6,911  -27.3
  X-TYPE                           412    603  -31.7   4,352   9,004  -51.7
  XK                               311    138  125.4   3,354   1,936   73.2
    Total Jaguar                 1,158  2,135  -45.8  16,508  24,284  -32.0

                  VOLVO BRAND SEPTEMBER 2006 U.S. SALES

                             September Month    %     September CYTD    %
                                2006   2005   Change    2006    2005  Change
  S40                          2,417  2,218      9.0  18,627  19,458   -4.3
  V50                            405    554    -26.9   3,165   4,490  -29.5
  V40                              0      1       NA       0       8     NA
  S60                          1,898  1,782      6.5  20,386  20,067    1.6
  V70                            512    568     -9.9   4,613   5,992  -23.0
  XC70                         1,380  1,149     20.1  10,448  11,241   -7.1
  C70                            385     17  2,164.7   2,552   1,419   79.8
  S80                            130    665    -80.5   5,144   8,313  -38.1
  XC90                         2,545  2,560     -0.6  24,734  26,772   -7.6
    Total Volvo                9,672  9,514      1.7  89,669  97,760   -8.3

                LAND ROVER BRAND SEPTEMBER 2006 U.S. SALES

                               September Month   %     September CYTD    %
                                2006   2005   Change   2006    2005  Change
  Range Rover                     909    985    -7.7   8,421   9,370  -10.1
  Range Rover Sport             1,381  1,106    24.9  12,640   4,656  171.5
  LR3                           1,175  1,192    -1.4  12,425  14,272  -12.9
  Discovery                         0      4  -100.0       1     807  -99.9
  Freelander                        4    138   -97.1      40   1,825  -97.8
    Total Land Rover            3,469  3,425     1.3  33,527  30,930    8.4