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Ford Gains Retail Share as Fusion Sets Sales Record


Ford (select to view enlarged photo)

DEARBORN, Mich., May 1, 2009; New, fuel-efficient products and quality on par with the best in the industry helped Ford increase retail market share in April - the sixth time in the last seven months that Ford's share of the retail market was higher than a year ago.

In April, the Ford Fusion paced the share performance. Fusion sales totaled 18,321, a record for any month. April was the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid version, and April is believed to be the first month that Fusion was among the top three-selling mid-size sedans. Recent independent studies rate Fusion and the Mercury Milan - the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America - as having the best predicted reliability among all mid-size sedans.

"We continue to operate in a very challenging economic and competitive environment," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, Sales and Marketing. "Especially given this external environment, we're very encouraged by the consumer response to our new mid-size sedans."

"Sales of the 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ and hybrid versions exceeded our plan and customers also are equipping our new products with levels of content and features that are higher than we expected," he added. "This suggests consumers view our high-quality, fuel-efficient new products as offering outstanding value."

The new Fusion Hybrid is one of four hybrid models offered by Ford. Hybrid models also are offered in the Mercury Milan mid-size sedan and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles. All Ford hybrid models are the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their class, and the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion recently were named to Kelley Blue Book's list of Top 10 Green Cars. In April, combined sales of all hybrid models totaled 2,299, up 21 percent versus a year ago.

Other new Ford products contributed to the retail share performance, including the new F-150 pickup, America's best-selling vehicle, and Ford Flex, the distinctively styled crossover utility that had its best sales month ever (3,190).

Growing awareness and consideration of Ford and its high-quality, fuel-efficient products are starting to take hold. Plus, through June 1, Ford is offering consumers additional reasons to "Drive one."

The Ford Advantage Plan offers payment protection up to 12 months for up to $700 per month on any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle if a customer loses his or her job. Plus, 0 percent financing from Ford Motor Credit is available on select vehicles.

On Tuesday, April 28, Ford launched a community engagement phase of the Ford Advantage Plan. Through June 1, Ford will donate $20 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every test drive taken at a participating Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealership to Komen - up to $1 million. That amount could grow even higher as more than a thousand dealers around the country are joining in to match the company's donation. During the past 15 years, Ford has contributed more than $100 million to the fight against breast cancer.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 129,898, down 31 percent compared with April 2008. Retail sales were down 32 percent compared with a year ago and fleet sales were down 30 percent.

Note: The sales data included in this release and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company , a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich. manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com

                  FORD MOTOR COMPANY APRIL 2009 U.S. SALES
                  ----------------------------------------

                                   April              Year-To-Date
                                   -----      %       ------------    %
                              2009    2008  Change    2009    2008   Change
                              ----    ----  ------    ----    ----   ------
  Sales By Brand
    Ford                   116,263  165,997  -30.0  389,497  649,814  -40.1
    Lincoln                  5,973   10,340  -42.2   25,007   38,811  -35.6
    Mercury                  7,662   12,910  -40.7   27,141   47,345  -42.7
                             -----   ------          ------   ------
      Total Ford, Lincoln
       and Mercury         129,898  189,247  -31.4  441,645  735,970  -40.0
    Volvo                    4,503    7,138  -36.9   17,127   31,942  -46.4
                             -----    -----          ------   ------
      Total Ford Motor
       Company             134,401  196,385  -31.6  458,772  767,912  -40.3

  Ford, Lincoln and
   Mercury Sales By Type
    Cars                    52,463   73,654  -28.8  162,315  249,794  -35.0
    Crossover Utility
     Vehicles               28,955   34,123  -15.1   98,290  140,054  -29.8
    Sport Utility Vehicles   5,944   15,183  -60.9   24,298   70,607  -65.6
    Trucks and Vans         42,536   66,287  -35.8  156,742  275,515  -43.1
                            ------   ------         -------  -------
      Total Trucks          77,435  115,593  -33.0  279,330  486,176  -42.5
                            ------  -------         -------  -------
        Total Vehicles     129,898  189,247  -31.4  441,645  735,970  -40.0

                      FORD BRAND APRIL 2009 U.S. SALES
                      --------------------------------

                                April                Year-To-Date
                                -----        %       ------------      %
                            2009    2008   Change    2009    2008    Change
                            ----    ----   ------    ----    ----    ------

  Crown Victoria           2,541    5,339   -52.4   10,875   18,286   -40.5
  Taurus                   3,097    5,240   -40.9   11,850   21,117   -43.9
  Fusion                  18,321   15,059    21.7   46,799   55,109   -15.1
  Focus                   11,691   23,850   -51.0   41,747   72,920   -42.7
  Mustang                  7,699   10,050   -23.4   17,344   34,527   -49.8
                           -----   ------           ------   ------
    Ford Cars             43,349   59,538   -27.2  128,615  201,959   -36.3

  Flex                     3,190        0      NA   10,972        0      NA
  Edge                     7,628   10,333   -26.2   23,949   46,367   -48.3
  Escape                  13,596   15,399   -11.7   44,626   59,299   -24.7
  Taurus X                   795    2,261   -64.8    3,982    9,758   -59.2
                             ---    -----            -----    -----
    Ford Crossover
     Utility Vehicles     25,209   27,993    -9.9   83,529  115,424   -27.6

  Expedition               1,455    5,208   -72.1    6,944   23,434   -70.4
  Explorer                 3,723    7,356   -49.4   13,800   34,994   -60.6
                           -----    -----          ------   ------
    Ford Sport Utility
     Vehicles              5,178   12,564   -58.8   20,744   58,428   -64.5

  F-Series                28,757   44,813   -35.8  110,336  192,951   -42.8
  Ranger                   4,535    7,585   -40.2   15,824   29,182   -45.8
  Econoline/Club Wagon     8,813   12,784   -31.1   28,849   49,196   -41.4
  Low Cab Forward             45      102   -55.9       95      325   -70.8
  Heavy Trucks               377      618   -39.0    1,505    2,349   -35.9
                             ---      ---            -----    -----
    Ford Trucks and Vans  42,527   65,902   -35.5  156,609  274,003   -42.8
                          ------   ------          -------  -------

    Ford Brand           116,263  165,997   -30.0  389,497  649,814   -40.1

                      LINCOLN BRAND APRIL 2009 U.S. SALES
                     -----------------------------------

                                April               Year-To-Date
                                -----       %       ------------    %
                            2009    2008  Change    2009    2008  Change
                            ----    ----  ------    ----    ----  ------

  MKS                      1,178       0      NA   5,775       0      NA
  MKZ                      1,995   3,268   -39.0   6,706  13,012   -48.5
  Town Car                   682   1,976   -65.5   3,136   5,412   -42.1
  MKX                      1,748   3,038   -42.5   7,524  12,370   -39.2
  Navigator                  361   1,673   -78.4   1,733   6,505   -73.4
  Mark LT                      9     385   -97.7     133   1,512   -91.2
                             ---     ---             ---   -----

    Lincoln Brand          5,973  10,340   -42.2  25,007  38,811   -35.6

                     MERCURY BRAND APRIL 2009 U.S. SALES
                     -----------------------------------

                                April               Year-To-Date
                                -----       %       ------------    %
                            2009    2008  Change    2009    2008  Change
                            ----    ----  ------    ----    ----  ------

  Grand Marquis            1,829   3,201   -42.9   6,661  11,106   -40.0
  Sable                    1,158   1,862   -37.8   3,852   5,619   -31.4
  Milan                    2,272   3,809   -40.4   7,570  12,686   -40.3
  Mariner                  1,998   3,092   -35.4   7,237  12,260   -41.0
  Mountaineer                405     946   -57.2   1,821   5,674   -67.9
                             ---     ---          -----   -----

    Mercury Brand          7,662  12,910   -40.7  27,141  47,345   -42.7

                      VOLVO BRAND APRIL 2009 U.S. SALES
                      ---------------------------------

                              April              Year-To-Date
                              -----       %      ------------    %
                          2009    2008  Change   2009    2008  Change
                          ----    ----  ------   ----    ----  ------

  S40                     573   1,317   -56.5   2,359   5,294   -55.4
  V50                     108     129   -16.3     481     621   -22.5
  S60                     246     771   -68.1   1,793   5,037   -64.4
  S80                     681     988   -31.1   2,603   4,752   -45.2
  V70                     200     229   -12.7     675     873   -22.7
  XC60                    723       0      NA   1,599       0      NA
  XC70                    377     773   -51.2   1,791   3,685   -51.4
  XC90                    799   1,891   -57.7   2,885   8,078   -64.3
  C70                     454     703   -35.4   1,707   2,203   -22.5
  C30                     342     337     1.5   1,234   1,399   -11.8
                          ---     ---           -----   -----

    Volvo Brand         4,503   7,138   -36.9  17,127  31,942   -46.4