Ford Announces U.S. Car and Truck Sales for October
4 November 1997
Ford's U.S. Car and Truck Sales Slip 2% From Strong Year-Ago LevelsDETROIT, Nov. 4 -- Customers purchased or leased 330,731 cars and trucks from Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers in October, a decrease of two percent from a year ago when Ford had its highest sales for the month since 1978. Car sales of 140,370 were two percent lower than a year ago; truck sales of 190,361 also were two percent lower. "Overall, we're pleased with these results, especially considering the height of the chinning bar," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president of marketing, sales, and service. Last year, Ford set an industry record for October truck sales, paced by the all-new F-150 pickup and Expedition (which was introduced on October 2, 1996). "We have entered a period where favorable year-to-year truck sales comparisons will be increasingly difficult to achieve because the base is so high," noted Rewey. "Some people may interpret this as an indication that truck sales are weakening. We expect continued strong truck sales, but future year-to-year percentage increases probably will be smaller." Beginning in September 1996, Ford set truck sales records in twelve of the next thirteen months, and posted sales increases that averaged eight percent per month. Ford car sales continue to show more favorable year-to-year comparisons than in the first five months of 1997 when sales declined 10 percent. In the five months from June to October, car sales declined four percent compared with a year ago. Growing customer awareness of the Lincoln brand is an emerging trend. For the first time since 1990, Lincoln sales have eclipsed 15,000 for five consecutive months with sales up 34 percent compared with a year ago in the June to October period. October Lincoln sales of 17,978 were the highest for any month since September 1994. "The all-new Navigator, introduced on July 1, has made an important contribution to Lincoln sales," said Rewey. "But perhaps its most important contribution is its role in attracting new customers to the brand. Lincoln dealers are very enthusiastic about the redesigned Continental and the all-new Lincoln Town Car, which will be introduced on November 26. Lincoln's 1998- model product lineup is the strongest in its 77-year history." Looking forward, Rewey is optimistic about the economy and the sales outlook for Ford and the U.S. industry. "World currency and equity markets went on a wild ride last week," said Rewey, "but the U.S. economy has been remarkably stable during the current expansion and gives every indication that it will remain so in 1998." FORD MOTOR COMPANY OCTOBER SALES October Month DSR % October CYTD DSR % 1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change TOTAL VEHICLES* 330,731 337,881 -2.1% 3,273,777 3,292,233 -0.2% TOTAL CARS * 140,370 143,191 -2.0 1,386,133 1,495,455 -6.9 TOTAL TRUCKS 190,361 194,690 -2.2 1,887,644 1,796,778 5.5 Memo: Domestic Cars 138,641 140,806 -1.5% 1,355,119 1,461,348 -8.7% Imported Cars* 1,729 2,385 -27.5 31,014 34,107 -6.9 Light Trucks 187,102 191,399 -2.2 1,851,735 1,758,000 5.7 Heavy Trucks 3,259 3,291 -1.0 35,909 38,778 -7.0 Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates. Selling Days 27 27 257 258 * These figures exclude sales of Jaguar Cars, a wholly-owned Ford subsidiary, which reports its results separately. CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-446-9195 FORD DIVISION OCTOBER SALES October Month DSR % October CYTD DSR % 1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change Crown Victoria 8,475 8,750 -3.1% 95,046 93,999 1.5% Thunderbird 4,459 6,573 -32.2 62,866 69,882 -9.7 Taurus 42,160 36,644 15.1 304,023 332,060 -8.1 Contour 11,523 11,272 2.2 131,441 152,330 -13.4 Escort 19,506 22,571 -13.6 244,143 251,254 -2.5 Aspire 1,729 2,385 -27.5 31,014 34,107 -8.7 Mustang 9,347 8,761 6.7 99,035 108,812 -8.6 Probe 782 2,710 -71.1 15,239 28,750 -46.8 TOTAL FORD CARS 97,981 99,666 -1.7% 982,807 1,071,194 -7.9% Expedition/Bronco 21,035 13,984 50.4% 177,087 49,617 258.3% Explorer 34,635 38,134 -9.2 313,678 334,291 -5.8 Econoline/Club Wagon 15,561 13,851 12.3 159,546 148,370 8.0 Aerostar 1,504 4,251 -64.6 43,155 64,516 -32.8 Windstar 13,300 17,692 -24.8 174,864 178,572 -1.7 Ranger 25,025 22,443 11.5 251,546 244,370 3.3 F-Series 64,559 72,061 -10.4 626,615 663,463 -5.2 TOTAL FORD LT. TRUCKS 175,619 182,416 -3.7% 1,746,491 1,683,199 4.2% Heavy Trucks 3,259 3,291 -1.0 35,909 38,778 -7.0 TOTAL FORD DIV. TRUCKS 178,878 185,707 -3.7% 1,782,400 1,721,977 3.9% FORD DIVISION TOTAL VEHICLES 276,859 285,373 -3.0% 2,765,207 2,793,171 -0.6% Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates. Selling Days 27 27 257 258 CONTACT: Brenda Hines, Ford Division, 313-446-7736 LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION OCTOBER SALES October Month DSR % October CYTD DSR % 1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change Grand Marquis 8,950 10,100 -11.4% 90,639 85,379 6.6% Cougar 2,492 2,997 -16.9 27,610 31,391 -11.7 Sable 11,343 8,704 30.3 97,487 99,039 -1.2 Mystique 3,603 3,908 -7.8 34,569 48,140 -27.9 Tracer 2,387 4,377 -45.5 38,400 42,598 -9.5 TOTAL MERCURY CARS 28,775 30,086 -4.4% 288,705 306,547 -5.5% Town Car 8,240 8,679 -5.1 75,509 78,956 -4.0 Mark VIII 1,840 1,373 34.0 13,545 12,996 4.6 Continental 3,534 3,387 4.3 25,567 25,762 -0.4 TOTAL LINCOLN CARS 13,614 13,439 1.3% 114,621 117,714 -2.2% L-M TOTAL CARS 42,389 43,525 -2.6% 403,326 424,261 -4.6% Villager 3,505 5,177 -32.3% 49,157 56,609 -12.8% Mountaineer 3,614 3,806 -5.0 37,546 18,192 107.2 Navigator 4,364 0 NA 18,541 0 NA L-M LIGHT TRUCKS 11,483 8,983 27.8% 105,244 74,801 41.2% L-M DIVISION TOTAL VEHICLES 53,872 52,508 2.6% 508,570 499,062 2.3% Memo: Total Lincoln Brand 17,978 13,439 33.8% 133,162 117,714 13.6% Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates. Selling Days 27 27 257 258 CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Lincoln-Mercury Division, 313-446-4368 SOURCE Ford Motor Company