Ford Motor Company Sets All-Time Monthly U.S. Sales Record

4 April 2000

    New Ford F-Series and Explorer Models Debut and Help Set Monthly Sales
    Records; Ford Focus Sales Soar; Premier Brands Continue Strong Growth


    DEARBORN, Mich., April 3 U.S. consumers purchased or
leased a record 441,701 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar,
and Volvo dealers in March -- the highest sales total for any month in the
company's history.  The previous monthly sales record (424,091) was set June
1978.  The previous March record (399,908) was set last year.  In the process,
March capped a record-breaking first quarter sales performance.  The company's
first quarter U.S. sales were 1,077,250, breaking the record of 1,005,371 set
1973.
    The company's record-breaking March sales were highlighted by:
    * Ford Division - Best sales month ever for America's favorite brand of
      cars and trucks
    * Ford F-Series - Best sales month ever for America's best-selling pickup
    * Ford Explorer - Best sales month ever for America's top-selling SUV
    * Ford Focus - Best sales month ever for the North American Car of the
      Year
    * Lincoln - Best sales month since December 1990; March sales up
      38 percent
    * Lincoln LS - Best sales month ever for Motor Trend magazine's Car of the
      Year
    * Jaguar - Record March sales; March sales up 141 percent
    * Volvo - Best U.S. sales month ever; March sales up 10 percent

    "The U.S. economy, innovative products, and confident consumers are the
major factors driving these record-breaking results," said Bob Rewey, Ford's
Group Vice President, Global Consumer Services and North America.  "U.S.
consumers are confirming that this is a great time to buy a new car or truck."

    March Sales By Brand
    Ford, America's top-selling brand of cars and trucks for 13 years in row,
posted an all-time monthly sales record of 364,613.  The previous record
(350,035) was set June 1998.  The previous March record (340,957) was set last
year.  Ford highlights, and the new products that helped achieve record sales
results, included:
    * Ford F-Series - All-time monthly sales record of 90,522.  The previous
      record (90,370) was set June 1978.  The previous March record (86,491)
      also was set 1978.  New product: F-150 SuperCrew, industry's first
      light-duty, full-size pickup with four standard doors.
    * Ford Explorer - Celebrated its 10th anniversary with all-time monthly
      sales record of 46,684.  The previous record (41,667) was set October
      1998.  The previous March record (40,019) was set last year.  New
      Products: Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac, industry's first SUV
      with pickup bed.  Since its introduction on March 15, 1990, over 3.4
      million U.S. customers have purchased or leased a Ford Explorer.
    * Ford Focus - The only car ever to be named Car of the Year on the
      European and North American continents achieved record U.S. sales of
      28,254.  The previous record (23,820) was set February 2000.  New
      Product: All-new small car (four-door sedan and station wagon and
      three-door hatchback models).
    * Ford Taurus - Record March sales of 41,335.  Previous March record
      (39,445) was set 1988.  New Product: Taurus redesigned for 2000 model
      year.
    * Ford Windstar - All-time monthly sales record of 30,264.  Previous
      record (28,058) was set March 1995.  New Product: Windstar redesigned
      for 1999 model year with highest government safety rating for any
      minivan.

    Lincoln sales eclipsed 20,000 for the first time since December 1990
bolstered by the addition of the all-new Lincoln LS which posted record
monthly sales of 5,219.  Lincoln Navigator posted record March sales of 3,769.
In March, Lincoln sales were 20,604, up 38 percent from a year ago.  Year-to-
date, Lincoln sales are up 33 percent.
    Jaguar achieved a March sales record of 4,041, up 141 percent from a year
ago.  It was the 11th month in a row of record sales.  The all-new Jaguar S-
TYPE and XKR coupe and convertible are driving Jaguar toward a new calendar
year sales record.
    Volvo posted its best U.S. sales month ever as sales increased for the
14th month in a row.  Volvo's March sales were 12,929, up 10 percent compared
with a year ago.  The all-new S40/V40 compact sedan and wagon has been a major
contributor to Volvo's record-setting performance.  The all-new V70 station
wagon is beginning to arrive in Volvo dealer showrooms.
    Mercury posted March sales of 39,514, including record March sales for the
redesigned 2000 Mercury Sable (up 27 percent compared with a year ago).
Mercury Grand Marquis had its best sales month since August 1989 and its best
March sales since 1984.

                   FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH 2000 U.S. SALES

                   March Month        DSR %          March CYTD        DSR %
                2000        1999     Change       2000        1999    Change
    Car and Truck Sales By Brand
    Ford       364,613    340,957     6.9%      884,319     835,710     4.4%
    Mercury     39,514     42,340    -6.7        99,713     103,835    -5.2
    Lincoln     20,604     14,936    37.9        50,001      36,985    33.4
    Jaguar       4,041      1,675   141.3        10,626       4,132   153.8
    Volvo       12,929     11,768     9.9        32,591      27,941    15.1
     Total Ford Motor
      Company  441,701    399,908    10.5%    1,077,250     980,662     8.4%

    Memo: Cars and Trucks

    Cars       179,418    150,096    19.5%      440,997     366,431    18.8%
    Trucks     262,283    249,812     5.0       636,253     614,231     2.2
     Total Ford Motor
      Company  441,701    399,908    10.5%    1,077,250     980,662     8.4%

    Memo: Selling
     Days           27         27                    77          76

    Note: Ford acquired Volvo Cars on March 31, 1999.  Accordingly, Ford Motor
Company's March 1999 (month and year-to-date) sales totals exclude Volvo.

                       FORD BRAND MARCH 2000 U.S. SALES

                   March Month        DSR %          March CYTD        DSR %
                 2000       1999     Change       2000       1999     Change

    Crown
     Victoria   10,082     11,705   -13.9%       23,035     28,610    -20.5%
    Taurus      41,335     35,069    17.9        92,947     81,932     12.0
    Contour      3,358     12,781   -73.7        24,252     31,870    -24.9
    Focus       28,254         NA      NA        71,092         NA       NA
    Escort      12,891     28,016   -54.0        25,582     70,828    -64.4
    Mustang     17,661     16,570     6.6        40,992     41,461     -2.4

    TOTAL FORD
     CARS      113,581    104,141     9.1%      277,900    254,701      7.7%

    Expedition  18,534     20,704   -10.5%       50,217     54,473     -9.0%
    Explorer    46,684     40,019    16.7       115,031    102,349     10.9
    Excursion    4,202         NA      NA        12,064         NA       NA
    Econoline/
     Club Wagon 16,561     19,650   -15.7        44,829     45,279     -2.3
    Windstar    30,264     24,472    23.7        64,168     56,970     11.2
    Ranger      43,026     45,391    -5.2        95,504    105,902    -11.0
    F-Series    90,522     85,686     5.6       221,770    213,910      2.3
    Heavy Trucks 1,239        894    38.6         2,836      2,126     31.7

    TOTAL FORD
     TRUCKS    251,032    236,816     6.0%      606,419    581,009      3.0%

    TOTAL FORD
     BRAND     364,613    340,957     6.9%      884,319    835,710      4.4%


               LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MARCH 2000 U.S. SALES

                    March Month       DSR %          March CYTD        DSR %
                 2000       1999     Change       2000       1999     Change


    Grand
     Marquis    13,944     11,993    16.3%       33,365     28,864     14.1%
    Sable       12,204      9,629    26.7        27,681     22,623     20.8
    Cougar       4,383      6,112   -28.3         9,876     14,672    -33.6
    Mystique     1,501      3,050   -50.8         8,941      8,257      6.9
    Tracer           0      1,976  -100.0             0      6,044   -100.0

    TOTAL MERCURY
     CARS       32,032     32,760    -2.2%       79,863     80,460     -2.0%

    Town Car     9,087      8,736     4.0        21,611     21,197      0.6
    Continental  2,529      2,784    -9.2         5,854      5,941     -2.7
    LS           5,219         NA      NA        12,552         NA       NA

    TOTAL LINCOLN
     CARS       16,835     11,520    46.1%       40,017     27,138     45.5%

    TOTAL MERCURY
     AND LINCOLN
     CARS       48,867     44,280    10.4%      119,880    107,598     10.0%

    Villager     3,173      5,581   -43.1%        7,367     12,287    -40.8%
    Mountaineer  4,309      3,999     7.8        12,483     11,088     11.1

    TOTAL MERCURY
     TRUCKS      7,482      9,580   -21.9%       19,850     23,375    -16.2%

    Navigator    3,769      3,416    10.3         9,984      9,847      0.1

    TOTAL MERCURY
     AND LINCOLN
     TRUCKS     11,251     12,996   -13.4%       29,834     33,222    -11.4%

    TOTAL MERCURY
    AND LINCOLN
    VEHICLES    60,118     57,276     5.0%      149,714    140,820      4.9%

    Memo:
    Total Lincoln
     Brand      20,604     14,936    37.9%       50,001     36,985     33.4%
    Total Mercury
     Brand      39,514     42,340    -6.7        99,713    103,835     -5.2


                      JAGUAR CARS MARCH 2000 U.S. SALES

                   March Month        DSR %          March CYTD        DSR %
                 2000       1999     Change       2000       1999     Change

    XJ8            446        562   -20.6%        1,161      1,296    -11.6%
    XJ8 L          126        182   -30.8           322        480    -33.8
    Vanden Plas    346        316     9.5           868        813      5.4
    XJR            120        137   -12.4           292        414    -30.4
    S-TYPE       2,347         NA      NA         6,310         NA       NA
    XK8 - Coupe     67         49    36.7           167        136     21.2
    XK8 -
     Convertible   476        429    11.0         1,165        993     15.8
    XKR - Coupe     39         NA      NA            72         NA       NA
    XKR -
     Convertible    74         NA      NA           269         NA       NA

    TOTAL JAGUAR
     CARS        4,041      1,675   141.3%       10,626      4,132    153.8%


                       VOLVO CARS MARCH 2000 U.S. SALES

                   March Month        DSR %          March CYTD        DSR %
                 2000       1999     Change       2000       1999     Change

    S40          2,797         NA      NA%        7,365         NA       NA%
    V40            518         NA      NA         1,341          1       NA
    S70          2,831      4,252   -33.4         6,838     10,046    -32.8
    V70          2,794      3,577   -21.9         7,248      8,461    -15.4
    C70            767        600    27.8         1,505      1,130     31.5
    S80          3,221      3,334    -3.4         8,293      8,289     -1.3
    S90/V90          1          5      NA             1         14       NA

    TOTAL VOLVO
     CARS       12,929     11,768     9.9%       32,591     27,941     15.1%