Ford Canada car sales up 4.2% led by record-breaking Ford Taurus sales

OAKVILLE, ON, April 2 /CNW/ - Consumers in Canada bought 24,308 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles in March, a 5.6 per cent decrease from the same month last year. Car sales were up 4.2 per cent to 7,999 units while truck sales dropped 9.7 per cent to 16,309 units.

"Ford Taurus' outstanding reputation for safety along with its quality, convenience and comfort has made it a strong performer in the important family sedan market," said Robert Girard, vice president of sales, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. "And the popular Taurus station wagon delivers a standard of value and versatility that the competition simply cannot match."

Overall, Ford of Canada sales for the first-quarter were up 6.4 per cent fueled by a 7.3 per cent jump in car sales and a six per cent increase in truck sales.

	    March Highlights

	    -  Ford Taurus sales set a new March record with a 27.3 per cent
	       increase.
	    -  Ford Ranger recorded its best March sales in five years with a
	       37.5 per cent increase.
	    -  Lincoln Navigator sales were up 11.4 per cent.
	    -  Ford Mustang sales increased five per cent compared to last March.


	                    Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited
	                 March 2002 and Calendar Year Vehicle Sales

	    <<
	                                 2002           2001            % Change

	    Total Vehicles
	    --------------
	    March                      24,308         25,739             -5.6%
	    January - March            58,460         54,947              6.4%


	    Total Cars
	    ----------
	    March                       7,999          7,679              4.2%
	    January - March            18,577         17,319              7.3%


	    Total Trucks
	    ------------
	    March                      16,309         18,060             -9.7%
	    January - March            39,883         37,628              6.0%
	    >>