Ford Canada car and truck sales increase 3.6% in April

OAKVILLE, ON, May 1 /CNW/ - Consumers in Canada purchased 23,895 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles in April, a 3.6 per cent increase from the same month last year. Truck sales jumped 4.1 per cent to 16,517 units and car sales were up 2.3 per cent to 7,378 units.

"Consumer confidence in Canada is holding firm and we're seeing steady traffic through dealer showrooms," said Robert Girard, vice president of sales, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. "At Ford of Canada, there's sales strength right across the product line. For example, Ford Focus, Mustang, Taurus, Ranger and F-Series were all big-sellers in April."

	    April Highlights
	    - Ford Ranger sales jumped 61.1 per cent to record its best performance
	      in eight years.
	    - Ford Mustang sales jumped 17.6 per cent.
	    - Ford Taurus sales were up 15.4 per cent.
	    - Ford F-Series sales increased 11 per cent.
	    - Ford Focus had its second-best April sales ever with a two per cent
	      increase.
	    - Lincoln Continental sales were up 32 per cent -- its best April since
	      1998.

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


	                                   2002         2001         % Change

	    Total Vehicles
	    --------------
	    April                         23,895       23,072           3.6%
	    January - April               82,355       78,019           5.6%


	    Total Cars
	    ----------
	    April                          7,378        7,209           2.3%
	    January - April               25,955       24,528           5.8%


	    Total Trucks
	    ------------
	    April                         16,517       15,863           4.1%
	    January - April               56,400       53,491           5.4%
	    >>