Ford Sets August Record as U.S. Sales Climb 12.1%
51,021 Ford Explorers Lift Ford to Its Best Sales Month This Year
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 4 -- U.S. customers
purchased or leased 365,406 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln,
Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in August, up 12.1 percent compared with
a year ago. The company's August sales established a new record for the month
and were the highest sales for any month this year.
"We're encouraged by the company's improving sales trend," said Jim O'Connor, Ford group vice president, North American Marketing, Sales, and Service. "August sales provide tangible evidence that our market share has stabilized and that we are starting to get some traction from the Revitalization Plan announced earlier this year."
Ford dealers delivered 51,021 Ford Explorers to U.S. customers in August -- a new industry sport utility vehicle sales record. Explorer set the previous record (46,684) in March 2000.
"The Ford Explorer continues to be the benchmark for SUVs," said O'Connor. The Explorer has been the best selling SUV every year since it was introduced in 1990. In mid-September, Explorer production will eclipse five million. The Explorer helped Ford Division and its dealers set a new August sales record for combined car and truck sales (297,497) and for truck sales (211,067).
In addition, Ford Division recorded its 150 millionth sale in the United States since the first Ford car was delivered in 1903.
"Ford is America's No. 1 Choice," said O'Connor, referring to the fact that Americans have purchased and continue to purchase more Ford cars and trucks than any other automotive brand. "Ford employees, dealers, and suppliers value the trust our customers put in our products, and in our company, and we look forward to building on this legacy in the next century."
Almost all Ford products posted higher sales than a year ago, including the Ford Explorer (up 33%), Ford Escape (up 40%), Ford Mustang (up 29%), Ford Taurus (up 18%), Ford Focus (up 14%), and Ford F-Series (up 5%). In addition to the Explorer, the Escape and F-Series set new August sales records.
Lincoln sales were 32 percent higher than a year ago. Sales for the redesigned 2003 model Lincoln Town Car (up 12%) and all-new Lincoln Navigator (up 24%) were higher than a year ago and sales of the 2002 Lincoln LS (up 43%) and Continental (up 59%) also increased.
Mercury brand sales were 27 percent higher than a year ago. The Mercury Mountaineer set a new August record as sales climbed 10 percent and the Mercury Sable achieved an any-month sales record.
Jaguar dealers reported August sales of 6,011, up 62 percent compared with a year ago. August was the 13th month in a row of record sales at Jaguar. The new Jaguar S-TYPE achieved its best sales month (1,659) this year as sales increased 52% compared with a year ago. Sales for the Jaguar X-TYPE more than tripled compared with its introductory month a year ago. The new XK sports coupe debuts October 1.
Land Rover dealers reported August sales of 3,772, up 65 percent. August was the 10th month in a row of record sales at Land Rover. The all-new Range Rover set an August sales record.
Volvo sales were 10,653, down 12 percent compared with last year's record sales. The all-new Volvo XC 90 sport utility vehicle debuts in November.
"Consumer fundamentals remain favorable," said O'Connor. "Low interest rates and inflation, and affordable vehicle prices and terms, continue to support strong demand for new cars and trucks."
The company also announced it was planning to produce 940,000 vehicles in North America in the third quarter and 960,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter. The third quarter plan is unchanged from prior forecasts. This is the initial forecast of fourth quarter production. The full year production forecast is 4.126 million vehicles.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY AUGUST 2002 U.S. SALES
August Month % August CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 297,497 270,968 9.8 2,055,795 2,210,774 -7.0
Mercury 31,713 24,935 27.2 187,287 207,850 -9.9
Lincoln 15,760 11,908 32.3 101,344 112,010 -9.5
Jaguar 6,011 3,711 62.0 43,784 26,824 63.2
Volvo 10,653 12,131 -12.2 74,716 89,155 -16.2
Land Rover 3,772 2,290 64.7 26,491 16,229 63.2
Total Ford
Motor Company 365,406 325,943 12.1 2,489,417 2,662,842 -6.5
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 138,126 119,960 15.1 937,991 1,032,376 -9.1
Trucks 227,280 205,983 10.3 1,551,426 1,630,466 -4.8
Total Ford
Motor Company 365,406 325,943 12.1 2,489,417 2,662,842 -6.5
Information Only
(Not Included Above)
TH!NK Neighbor 526 0 NA 2,214 0 NA
FORD BRAND AUGUST 2002 U.S. SALES
August Month % August CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Crown Victoria 7,769 7,017 10.7 58,029 70,474 -17.7
Taurus 32,827 27,916 17.6 227,704 252,779 -9.9
Focus 24,747 21,764 13.7 164,036 176,954 -7.3
Thunderbird 1,700 243 599.6 14,135 243 NA
Mustang 16,260 12,641 28.6 100,653 112,242 -10.3
Escort 3,127 8,525 -63.3 42,965 62,728 -31.5
Total Ford Cars 86,430 78,106 10.7 607,522 675,420 -10.1
Escape 13,871 9,922 39.8 95,484 102,604 -6.9
Explorer 51,021 38,270 33.3 285,655 271,565 5.2
Expedition 13,133 15,464 -15.1 101,620 122,927 -17.3
Excursion 3,152 2,926 7.7 20,365 23,574 -13.6
Econoline/Club Wagon 14,851 11,736 26.5 113,398 111,434 1.8
Windstar 12,342 12,015 2.7 104,126 122,101 -14.7
Ranger 23,501 26,698 -12.0 164,873 198,364 -16.9
F-Series 78,566 75,038 4.7 557,973 576,069 -3.1
Heavy Trucks 630 793 -20.6 4,779 6,716 -28.8
Total Ford Trucks 211,067 192,862 9.4 1,448,273 1,535,354 -5.7
Total Ford Brand 297,497 270,968 9.8 2,055,795 2,210,774 -7.0
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND AUGUST 2002 U.S. SALES
August Month % August CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Grand Marquis 7,607 9,392 -19.0 54,271 77,000 -29.5
Sable 14,980 6,990 114.3 78,266 68,701 13.9
Cougar 2,641 2,690 -1.8 12,949 19,994 -35.2
Total Mercury Cars 25,228 19,072 32.3 145,486 165,695 -12.2
Town Car 5,563 4,957 12.2 41,715 47,547 -12.3
Continental 2,273 1,431 58.8 13,112 14,000 -6.3
LS 4,134 2,887 43.2 25,726 28,891 -11.0
Total Lincoln Cars 11,970 9,275 29.1 80,553 90,438 -10.9
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 37,198 28,347 31.2 226,039 256,133 -11.7
Villager 1,674 1,469 14.0 12,006 13,040 -7.9
Mountaineer 4,811 4,394 9.5 29,795 29,115 2.3
Total Mercury Trucks 6,485 5,863 10.6 41,801 42,155 -0.8
Blackwood 522 NA NA 1,808 NA NA
Navigator 3,268 2,633 24.1 18,983 21,572 -12.0
Total Lincoln Trucks 3,790 2,633 43.9 20,791 21,572 -3.6
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 10,275 8,496 20.9 62,592 63,727 -1.8
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 47,473 36,843 28.9 288,631 319,860 -9.8
Total Lincoln Brand 15,760 11,908 32.3 101,344 112,010 -9.5
Total Mercury Brand 31,713 24,935 27.2 187,287 207,850 -9.9
JAGUAR BRAND AUGUST 2002 U.S. SALES
August Month % August CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
XJ 725 1,149 -36.9 5,939 7,110 -16.5
S-TYPE 1,659 1,089 52.3 10,564 14,619 -27.7
X-TYPE 3,250 1,026 216.8 24,650 1,325 1,760.4
XK 377 447 -15.7 2,631 3,770 -30.2
Total Jaguar 6,011 3,711 62.0 43,784 26,824 63.2
VOLVO BRAND AUGUST 2002 U.S. SALES
August Month % August CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
S40 1,440 2,411 -40.3 10,889 17,388 -37.4
V40 231 318 -27.4 1,861 2,561 -27.3
S60 3,957 3,589 10.3 27,821 24,826 12.1
S70 0 8 -100.0 0 220 -100.0
V70 917 1,330 -31.1 6,833 11,064 -38.2
V70 XC 2,166 2,335 -7.2 14,070 15,156 -7.2
C70 364 337 8.0 2,660 3,481 -23.6
S80 1,578 1,803 -12.5 10,582 14,459 -26.8
Total Volvo 10,653 12,131 -12.2 74,716 89,155 -16.2
LAND ROVER BRAND AUGUST 2002 U.S. SALES
August Month % August CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Range Rover 943 438 115.3 5,141 3,260 57.7
Discovery Series II 1,490 1,852 -19.5 11,280 12,969 -13.0
Freelander 1,339 NA NA 10,070 NA NA
Total Land Rover 3,772 2,290 64.7 26,491 16,229 63.2