Ford Motor Company Reports November U.S. Sales Down From 2001
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 3, 2002; U.S. customers purchased or leased 261,705 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in November, down 16.6 percent compared with last November's strong sales."It appears the November auto sales rate rebounded from October," said Jim O'Connor, Ford Group Vice President, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "This is encouraging, as is the upturn in November's consumer confidence surveys. Overall, we remain optimistic about the prospects for auto sales in the months ahead as consumer fundamentals remain positive."
O'Connor also is encouraged by the continued improvement in the company's U.S. market share since the Revitalization Plan was announced in January 2002.
"We are on track to finish the 2002 calendar year with a higher market share than where we started," said O'Connor. "The new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator have made significant contributions to our improving market share trend among individual retail customers."
Ford Expedition posted November sales of 16,445, up 18 percent compared with a year ago and the highest monthly sales since March 2001. Lincoln Navigator sales were 2,433, up 11 percent. Sales of other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products were lower than last November's strong sales results.
The company's Volvo and Land Rover brands achieved higher sales than a year ago. Volvo's November sales were 7,770, up four percent reflecting the debut of the all-new XC90 sport utility vehicle. Land Rover sales were 3,803, up 44 percent reflecting the addition of the Freelander and the all-new Range Rover.
Land Rover and Jaguar already have set new calendar year sales records. November was the 13th month in a row of record sales for Land Rover. Jaguar's November sales (4,223) were lower than a year ago, interrupting a string of 15 months in a row of record sales.
North American Production
The company is revising its fourth quarter North American production plan downward to meet year-end inventory targets for specific models. Presently, the company plans to produce 940,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter, a reduction of 25,000 vehicles from the previous plan.
"Our Revitalization Plan remains on track," said Allan Gilmour, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. "Despite the production cuts, we are re-affirming the profit guidance provided on October 16. We expect to earn a slight profit in the fourth quarter and to earn about $0.40 a share for the full year, excluding unusual items."
In the first quarter of 2003, the company plans to produce one million vehicles in North America, up 60,000 units from the fourth quarter 2002, but lower than the 1.052 million vehicles produced in the first quarter of 2002 when the company was rebuilding inventories from a decade-low level.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
November Month % November CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 217,972 261,577 -16.7 2,745,583 3,069,259 -10.5
Mercury 17,763 24,596 -27.8 244,390 294,654 -17.1
Lincoln 10,174 12,618 -19.4 136,386 149,348 -8.7
Jaguar 4,223 5,016 -15.8 56,507 38,986 44.9
Volvo 7,770 7,465 4.1 99,216 114,789 -13.6
Land Rover 3,803 2,634 44.4 37,334 23,170 61.1
Total Ford
Motor Company 261,705 313,906 -16.6 3,319,416 3,690,206 -10.0
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 88,201 111,696 -21.0 1,229,166 1,412,210 -13.0
Trucks 173,504 202,210 -14.2 2,090,250 2,277,996 -8.2
Total Ford
Motor Company 261,705 313,906 -16.6 3,319,416 3,690,206 -10.0
Information Only
(Not Included
Above)
TH!NK Neighbor 838 0 NA 5,280 0 NA
Memo: Selling Days 25 25 282 282
FORD BRAND NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
November Month % November CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Crown Victoria 5,539 5,972 -7.3 74,895 88,872 -15.7
Taurus 25,168 28,147 -10.6 300,447 336,659 -10.8
Focus 17,435 18,024 -3.3 228,561 252,078 -9.3
Thunderbird 1,195 1,421 -15.9 17,847 3,319 NA
Mustang 7,576 13,612 -44.3 129,855 161,975 -19.8
Escort 2,230 5,734 -61.1 50,002 84,580 -40.9
Total Ford Cars 59,143 72,910 -18.9 801,607 927,483 -13.6
Escape 12,297 13,039 -5.7 130,994 153,006 -14.4
Explorer 31,483 36,939 -14.8 395,202 385,034 2.6
Expedition 16,445 13,879 18.5 144,083 163,232 -11.7
Excursion 1,934 2,674 -27.7 26,892 31,980 -15.9
Econoline/Club Wagon 12,129 13,536 -10.4 151,424 147,476 2.7
Windstar 12,137 17,132 -29.2 138,307 168,824 -18.1
Ranger 12,917 16,720 -22.7 209,697 256,488 -18.2
F-Series 58,934 74,039 -20.4 740,817 827,319 -10.5
Heavy Trucks 553 709 -22.0 6,560 8,417 -22.1
Total Ford Trucks 158,829 188,667 -15.8 1,943,976 2,141,776 -9.2
Total Ford Brand 217,972 261,577 -16.7 2,745,583 3,069,259 -10.5
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
November Month % November CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Grand Marquis 6,412 8,425 -23.9 73,937 107,127 -31.0
Sable 4,410 7,230 -39.0 93,445 97,440 -4.1
Cougar 1,535 1,980 -22.5 18,216 28,242 -35.5
Total Mercury Cars 12,357 17,635 -29.9 185,598 232,809 -20.3
Town Car 3,709 6,096 -39.2 54,981 63,481 -13.4
Continental 757 1,810 -58.2 15,055 19,092 -21.1
LS 2,328 2,485 -6.3 35,585 37,464 -5.0
Total Lincoln Cars 6,794 10,391 -34.6 105,621 120,037 -12.0
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 19,151 28,026 -31.7 291,219 352,846 -17.5
Villager 1,054 2,466 -57.3 15,310 20,701 -26.0
Mountaineer 4,352 4,495 -3.2 43,482 41,144 5.7
Total Mercury
Trucks 5,406 6,961 -22.3 58,792 61,845 -4.9
Blackwood 257 31 729.0 2,719 31 NA
Aviator 690 NA NA 690 NA NA
Navigator 2,433 2,196 10.8 27,356 29,280 -6.6
Total Lincoln
Trucks 3,380 2,227 51.8 30,765 29,311 5.0
Total Mercury
and Lincoln
Trucks 8,786 9,188 -4.4 89,557 91,156 -1.8
Total Mercury
and Lincoln
Vehicles 27,937 37,214 -24.9 380,776 444,002 -14.2
Total Lincoln Brand 10,174 12,618 -19.4 136,386 149,348 -8.7
Total Mercury Brand 17,763 24,596 -27.8 244,390 294,654 -17.1
JAGUAR BRAND NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
November Month % November CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
XJ 621 791 -21.5 7,770 9,270 -16.2
S-TYPE 1,339 1,432 -6.5 14,607 18,189 -19.7
X-TYPE 1,932 2,413 -19.9 30,504 6,655 358.4
XK 331 380 -12.9 3,626 4,872 -25.6
Total Jaguar 4,223 5,016 -15.8 56,507 38,986 44.9
VOLVO BRAND NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
November Month % November CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
S40 1,022 982 4.1 14,295 21,164 -32.5
V40 191 168 13.7 2,521 3,053 -17.4
S60 2,381 2,502 -4.8 35,566 32,352 9.9
S70 0 0 NA 1 226 -99.6
V70 912 792 15.2 10,023 13,580 -26.2
V70 XC 1,205 1,721 -30.0 18,212 21,894 -16.8
C70 169 180 -6.1 3,390 4,026 -15.8
XC90 881 NA NA 1,171 NA NA
S80 1,009 1,120 -9.9 14,037 18,494 -24.1
Total Volvo 7,770 7,465 4.1 99,216 114,789 -13.6
LAND ROVER BRAND NOVEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
November Month % November CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Range Rover 970 847 14.5 7,533 4,830 56.0
Discovery 1,666 1,619 2.9 15,955 18,172 -12.2
Freelander 1,167 168 594.6 13,846 168 NA
Total Land Rover 3,803 2,634 44.4 37,334 23,170 61.1