Ford Motor Company's December U.S. Sales Climb 8.2 Percent
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 3, 2002; U.S. customers purchased or leased 304,293 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in December, up 8.2 percent compared with a year ago.U.S. Market Share and First Quarter Production
"We're encouraged by our steady progress in winning back U.S. market share," said Jim O'Connor, Ford Group Vice President, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "We're a stronger company than we were a year ago when we announced the Revitalization Plan. Our goal in 2003 is to build on the foundation we laid in 2002."
The company announced it was increasing its first quarter 2003 North American production plan to 1.01 million vehicles. "As a result of higher than expected December sales, we're raising our first quarter production by 10,000 units," said O'Connor.
2002 Calendar Year Sales Highlights
The Ford F-Series was America's best-selling vehicle in 2002 with sales of 813,701. It was the 21st year in a row that Ford's legendary truck has topped the U.S. sales charts and the fifth year in a row that sales exceeded 800,000.
"The Ford F-Series is the foundation of the franchise," said O'Connor. "The all-new F-150, which debuts at the North American International Auto Show, takes 'Built Ford Tough' to a higher level with improved performance and function, a new exterior design, and beautiful interiors."
Ford Division, which markets the Ford F-Series, is the largest of Ford Motor Company's brands, and has been the best selling brand of cars and trucks in America for 16 years in a row.
Another Ford product, Explorer, was America's best selling sport utility vehicle in 2002 with sales of 433,847. It was the 12th year in a row that Explorer has been the top selling SUV and the fifth year in a row that sales exceeded 400,000.
Ford Division's other segment leading products include the Mustang, Ranger compact pickup, and Econoline full-size van.
Jaguar and Land Rover each set new calendar year sales records in 2002. Jaguar dealers delivered 61,204 cars, up 37 percent from a year ago. It was the fourth straight year of record sales for Jaguar. Land Rover dealers delivered 40,987 sport utility vehicles, up 51 percent from a year ago. The previous Land Rover sales record (29,380) was set in 1999.
December 2002 Sales Highlights
In December, the company's year-to-year sales improvement primarily reflected higher sales of sport utility vehicles and higher retail and fleet sales for cars.
At Ford Division, sales of the all-new Expedition were 19,371, up 31 percent from a year ago and the highest sales for any month since October 2000. Explorer sales were 38,645, up 25 percent from a year ago, and Escape sales were 14,447, up 30 percent. At Lincoln Mercury, the Mountaineer set a December sales record (4,662) and sales of the all-new Lincoln Navigator were 3,257, up 31 percent from a year ago. In addition, sales of the all-new Lincoln Aviator were 1,166 -- almost double its introductory month sales in November. Land Rover reported December sales of 3,653. Finally, Volvo's all- new XC90 achieved December sales of 3,208.
In addition to the Navigator and Aviator, Lincoln benefited from higher sales of the Town Car and LS. The 2003 Town Car had December sales of 4,331, up 28 percent from a year ago. LS sales were 4,190, up 80 percent. Overall, Lincoln's December sales were 43 percent higher than a year ago.
"There has never been a newer lineup of products in Lincoln's storied history," said O'Connor. "We believe the momentum generated by these new Lincoln products will help maintain our improving market share trend as we begin 2003."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY DECEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
December Month % December CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 252,008 233,938 7.7 2,997,591 3,303,197 -9.3
Mercury 18,810 17,133 9.8 263,200 311,787 -15.6
Lincoln 13,671 9,586 42.6 150,057 158,934 -5.6
Jaguar 4,697 5,546 -15.3 61,204 44,532 37.4
Volvo 11,454 10,921 4.9 110,670 125,710 -12.0
Land Rover 3,653 4,034 -9.4 40,987 27,204 50.7
Total Ford
Motor Company 304,293 281,158 8.2 3,623,709 3,971,364 -8.8
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 96,551 83,045 16.3 1,325,716 1,495,255 -11.3
Trucks 207,742 198,113 4.9 2,297,993 2,476,109 -7.2
Total Ford
Motor Company 304,293 281,158 8.2 3,623,709 3,971,364 -8.8
Information Only
(Not Included
Above)
TH!NK Neighbor 864 0 NA 6,144 0 NA
Memo: Selling Days 25 25 307 307
FORD BRAND DECEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
December Month % December CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Crown Victoria 4,821 6,389 -24.5 79,716 95,261 -16.3
Taurus 32,243 16,901 90.8 332,690 353,560 -5.9
Focus 14,638 12,336 18.7 243,199 264,414 -8.0
Thunderbird 1,238 1,858 -33.4 19,085 5,177 NA
Mustang 8,501 7,223 17.7 138,356 169,198 -18.2
Escort 1,855 5,923 -68.7 51,857 90,503 -42.7
Total Ford Cars 63,296 50,630 25.0 864,903 978,113 -11.6
Escape 14,477 11,178 29.5 145,471 164,184 -11.4
Explorer 38,645 30,887 25.1 433,847 415,921 4.3
Expedition 19,371 14,813 30.8 163,454 178,045 -8.2
Excursion 2,150 2,730 -21.2 29,042 34,710 -16.3
Econoline/Club Wagon 13,661 12,089 13.0 165,085 159,565 3.5
Windstar 10,568 10,771 -1.9 148,875 179,595 -17.1
Ranger 16,397 15,972 2.7 226,094 272,460 -17.0
F-Series 72,884 84,278 -13.5 813,701 911,597 -10.7
Heavy Trucks 559 590 -5.3 7,119 9,007 -21.0
Total Ford Trucks 188,712 183,308 2.9 2,132,688 2,325,084 -8.3
Total Ford Brand 252,008 233,938 7.7 2,997,591 3,303,197 -9.3
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND DECEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
December Month % December CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Grand Marquis 6,334 4,907 29.1 80,271 112,034 -28.4
Sable 5,553 5,206 6.7 98,998 102,646 -3.6
Cougar 1,129 1,245 -9.3 19,345 29,487 -34.4
Total Mercury Cars 13,016 11,358 14.6 198,614 244,167 -18.7
Town Car 4,331 3,378 28.2 59,312 66,859 -11.3
Continental 380 1,300 -70.8 15,435 20,392 -24.3
LS 4,190 2,323 80.4 39,775 39,787 0.0
Total Lincoln Cars 8,901 7,001 27.1 114,522 127,038 -9.9
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 21,917 18,359 19.4 313,136 371,205 -15.6
Villager 1,132 1,345 -15.8 16,442 22,046 -25.4
Mountaineer 4,662 4,430 5.2 48,144 45,574 5.6
Total Mercury
Trucks 5,794 5,775 0.3 64,586 67,620 -4.5
Blackwood 347 106 227.4 3,066 137 NA
Aviator 1,166 NA NA 1,856 NA NA
Navigator 3,257 2,479 31.4 30,613 31,759 -3.6
Total Lincoln
Trucks 4,770 2,585 84.5 35,535 31,896 11.4
Total Mercury
and Lincoln
Trucks 10,564 8,360 26.4 100,121 99,516 0.6
Total Mercury
and Lincoln
Vehicles 32,481 26,719 21.6 413,257 470,721 -12.2
Total Lincoln Brand 13,671 9,586 42.6 150,057 158,934 -5.6
Total Mercury Brand 18,810 17,133 9.8 263,200 311,787 -15.6
JAGUAR BRAND DECEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
December Month % December CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
XJ 516 812 -36.5 8,286 10,082 -17.8
S-TYPE 1,358 1,359 -0.1 15,965 19,548 -18.3
X-TYPE 2,514 3,110 -19.2 33,018 9,765 238.1
XK 309 265 16.6 3,935 5,137 -23.4
Total Jaguar 4,697 5,546 -15.3 61,204 44,532 37.4
VOLVO BRAND DECEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
December Month % December CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
S40 1,088 1,377 -21.0 15,383 22,541 -31.8
V40 208 254 -18.1 2,729 3,307 -17.5
S60 2,980 3,503 -14.9 38,546 35,850 7.5
S70 0 0 NA 1 226 -99.6
V70 841 1,248 -32.6 10,863 14,833 -26.8
V70 XC 1,605 2,411 -33.4 19,818 24,305 -18.5
C70 202 197 2.5 3,592 4,223 -14.9
XC90 3,208 NA NA 4,379 NA NA
S80 1,322 1,931 -31.5 15,359 20,425 -24.8
Total Volvo 11,454 10,921 4.9 110,670 125,710 -12.0
LAND ROVER BRAND DECEMBER 2002 U.S. SALES
December Month % December CYTD %
2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change
Range Rover 1,016 941 8.0 8,549 5,771 48.1
Discovery 1,462 1,932 -24.3 17,417 20,104 -13.4
Freelander 1,175 1,161 1.2 15,021 1,329 NA
Total Land Rover 3,653 4,034 -9.4 40,987 27,204 50.7