Ford Motor Company Report: April 2003 U.S. Sales
* Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator pace Ford's record-setting SUV sales; Mustang stampede results from historic $5 a day lease program * Volvo and Land Rover set new April sales records * Ford raises second quarter production plan 10,000 vehicles to 990,000 cars and trucks * Ford's O'Connor is encouraged by higher consumer confidence readings - enhances prospects consumer spending will improve in the second half
DEARBORN, Mich., May 1 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 298,037 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in April, down 2.9 percent compared with a year ago. Year-to-date, the company's sales were 1.1 million, down 2.3 percent compared with the same period a year ago.
The all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, which debuted in June 2002, paced the company to a new April SUV sales record. Expedition sales were 17,827 (up 80 percent compared with a year ago) and Navigator sales were 3,282 (up 79 percent). Two more new SUVs, Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90, helped increase the company's total SUV sales to 78,221, eclipsing the previous April record (70,766) set in 2001.
Ford Mustang had its best sales month since October 2001 as 17,412 customers stampeded to Ford dealers and saddled up America's legendary pony car, enticed by an historic offer on the eve of Ford's centennial. Mustang sales were 32 percent higher than a year ago.
"Mustang fever was elevated higher than we expected," said Jim O'Connor, Ford Group Vice President, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "Extending the $5 a day lease offer was one of the easiest decisions we've ever made." The special centennial $5 a day lease on Mustang and Ranger, America's best-selling compact pickup, has been extended to June 16.
Volvo dealers reported record April sales of 10,895, up 21 percent from a year ago. April was the sixth month in a row of higher sales at Volvo -- a streak that started with the introduction of the XC90, the award-winning sport utility vehicle. XC90 sales (2,263) were limited by availability (16 days' supply at the beginning of April).
Land Rover dealers also reported record April sales of 2,916, up 5 percent from a year ago, reflecting higher sales of the all-new Range Rover, the flagship of Land Rover's fleet. April was the second month in a row of record Land Rover sales.
Lincoln sales rose 15 percent from a year ago on the strength of record SUV sales. Aviator and Navigator combined for April sales of 5,745, nearly tripling last year's sales for Navigator alone and the highest SUV sales ever delivered by the Lincoln franchise in a single month.
Ford, America's best-selling brand of cars and trucks, posted April sales of 251,186, down 2.6 percent from a year ago. Mercury sales were 16,320, down 21 percent from a year ago.
The company revised its second quarter North American production plan upward by 10,000 units (5,000 cars and 5,000 trucks) in response to higher than expected demand for the Mustang (Dearborn Assembly Plant) and Expedition and Navigator (Michigan Truck Plant). The company now plans to produce 990,000 vehicles in the second quarter (320,000 cars and 670,000 trucks).
"We're encouraged by higher consumer confidence readings," O'Connor said. "A more confident consumer enhances the prospect that consumer spending will improve in the second half of the year."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY APRIL 2003 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 251,186 257,782 -2.6 933,503 947,127 -1.4
Mercury 16,320 20,768 -21.4 64,066 76,052 -15.8
Lincoln 12,928 11,256 14.9 46,689 45,178 3.3
Jaguar 3,792 5,441 -30.3 14,649 21,830 -32.9
Volvo 10,895 9,039 20.5 41,063 34,992 17.3
Land Rover 2,916 2,775 5.1 11,281 11,654 -3.2
Total Ford
Motor Company 298,037 307,061 -2.9 1,111,251 1,136,833 -2.3
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 105,889 114,137 -7.2 404,917 418,603 -3.3
Trucks 192,148 192,924 -0.4 706,334 718,230 -1.7
Total Ford
Motor Company 298,037 307,061 -2.9 1,111,251 1,136,833 -2.3
Information Only
(Not Included
Above)
TH!NK Neighbor 0 326 978 500
FORD BRAND APRIL 2003 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Crown Victoria 7,914 6,305 25.5 27,599 27,654 -0.2
Taurus 27,789 27,517 1.0 114,363 101,600 12.6
Focus 18,464 20,126 -8.3 78,307 71,574 9.4
Thunderbird 1,635 2,173 -24.8 5,700 7,390 -22.9
Mustang 17,412 13,192 32.0 48,677 45,006 8.2
Escort 2,068 6,699 -69.1 9,273 22,003 -57.9
Total Ford Cars 75,282 76,012 -1.0 283,919 275,227 3.2
Escape 11,940 12,659 -5.7 47,998 42,623 12.6
Explorer 30,188 33,493 -9.9 111,778 123,430 -9.4
Expedition 17,827 9,888 80.3 53,475 46,459 15.1
Excursion 2,022 2,699 -25.1 7,389 10,724 -31.1
Econoline/Club Wagon 15,820 16,990 -6.9 54,964 52,645 4.4
Windstar 10,745 13,605 -21.0 45,989 49,278 -6.7
Ranger 17,862 19,374 -7.8 73,694 74,162 -0.6
F-Series 68,999 72,414 -4.7 252,543 270,184 -6.5
Heavy Trucks 501 648 -22.7 1,754 2,395 -26.8
Total Ford Trucks 175,904 181,770 -3.2 649,584 671,900 -3.3
Total Ford Brand 251,186 257,782 -2.6 933,503 947,127 -1.4
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND APRIL 2003 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Grand Marquis 7,227 5,304 36.3 27,455 22,942 19.7
Sable 5,554 9,276 -40.1 21,262 29,188 -27.2
Cougar 0 1,233 -100.0 2,024 4,492 -54.9
Total Mercury Cars 12,781 15,813 -19.2 50,741 56,622 -10.4
Town Car 4,172 4,772 -12.6 17,473 18,566 -5.9
LS 3,011 3,433 -12.3 10,961 12,807 -14.4
Continental 0 1,090 -100.0 280 4,574 -93.9
Total Lincoln Cars 7,183 9,295 -22.7 28,714 35,947 -20.1
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 19,964 25,108 -20.5 79,455 92,569 -14.2
Mountaineer 3,539 3,432 3.1 13,325 14,383 -7.4
Villager 0 1,523 -100.0 0 5,047 -100.0
Total Mercury Trucks 3,539 4,955 -28.6 13,325 19,430 -31.4
Navigator 3,282 1,834 79.0 10,426 8,692 19.9
Aviator 2,463 NA NA 7,396 NA NA
Blackwood 0 127 -100.0 153 539 -71.6
Total Lincoln Trucks 5,745 1,961 193.0 17,975 9,231 94.7
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 9,284 6,916 34.2 31,300 28,661 9.2
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 29,248 32,024 -8.7 110,755 121,230 -8.6
Total Lincoln Brand 12,928 11,256 14.9 46,689 45,178 3.3
Total Mercury Brand 16,320 20,768 -21.4 64,066 76,052 -15.8
JAGUAR BRAND APRIL 2003 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
XJ 387 951 -59.3 1,456 2,793 -47.9
S-TYPE 1,102 1,004 9.8 4,577 4,574 0.1
X-TYPE 2,037 3,084 -33.9 7,677 13,210 -41.9
XK 266 402 -33.8 939 1,253 -25.1
Total Jaguar 3,792 5,441 -30.3 14,649 21,830 -32.9
VOLVO BRAND APRIL 2003 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
S40 1,030 1,388 -25.8 4,834 4,682 3.2
V40 288 288 0.0 1,145 914 25.3
S60 3,096 3,427 -9.7 11,499 13,247 -13.2
S70 0 0 NA 0 0 NA
V70 1,073 857 25.2 3,776 3,652 3.4
V70 XC 1,781 1,463 21.7 5,813 6,015 -3.4
C70 337 391 -13.8 1,213 1,196 1.4
XC90 2,263 NA NA 8,356 NA NA
S80 1,027 1,225 -16.2 4,427 5,286 -16.3
Total Volvo 10,895 9,039 20.5 41,063 34,992 17.3
LAND ROVER BRAND APRIL 2003 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Range Rover 749 203 269.0 2,882 1,889 52.6
Discovery 1,341 1,252 7.1 5,186 5,140 0.9
Freelander 826 1,320 -37.4 3,213 4,625 -30.5
Total Land Rover 2,916 2,775 5.1 11,281 11,654 -3.2
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