Ford Motor Company Reports July and Year-To-Date U.S. Sales - Down 7%
* Ford's July sales decline 7 percent compared with a year ago * July truck sales up 1 percent; car sales fall 20 percent * F-Series sales climb 15 percent; SUVs post record sales * Year-to-date sales off 4 percent - consistent with overall industry sales
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 1 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 297,265 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in July, down 7.1 percent compared with a year ago. Sales of trucks (pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles) were 198,825, up 0.8 percent, and car sales were 98,440, down 19.8 percent.
Year-to-date, the company's sales were 2.05 million, down 3.6 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales of trucks were 1.32 million, down 0.3 percent, and car sales were 727,103, down 9.1 percent.
Ford's F-Series, America's best-selling truck for 26 years in a row, posted July sales of 69,812, up 15 percent compared with last July.
"We are launching the all-new F-150 from a position of strength," said Jim O'Connor, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "The new F-150 will help us increase our leadership position and set us apart from the competition."
In July, sales of sport utility vehicles were 84,174, up 5 percent from last year's record sales. Higher sales for Ford Expedition (up 22 percent), record sales for Ford Escape (up 28 percent) and Mercury Mountaineer (up 39 percent), and two new SUVs (Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90) more than offset lower sales for Ford Explorer (down 21 percent from last year's near record sales.)
Sales of passenger cars were sharply lower than a year ago reflecting lower fleet deliveries (down 22 percent), discontinued vehicles (Ford Escort, Mercury Cougar, and Lincoln Continental), and generally lower retail sales for several current cars. Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Car, Lincoln LS, and Ford Thunderbird achieved higher retail sales than a year ago. Sales of minivans also were lower than a year ago (down 30 percent including the discontinued Mercury Villager).
"In the last two years, we have introduced several new SUVs and trucks," said O'Connor. "Later this year, we will introduce two new minivans and next year, we embark on a major wave of new car introductions."
Volvo dealers reported record July sales of 11,593, up 15 percent compared with a year ago. July was the ninth month in a row of higher sales at Volvo, a streak that started with the introduction of the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. Volvo retailers remain on pace to set a new calendar year sales record in 2003 as year-to-date sales totaled 79,115, up 24 percent from a year ago.
Jaguar set a new July sales record of 5,167. The all-new XJ sedan paced Jaguar's record-setting sales with a 52 percent increase.
"The pace of auto sales continues to improve," noted O'Connor. "Almost every piece of incoming economic data has been positive. Good consumer spending gains and recent reports on manufacturing and jobless claims are encouraging. We continue to believe the President's tax cut and lower interest rates will support improving economic growth."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JULY 2003 U.S. SALES
July Month % July CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 243,132 261,381 -7.0 1,707,193 1,758,298 -2.9
Mercury 19,228 25,705 -25.2 118,903 155,574 -23.6
Lincoln 14,837 13,610 9.0 91,251 85,584 6.6
Jaguar 5,167 5,131 0.7 29,824 37,773 -21.0
Volvo 11,593 10,091 14.9 79,115 64,063 23.5
Land Rover 3,308 4,057 -18.5 21,148 22,719 -6.9
Total Ford
Motor Company 297,265 319,975 -7.1 2,047,434 2,124,011 -3.6
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 98,440 122,701 -19.8 727,103 799,865 -9.1
Trucks 198,825 197,274 0.8 1,320,331 1,324,146 -0.3
Total Ford
Motor Company 297,265 319,975 -7.1 2,047,434 2,124,011 -3.6
Information Only
(Not Included
Above)
TH!NK Neighbor 0 221 978 1,688
FORD BRAND JULY 2003 U.S. SALES
July Month % July CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Crown Victoria 7,322 8,371 -12.5 50,776 50,260 1.0
Taurus 23,534 30,914 -23.9 193,927 194,877 -0.5
Focus 17,949 21,955 -18.2 140,044 139,289 0.5
Thunderbird 2,068 1,290 60.3 11,945 12,435 -3.9
Mustang 10,523 12,603 -16.5 88,692 84,393 5.1
Escort 2,080 4,437 -53.1 14,839 39,838 -62.8
Total Ford Cars 63,476 79,570 -20.2 500,223 521,092 -4.0
Escape 16,168 12,620 28.1 94,936 81,613 16.3
Explorer 30,525 38,789 -21.3 209,866 234,634 -10.6
Expedition 16,218 13,332 21.6 103,914 88,487 17.4
Excursion 2,154 2,106 2.3 13,998 17,213 -18.7
Econoline/Club Wagon 13,371 11,976 11.6 98,932 98,547 0.4
Windstar 11,372 14,132 -19.5 81,776 91,784 -10.9
Ranger 19,179 27,558 -30.4 127,847 141,372 -9.6
F-Series 69,812 60,774 14.9 471,884 479,407 -1.6
Heavy Trucks 857 524 63.5 3,817 4,149 -8.0
Total Ford Trucks 179,656 181,811 -1.2 1,206,970 1,237,206 -2.4
Total Ford Brand 243,132 261,381 -7.0 1,707,193 1,758,298 -2.9
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND JULY 2003 U.S. SALES
July Month % July CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Grand Marquis 9,109 7,134 27.7 53,538 46,664 14.7
Sable 4,905 10,339 -52.6 36,203 63,286 -42.8
Cougar 0 2,316 -100.0 2,024 10,308 -80.4
Total Mercury Cars 14,014 19,789 -29.2 91,765 120,258 -23.7
Town Car 5,519 4,431 24.6 34,483 36,152 -4.6
LS 3,496 3,412 2.5 20,403 22,644 -9.9
Continental 0 2,360 -100.0 280 9,787 -97.1
Total Lincoln Cars 9,015 10,203 -11.6 55,166 68,583 -19.6
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 23,029 29,992 -23.2 146,931 188,841 -22.2
Mountaineer 5,214 3,743 39.3 27,138 24,984 8.6
Villager 0 2,173 -100.0 0 10,332 -100.0
Total Mercury Trucks 5,214 5,916 -11.9 27,138 35,316 -23.2
Navigator 3,130 3,027 3.4 20,768 15,715 32.2
Aviator 2,692 0 NA 15,164 0 NA
Blackwood 0 380 -100.0 153 1,286 -88.1
Total Lincoln Trucks 5,822 3,407 70.9 36,085 17,001 112.3
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 11,036 9,323 18.4 63,223 52,317 20.8
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 34,065 39,315 -13.4 210,154 241,158 -12.9
Total Lincoln Brand 14,837 13,610 9.0 91,251 85,584 6.6
Total Mercury Brand 19,228 25,705 -25.2 118,903 155,574 -23.6
JAGUAR BRAND JULY 2003 U.S. SALES
July Month % July CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
XJ 1,323 873 51.5 4,878 5,214 -6.4
S-TYPE 1,329 1,516 -12.3 8,720 8,905 -2.1
X-TYPE 2,250 2,467 -8.8 14,491 21,400 -32.3
XK 265 275 -3.6 1,735 2,254 -23.0
Total Jaguar 5,167 5,131 0.7 29,824 37,773 -21.0
VOLVO BRAND JULY 2003 U.S. SALES
July Month % July CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
S40 1,161 1,999 -41.9 8,345 9,449 -11.7
V40 230 248 -7.3 1,866 1,630 14.5
S60 3,031 3,504 -13.5 21,586 23,864 -9.5
S70 0 0 NA 0 0 NA
V70 872 712 22.5 7,417 5,916 25.4
V70 XC 1,123 2,083 -46.1 9,861 11,904 -17.2
C70 482 344 40.1 2,503 2,296 9.0
XC90 3,702 0 NA 19,129 0 NA
S80 992 1,201 -17.4 8,408 9,004 -6.6
Total Volvo 11,593 10,091 14.9 79,115 64,063 23.5
LAND ROVER BRAND JULY 2003 U.S. SALES
July Month % July CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Range Rover 1,225 939 30.5 5,708 4,198 36.0
Discovery 1,330 1,857 -28.4 9,648 9,790 -1.5
Freelander 753 1,261 -40.3 5,792 8,731 -33.7
Total Land Rover 3,308 4,057 -18.5 21,148 22,719 -6.9