Ford Motor Company Reports February 2005 U.S. Sales
* Ford car sales post increase on higher sales of new products; overall sales decline on lower truck sales. * Ford Five Hundred, Ford Freestyle, and Mercury Montego outpace industry as combined sales increase 35 percent compared with January. * Ford Mustang sales climb 32 percent; first convertibles arrive in Ford dealer showrooms. * Lincoln dealers deliver first Mark LT luxury pickups. Lincoln and Mercury brands post higher sales in February. * Ford Focus and Dell Computer partner for stronger February sales. * Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner increase Ford's presence in small SUV segment. * New products help Volvo and Land Rover dealers report higher sales in February. * Ford announces second quarter North American production plan.
DEARBORN, Mich., March 1 -- Sales of Ford passenger cars rose 8 percent in February paced by recently introduced new products. Sales of trucks declined 8 percent resulting in an overall sales decline of 3 percent.
Combined sales for the Ford Five Hundred, Ford Freestyle, and Mercury Montego totaled 14,718 in February, up 35 percent compared with January. Ford estimates overall industry sales increased 15 to 20 percent from January to February.
"We are extremely pleased with the sales curve for our new products," said Earl Hesterberg, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing Sales and Service. "In just five months, we have very nearly reached our sales targets for the Chicago products."
Ford Mustang continued to set a torrid sales pace in February, as sales to individual retail customers were 57 percent higher than a year ago. Lower fleet deliveries partially offset the increase in retail demand resulting in an overall Mustang sales increase of 32 percent.
"The Mustang convertible is arriving just in time for the spring selling season," said Hesterberg.
So is the Lincoln Mark LT. Lincoln dealers delivered the first luxury pickup trucks at the end of February -- just one month after the start of production. Both Mercury and Lincoln posted sales increases in February.
"We expect stronger sales in the months ahead for Lincoln and Mercury," said Hesterberg. "The Mercury Montego and Mariner have helped Mercury get off to a good start in 2005. In addition to the Mark LT, the franchise will benefit by the addition of the Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr later in the year."
Ford Focus contributed to the increase in passenger car sales. At the beginning of February, Ford partnered with Dell Computer in a unique promotion that helped February Focus sales increase 10 percent compared with a year ago.
Sales for Ford's small sport utility vehicles continued to grow. Combined sales for the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner totaled 17,115, up 18 percent compared with a year ago. Sales for the Ford Escape Hybrid in February were
1,092. Almost 5,000 hybrid models of the Escape have been sold since the product debuted in October.
Volvo dealers reported a sales increase in February bolstered by higher sales of the new S40 sedan and V50 wagon as well as continued strong sales of the XC90 crossover sport utility vehicle. Land Rover dealers reported record February sales thanks to the all-new LR3 and continued strong Range Rover sales.
North American Production Plans
The company plans to build 940,000 vehicles (290,000 cars and 650,000 trucks) in its North American assembly plants in the second quarter 2005. In the second quarter 2004, the company produced 951,000 vehicles (252,000 cars and 699,000 trucks).
In the first quarter of 2005, the company plans to build 910,000 vehicles (267,000 cars and 643,000 trucks), down 10,000 units from the previously announced plan.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY FEBRUARY 2005 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 208,239 217,522 -4.3 371,941 408,095 -8.9
Mercury 18,540 17,150 8.1 33,849 30,233 12.0
Lincoln 11,332 10,705 5.9 18,724 20,337 -7.9
Jaguar 2,917 3,592 -18.8 5,162 7,235 -28.7
Volvo 10,404 10,157 2.4 20,538 20,442 0.5
Land Rover 2,702 2,568 5.2 5,462 5,388 1.4
Total Ford Motor
Company 254,134 261,694 -2.9 455,676 491,730 -7.3
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 92,266 85,810 7.5 162,209 157,876 2.7
Trucks 161,868 175,884 -8.0 293,467 333,854 -12.1
Total Ford Motor
Company 254,134 261,694 -2.9 455,676 491,730 -7.3
FORD BRAND FEBRUARY 2005 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Crown Victoria 5,604 6,476 -13.5 10,114 11,937 -15.3
Five Hundred 7,524 0 NA 12,925 0 NA
Taurus 19,694 24,269 -18.9 34,227 40,817 -16.1
Focus 16,511 15,046 9.7 28,940 28,729 0.7
Mustang 14,050 10,634 32.1 24,335 20,540 18.5
Thunderbird 858 922 -6.9 1,516 1,757 -13.7
GT 4 0 NA 11 0 NA
Escort 0 238 -100.0 0 1,210 -100.0
Total Ford Cars 64,245 57,585 11.6 112,068 104,990 6.7
Freestyle 5,573 0 NA 9,731 0 NA
Escape 14,310 14,485 -1.2 27,178 25,500 6.6
Explorer 22,250 27,487 -19.1 37,728 53,740 -29.8
Expedition 9,230 10,702 -13.8 16,807 22,232 -24.4
Excursion 1,100 1,437 -23.5 1,971 2,989 -34.1
Freestar 8,694 9,645 -9.9 14,215 14,527 -2.1
Windstar 0 1,000 -100.0 0 2,806 -100.0
Econoline/Club Wagon 14,182 13,357 6.2 25,724 25,549 0.7
Ranger 8,214 14,090 -41.7 15,848 25,210 -37.1
F-Series 59,562 66,986 -11.1 108,881 128,965 -15.6
Heavy Trucks 879 748 17.5 1,790 1,587 12.8
Total Ford Trucks 143,994 159,937 -10.0 259,873 303,105 -14.3
Total Ford Brand 208,239 217,522 -4.3 371,941 408,095 -8.9
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND FEBRUARY 2005 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Grand Marquis 6,846 7,333 -6.6 12,415 13,103 -5.3
Montego 1,621 0 NA 2,983 0 NA
Sable 3,334 4,172 -20.1 5,850 7,282 -19.7
Total Mercury Cars 11,801 11,505 2.6 21,248 20,385 4.2
Town Car 4,011 3,831 4.7 6,582 7,300 -9.8
LS 2,812 2,776 1.3 4,328 4,837 -10.5
Total Lincoln Cars 6,823 6,607 3.3 10,910 12,137 -10.1
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 18,624 18,112 2.8 32,158 32,522 -1.1
Mariner 2,805 0 NA 5,165 0 NA
Mountaineer 3,093 4,037 -23.4 5,708 7,668 -25.6
Monterey 841 1,608 -47.7 1,728 2,180 -20.7
Total Mercury Trucks 6,739 5,645 19.4 12,601 9,848 28.0
Navigator 2,524 2,439 3.5 4,536 4,846 -6.4
Aviator 1,955 1,659 17.8 3,248 3,354 -3.2
Mark LT 30 0 NA 30 0 NA
Total Lincoln Trucks 4,509 4,098 10.0 7,814 8,200 -4.7
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 11,248 9,743 15.4 20,415 18,048 13.1
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 29,872 27,855 7.2 52,573 50,570 4.0
Total Lincoln Brand 11,332 10,705 5.9 18,724 20,337 -7.9
Total Mercury Brand 18,540 17,150 8.1 33,849 30,233 12.0
JAGUAR BRAND FEBRUARY 2005 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
XJ 856 825 3.8 1,483 1,693 -12.4
S-TYPE 798 799 -0.1 1,418 1,785 -20.6
X-TYPE 1,071 1,798 -40.4 1,927 3,394 -43.2
XK 192 170 12.9 334 363 -8.0
Total Jaguar 2,917 3,592 -18.8 5,162 7,235 -28.7
VOLVO BRAND FEBRUARY 2005 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
S40 2,126 1,790 18.8 4,215 2,883 46.2
V40 1 155 -99.4 1 285 -99.6
V50 543 0 NA 994 0 NA
S60 1,935 2,590 -25.3 3,858 5,615 -31.3
V70 701 799 -12.3 1,313 1,999 -34.3
XC70 1,055 1,011 4.4 2,146 2,070 3.7
C70 229 322 -28.9 423 542 -22.0
S80 945 865 9.2 2,017 1,805 11.7
XC90 2,869 2,625 9.3 5,571 5,243 6.3
Total Volvo 10,404 10,157 2.4 20,538 20,442 0.5
LAND ROVER BRAND FEBRUARY 2005 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Range Rover 790 753 4.9 1,648 1,633 0.9
LR3 1,504 0 NA 2,814 0 NA
Discovery 176 1,070 -83.6 503 2,295 -78.1
Freelander 232 745 -68.9 497 1,460 -66.0
Total Land Rover 2,702 2,568 5.2 5,462 5,388 1.4