Fuel Economy Rules in Ford's April Sales Results
* Ford's new mid-size sedans and hybrids achieve record sales. * April sales totaled 262,722, down 7 percent. Cars up 8 percent; trucks down 15 percent. * Lincoln Mercury dealers report higher retail sales for the second month in a row. * Land Rover dealers report record sales for the seventh consecutive month.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 2 -- Stronger demand for vehicles offering higher fuel economy helped Ford Motor Company offset lower demand for trucks and SUVs. Ford's April sales totaled 262,722, down 7 percent, but car sales were up 8 percent and truck sales were down 15 percent. Within trucks, crossover utilities (CUVs) posted higher sales and the Escape and Mariner hybrid utility models had record sales.
Higher car sales were paced by the company's new mid-size sedans -- Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr. Combined sales totaled 19,548 in April as each of the sedans posted record monthly sales.
"The Fusion, Milan and Zephyr continue to surprise us on the upside," said Al Giombetti, president, Ford and Lincoln Mercury marketing and sales. "These new, fuel-efficient cars are helping our dealers to retain owners and capture new ones. We never have been in a better position to compete for customers in an environment of rising gasoline prices."
Combined sales for Ford's CUVs (Ford Escape and Freestyle and Mercury Mariner) registered a sales increase of 8 percent in April and the Escape and Mariner hybrid models achieved record monthly sales. Sales of the Escape hybrid were 3,039 and sales of the Mariner hybrid were 381.
Ford will expand its CUV portfolio later this year with two all-new CUVs, the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.
Lincoln and Mercury posted higher retail sales for the second month in a row as sales of the Milan and Zephyr sedans and Lincoln Mark LT full-size pickup offset lower sales of discontinued products (Mercury Sable and Lincoln LS).
Land Rover dealers reported record sales for April and year-to-date. Sales totaled 3,736 for the month (up 19 percent) and 15,035 year-to-date (up 30 percent). April was the seventh consecutive month of record sales for Land Rover.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY APRIL 2006 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 215,824 237,842 -9.3 831,724 862,419 -3.6
Mercury 20,368 16,734 21.7 68,014 72,040 -5.6
Lincoln 11,067 9,981 10.9 43,571 41,643 4.6
Jaguar 1,991 2,870 -30.6 7,115 11,577 -38.5
Volvo 9,736 10,725 -9.2 38,101 42,877 -11.1
Land Rover 3,736 3,140 19.0 15,035 11,584 29.8
Total Ford
Motor Company 262,722 281,292 -6.6 1,003,560 1,042,140 -3.7
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 105,655 97,578 8.3 384,078 367,621 4.5
Trucks 157,067 183,714 -14.5 619,482 674,519 -8.2
Total Ford
Motor Company 262,722 281,292 -6.6 1,003,560 1,042,140 -3.7
FORD BRAND APRIL 2006 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Crown Victoria 6,640 6,193 7.2 23,185 23,807 -2.6
Five Hundred 7,846 9,215 -14.9 30,808 31,515 -2.2
Taurus 14,668 17,263 -15.0 66,501 72,377 -8.1
Fusion 12,613 0 NA 42,458 0 NA
Focus 17,917 18,250 -1.8 60,168 64,916 -7.3
Mustang 15,868 19,559 -18.9 56,560 61,820 -8.5
Thunderbird 0 1,536 -100.0 469 4,598 -89.8
GT 180 70 157.1 735 125 488.0
Total Ford Cars 75,732 72,086 5.1 280,884 259,158 8.4
Freestyle 6,491 6,671 -2.7 23,333 22,593 3.3
Escape 16,011 15,080 6.2 58,279 59,179 -1.5
Explorer 13,772 23,800 -42.1 60,488 86,386 -30.0
Expedition 6,305 9,460 -33.4 27,133 35,756 -24.1
Excursion 0 1,237 -100.0 965 4,669 -79.3
Freestar 5,149 8,674 -40.6 20,681 32,196 -35.8
Econoline/Club Wagon 16,886 16,395 3.0 58,042 58,861 -1.4
Ranger 9,070 11,793 -23.1 31,448 38,405 -18.1
F-Series 64,749 71,367 -9.3 264,550 260,775 1.4
Low Cab Forward 318 0 NA 1,193 0 NA
Heavy Trucks 1,341 1,279 4.8 4,728 4,441 6.5
Total Ford Trucks 140,092 165,756 -15.5 550,840 603,261 -8.7
Total Ford Brand 215,824 237,842 -9.3 831,724 862,419 -3.6
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND APRIL 2006 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Grand Marquis 7,204 5,427 32.7 23,693 25,755 -8.0
Montego 2,760 2,191 26.0 8,867 7,471 18.7
Sable 0 2,753 -100.0 0 12,651 -100.0
Milan 3,557 0 NA 11,187 0 NA
Total Mercury Cars 13,521 10,371 30.4 43,747 45,877 -4.6
Town Car 3,693 3,631 1.7 13,902 15,451 -10.0
LS 1,218 1,948 -37.5 4,583 8,871 -48.3
Zephyr 3,378 0 NA 11,162 0 NA
Total Lincoln Cars 8,289 5,579 48.6 29,647 24,322 21.9
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 21,810 15,950 36.7 73,394 70,199 4.6
Mariner 4,330 3,104 39.5 14,327 11,322 26.5
Mountaineer 2,218 2,648 -16.2 8,557 11,621 -26.4
Monterey 299 611 -51.1 1,383 3,220 -57.0
Total Mercury Trucks 6,847 6,363 7.6 24,267 26,163 -7.2
Navigator 1,600 2,198 -27.2 7,594 9,456 -19.7
Aviator 157 1,517 -89.7 1,711 6,579 -74.0
Mark LT 1,021 687 48.6 4,619 1,286 259.2
Total Lincoln Trucks 2,778 4,402 -36.9 13,924 17,321 -19.6
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 9,625 10,765 -10.6 38,191 43,484 -12.2
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 31,435 26,715 17.7 111,585 113,683 -1.8
Total Lincoln Brand 11,067 9,981 10.9 43,571 41,643 4.6
Total Mercury Brand 20,368 16,734 21.7 68,014 72,040 -5.6
JAGUAR BRAND APRIL 2006 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
XJ 465 789 -41.1 1,845 3,122 -40.9
S-TYPE 575 798 -27.9 2,424 3,239 -25.2
X-TYPE 407 1,038 -60.8 1,836 4,400 -58.3
XK 544 245 122.0 1,010 816 23.8
Total Jaguar 1,991 2,870 -30.6 7,115 11,577 -38.5
VOLVO BRAND APRIL 2006 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
S40 2,100 2,111 -0.5 8,229 8,492 -3.1
V50 310 529 -41.4 1,382 1,989 -30.5
V40 0 3 NA 0 5 NA
S60 1,891 2,218 -14.7 8,160 8,538 -4.4
V70 464 694 -33.1 1,760 2,666 -34.0
XC70 1,034 1,032 0.2 4,281 4,442 -3.6
C70 435 279 55.9 520 976 -46.7
S80 922 838 10.0 2,634 4,021 -34.5
XC90 2,580 3,021 -14.6 11,135 11,748 -5.2
Total Volvo 9,736 10,725 -9.2 38,101 42,877 -11.1
LAND ROVER BRAND APRIL 2006 U.S. SALES
April Month % April CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Range Rover 929 908 2.3 3,691 3,423 7.8
Range Rover Sport 1,548 0 NA 5,877 0 NA
LR3 1,254 1,923 -34.8 5,443 6,534 -16.7
Discovery 0 61 -100.0 1 688 -99.9
Freelander 5 248 -98.0 23 939 -97.6
Total Land Rover 3,736 3,140 19.0 15,035 11,584 29.8