Ford May 2006 Sales: Fusion Sales Soar; CUVs and Hybrids Also Advance
* Fusion sales were 14,940, up 18 percent from previous best month.
* Fusion, Milan and Zephyr sales totaled best ever 20,267.
* Focus sales (20,391) highest since last August.
* CUVs up 12 percent; Escape and Mariner hybrids up 132 percent.
* Total car sales up 6.4 percent; truck sales down 6.6 percent; total vehicle sales down 1.9 percent.
* Ford announces third quarter North American production plans.
DEARBORN, Mich., June 1 -- Ford Fusion, an all-new mid-size sedan, posted its best sales month ever in May. Fusion sales were 14,940, an 18 percent increase over the previous best month (April). Combined sales for the company's new mid-size sedans (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr) were 20,267, the first month sales eclipsed 20,000.
"The Fusion, Milan and Zephyr give our dealers a great opportunity to compete for customers looking for affordable cars with distinctive styling and outstanding fuel economy," said Al Giombetti, president, Ford and Lincoln Mercury marketing and sales.
Increased demand for these new cars and strong sales of Ford's popular Focus and Mustang helped lift May car sales 6.4 percent compared with a year ago. Truck sales declined 6.6 percent resulting in an overall decline of 1.9 percent.
In the truck category, Ford's crossover utilities (CUVs) were higher than a year ago as combined sales of the Ford Escape, Ford Freestyle, and Mercury Mariner were up 12 percent. Sales of the Escape and Mariner hybrid models totaled 2,862, up 132 percent compared with last May. Later this year, Ford will introduce two more CUVs, the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.
Sales for traditional sport utility vehicles (SUVs), like Ford Explorer and Expedition, were 21 percent lower than a year ago despite increases for the Mercury Mountaineer, Lincoln Navigator, and record sales for the Land Rover brand.
"We've seen an industry-wide decline in traditional sport utility vehicles," said Giombetti, "and higher gas prices accelerated this decline. Several years ago, we predicted CUVs would grow and SUVs would decline and we incorporated this assumption in our product and capacity plans. With our new cars, CUVs and hybrids, we've never been in a better position to compete for customers in an environment of rising gas prices."
Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling truck in America for 29 years in a row and has achieved a higher share of the full-size pickup segment in 2006. In May, F-Series sales totaled 70,175, down 6 percent. On a year- to-date basis, F-Series sales were essentially equal to a year ago.
North American Production Plan
The company plans to produce 710,000 vehicles (250,000 cars and 460,000 trucks) in the third quarter 2006. In the third quarter 2005, the company produced 728,000 vehicles (210,000 cars and 518,000 trucks).
In the second quarter 2006, the company plans to build 890,000 vehicles (325,000 cars and 565,000 trucks). This plan is equal to the previously- announced production plan.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAY 2006 U.S. SALES
May Month % May CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 234,655 241,123 -2.7 1,066,379 1,103,542 -3.4
Mercury 16,565 16,479 0.5 84,579 88,519 -4.5
Lincoln 10,847 10,024 8.2 54,418 51,667 5.3
Jaguar 2,374 2,697 -12.0 9,489 14,274 -33.5
Volvo 10,124 10,798 -6.2 48,225 53,675 -10.2
Land Rover 3,981 2,873 38.6 19,016 14,457 31.5
Total Ford
Motor Company 278,546 283,994 -1.9 1,282,106 1,326,134 -3.3
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 108,248 101,711 6.4 492,326 469,332 4.9
Trucks 170,298 182,283 -6.6 789,780 856,802 -7.8
Total Ford
Motor Company 278,546 283,994 -1.9 1,282,106 1,326,134 -3.3
FORD BRAND MAY 2006 U.S. SALES
May Month % May CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Crown Victoria 5,721 6,897 -17.1 28,906 30,704 -5.9
Five Hundred 8,204 8,977 -8.6 39,012 40,492 -3.7
Taurus 16,786 20,502 -18.1 83,287 92,879 -10.3
Fusion 14,940 0 NA 57,398 0 NA
Focus 20,391 18,047 13.0 80,559 82,963 -2.9
Mustang 15,559 19,721 -21.1 72,119 81,541 -11.6
Thunderbird 0 1,121 -100.0 469 5,719 -91.8
GT 155 117 32.5 890 242 267.8
Total Ford Cars 81,756 75,382 8.5 362,640 334,540 8.4
Freestyle 6,236 6,084 2.5 29,569 28,677 3.1
Escape 16,699 14,038 19.0 74,978 73,217 2.4
Explorer 16,717 19,539 -14.4 77,205 105,925 -27.1
Expedition 7,248 13,243 -45.3 34,381 48,999 -29.8
Excursion 0 1,233 -100.0 965 5,902 -83.6
Freestar 7,953 7,957 -0.1 28,634 40,153 -28.7
Econoline/Club Wagon 16,834 16,860 -0.2 74,876 75,721 -1.1
Ranger 9,628 11,098 -13.2 41,076 49,503 -17.0
F-Series 70,175 74,494 -5.8 334,725 335,269 -0.2
Low Cab Forward 327 0 NA 1,520 0 NA
Heavy Trucks 1,082 1,195 -9.5 5,810 5,636 3.1
Total Ford Trucks 152,899 165,741 -7.7 703,739 769,002 -8.5
Total Ford Brand 234,655 241,123 -2.7 1,066,379 1,103,542 -3.4
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MAY 2006 U.S. SALES
May Month % May CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Grand Marquis 5,071 6,981 -27.4 28,764 32,736 -12.1
Montego 1,959 2,141 -8.5 10,826 9,612 12.6
Sable 0 1,642 -100.0 0 14,293 -100.0
Milan 3,081 0 NA 14,268 0 NA
Total Mercury Cars 10,111 10,764 -6.1 53,858 56,641 -4.9
Town Car 4,739 4,314 9.9 18,641 19,765 -5.7
LS 450 1,777 -74.7 5,033 10,648 -52.7
Zephyr 2,246 0 NA 13,408 0 NA
Total Lincoln Cars 7,435 6,091 22.1 37,082 30,413 21.9
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 17,546 16,855 4.1 90,940 87,054 4.5
Mariner 2,349 2,549 -7.8 16,676 13,871 20.2
Mountaineer 3,677 2,838 29.6 12,234 14,459 -15.4
Monterey 428 328 30.5 1,811 3,548 -49.0
Total Mercury Trucks 6,454 5,715 12.9 30,721 31,878 -3.6
Navigator 2,455 2,014 21.9 10,049 11,470 -12.4
Aviator 0 1,233 -100.0 1,711 7,812 -78.1
Mark LT 957 686 39.5 5,576 1,972 182.8
Total Lincoln Trucks 3,412 3,933 -13.2 17,336 21,254 -18.4
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 9,866 9,648 2.3 48,057 53,132 -9.6
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 27,412 26,503 3.4 138,997 140,186 -0.8
Total Lincoln Brand 10,847 10,024 8.2 54,418 51,667 5.3
Total Mercury Brand 16,565 16,479 0.5 84,579 88,519 -4.5
JAGUAR BRAND MAY 2006 U.S. SALES
May Month % May CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
XJ 512 627 -18.3 2,357 3,749 -37.1
S-TYPE 600 784 -23.5 3,024 4,023 -24.8
X-TYPE 535 1,033 -48.2 2,371 5,433 -56.4
XK 727 253 187.4 1,737 1,069 62.5
Total Jaguar 2,374 2,697 -12.0 9,489 14,274 -33.5
VOLVO BRAND MAY 2006 U.S. SALES
May Month % May CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
S40 2,027 2,215 -8.5 10,256 10,707 -4.2
V50 360 467 -22.9 1,742 2,456 -29.1
V40 0 0 NA 0 5 NA
S60 2,741 2,501 9.6 10,901 11,039 -1.3
V70 617 655 -5.8 2,377 3,321 -28.4
XC70 1,142 1,123 1.7 5,423 5,565 -2.6
C70 29 180 -83.9 549 1,156 -52.5
S80 798 759 5.1 3,432 4,780 -28.2
XC90 2,410 2,898 -16.8 13,545 14,646 -7.5
Total Volvo 10,124 10,798 -6.2 48,225 53,675 -10.2
LAND ROVER BRAND MAY 2006 U.S. SALES
May Month % May CYTD %
2006 2005 Change 2006 2005 Change
Range Rover 1,067 795 34.2 4,758 4,218 12.8
Range Rover Sport 1,360 0 NA 7,237 0 NA
LR3 1,549 1,772 -12.6 6,992 8,306 -15.8
Discovery 0 56 -100.0 1 744 -99.9
Freelander 5 250 -98.0 28 1,189 -97.6
Total Land Rover 3,981 2,873 38.6 19,016 14,457 31.5