Ford's February 2007 Sales Off 13%; Daily Rental Sales Down 30%
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* Ford's February sales totaled 211,150, down 13 percent compared with a year ago.
* Lower sales to daily rental companies (down 30 percent) account for about one-half of the decline.
* Sales to retail customers were down 8 percent.
* Ford's estimated retail market share in February is 13 percent -- maintaining a consistent level since June 2006.
* Demand continues to grow for new mid-size sedans (Ford Fusion up 46 percent compared with a year ago, Mercury Milan up 22 percent and Lincoln MKZ up 21 percent) and new crossover vehicles (Ford Edge up 43 percent compared with January and Lincoln MKX up 38 percent).
* February inventories were 175,000 units lower than a year ago.
* Ford announces second quarter North American production plan.
DEARBORN, Mich., March 1 -- Ford Motor Company's February U.S. sales declined 13 percent compared with a year ago. Sales to daily rental companies were 30 percent lower than a year ago as the company continued its planned reduction in this market.
The company's February sales totaled 211,150, compared with 244,021 a year ago. Lower sales to daily rental companies (down 16,000 units) accounted for about half of the decline. Sales to individual retail customers were down 8 percent compared with a year ago.
The company estimates retail sales for its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands were 13 percent of industry-wide retail sales in February. The company's share of the U.S. retail market has been consistent at approximately 13 percent since June 2006.
"Our objective is to deliver more of the products that people want and, in doing so, stabilize retail share," said Mark Fields, Ford's President of The Americas. "We're encouraged by the results we have achieved over the past several months. Our new products and our initiatives to strengthen our brands are starting to pay off."
Consumer demand continues to grow for Ford's new mid-size cars and crossover utilities (CUVs). In February, Ford Fusion sales were up 46 percent compared with a year ago, Mercury Milan sales were up 22 percent, and Lincoln MKZ sales were up 21 percent.
February marked the second month on sale for the company's new crossover utilities - the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX. Edge sales were 7,977 (up 43 percent compared with January) and Lincoln MKX sales were 2,310 (up 38 percent). The Edge has posted higher sales in its first two months than did Ford's popular Fusion when it was introduced in late 2005.
The Edge and Lincoln MKX are all-new products in the company's CUV lineup. Redesigned models of Ford's Escape and Mercury Mariner are arriving at dealer showrooms now, and the new Taurus X crossover will go on sale this summer.
Ford saw lower sales for its F-Series pickup truck in February (down 12 percent), which compares with a very strong performance for America's best- selling pickup last year. Although supply is limited, the all-new F-Series Super Duty pickup is off to a fast start, with a very positive "days to turn" level of 6 days in February.
U.S. Inventories
At the end of February, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury inventories were estimated at 603,000 units. This level is 175,000 units lower than a year ago.
North American Production
In the first quarter 2007, the company plans to produce 740,000 vehicles (200,000 cars and 540,000 trucks). This plan is unchanged from the previously announced plan.
In the second quarter 2007, the company plans to produce 770,000 vehicles (220,000 cars and 550,000 trucks). In the second quarter 2006, the company produced 897,000 vehicles (328,000 cars and 569,000 trucks). More than 60 percent of the year-to-year decline in second quarter reduction reflects discontinued products and the company's planned reduction in sales to daily rental companies.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 173,794 204,846 -15.2 305,800 374,258 -18.3
Mercury 13,843 15,950 -13.2 26,447 28,731 -7.9
Lincoln 10,763 9,713 10.8 20,357 19,058 6.8
Jaguar 1,191 1,662 -28.3 2,581 3,258 -20.8
Volvo 8,453 8,397 0.7 16,261 17,241 -5.7
Land Rover 3,106 3,453 -10.0 6,539 7,146 -8.5
Total Ford Motor
Company 211,150 244,021 -13.5 377,985 449,692 -15.9
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 70,951 90,938 -22.0 126,793 173,648 -27.0
Trucks 140,199 153,083 -8.4 251,192 276,044 -9.0
Total Ford Motor
Company 211,150 244,021 -13.5 377,985 449,692 -15.9
FORD BRAND FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
Crown Victoria 4,556 5,987 -23.9 9,980 11,187 -10.8
Five Hundred 6,601 8,073 -18.2 10,127 15,236 -33.5
Taurus 0 16,916 -100.0 0 31,571 -100.0
Fusion 13,359 9,143 46.1 23,888 19,142 24.8
Focus 14,737 13,628 8.1 22,772 26,080 -12.7
Mustang 10,772 13,367 -19.4 19,836 24,575 -19.3
Thunderbird 0 225 -100.0 0 469 -100.0
GT 169 194 -12.9 231 351 -34.2
Total Ford Cars 50,194 67,533 -25.7 86,834 128,611 -32.5
Escape 14,388 15,583 -7.7 22,796 26,593 -14.3
Edge 7,977 0 NA 13,563 0 NA
Freestyle 3,469 6,035 -42.5 5,480 10,764 -49.1
Explorer 12,971 17,559 -26.1 21,847 29,559 -26.1
Expedition 7,501 7,292 2.9 13,644 12,608 8.2
Excursion 0 325 -100.0 0 715 -100.0
Freestar 502 5,599 -91.0 1,574 11,345 -86.1
Econoline/Club Wagon 14,540 14,269 1.9 27,061 23,270 16.3
Ranger 5,850 6,383 -8.4 10,502 12,569 -16.4
F-Series 55,251 62,862 -12.1 100,170 115,633 -13.4
Low Cab Forward 195 297 -34.3 415 518 -19.9
Heavy Trucks 956 1,109 -13.8 1,914 2,073 -7.7
Total Ford Trucks 123,600 137,313 -10.0 218,966 245,647 -10.9
Total Ford Brand 173,794 204,846 -15.2 305,800 374,258 -18.3
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
Grand Marquis 4,413 6,262 -29.5 8,466 10,702 -20.9
Montego 1,480 1,896 -21.9 2,670 3,882 -31.2
Milan 2,896 2,371 22.1 5,558 4,394 26.5
Total Mercury Cars 8,789 10,529 -16.5 16,694 18,978 -12.0
Town Car 3,694 3,282 12.6 6,818 5,865 16.2
LS 0 1,074 -100.0 0 1,947 -100.0
MKZ 2,263 1,874 20.8 4,472 4,566 -2.1
Total Lincoln Cars 5,957 6,230 -4.4 11,290 12,378 -8.8
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 14,746 16,759 -12.0 27,984 31,356 -10.8
Mariner 2,685 3,031 -11.4 5,318 5,033 5.7
Mountaineer 2,225 1,969 13.0 4,116 3,966 3.8
Monterey 144 421 -65.8 319 754 -57.7
Total Mercury Trucks 5,054 5,421 -6.8 9,753 9,753 0.0
MKX 2,310 0 NA 4,009 0 NA
Navigator 1,847 1,959 -5.7 3,635 3,589 1.3
Aviator 0 500 -100.0 0 1,036 -100.0
Mark LT 649 1,024 -36.6 1,423 2,055 -30.8
Total Lincoln Trucks 4,806 3,483 38.0 9,067 6,680 35.7
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 9,860 8,904 10.7 18,820 16,433 14.5
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 24,606 25,663 -4.1 46,804 47,789 -2.1
Total Lincoln Brand 10,763 9,713 10.8 20,357 19,058 6.8
Total Mercury Brand 13,843 15,950 -13.2 26,447 28,731 -7.9
JAGUAR BRAND FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
XJ 351 429 -18.2 735 894 -17.8
S-TYPE 276 611 -54.8 586 1,189 -50.7
X-TYPE 246 483 -49.1 515 915 -43.7
XK 318 139 128.8 745 260 186.5
Total Jaguar 1,191 1,662 -28.3 2,581 3,258 -20.8
VOLVO BRAND FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
S40 2,101 1,821 15.4 3,472 3,773 -8.0
V50 223 321 -30.5 418 700 -40.3
S60 1,440 1,866 -22.8 2,675 3,930 -31.9
V70 221 383 -42.3 478 832 -42.5
XC70 1,095 894 22.5 1,950 1,916 1.8
C70 255 47 442.6 640 74 764.9
S80 580 546 6.2 1,711 1,114 53.6
XC90 2,538 2,519 0.8 4,917 4,902 0.3
Total Volvo 8,453 8,397 0.7 16,261 17,241 -5.7
LAND ROVER BRAND FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. SALES
February Month % February CYTD %
2007 2006 Change 2007 2006 Change
Range Rover 820 854 -4.0 1,750 1,771 -1.2
Range Rover Sport 1,182 1,262 -6.3 2,445 2,662 -8.2
LR3 1,104 1,331 -17.1 2,343 2,700 -13.2
Discovery 0 0 NA 0 0 NA
Freelander 0 6 -100.0 1 13 -92.3
Total Land Rover 3,106 3,453 -10.0 6,539 7,146 -8.5