Ford Announces June Sales
3 July 1997
Customers Boost Ford Car Sales Four Percent and Truck Sales Five Percent
DETROIT, July 3 -- Ford Motor Company reported that
361,802 cars and trucks were delivered to customers by its Ford and Lincoln-
Mercury dealers in the month of June. Total vehicle sales were up 4.5 percent
compared with a year ago, with a balanced performance from cars (up 4.2
percent) and trucks (up 4.8 percent).
While June was the first month this year that Ford car sales were above
year-ago levels, Ford truck sales have increased 10 consecutive months
(including record June sales of 200,857), with sport utility vehicles leading
the way.
"Although consumers continue to express preference for our sport
utilities, pickups, and minivans, we're encouraged by their response to our
strong overall line up -- from Escort, including the all-new sporty ZX2 coupe,
to the all-new Lincoln Navigator," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president
of marketing, sales and service.
"Anticipating customer needs and wants makes this business especially
interesting and challenging," said Rewey. "I believe that Ford is in a unique
position to capitalize on any changes in consumer preferences. Each of the
cars and trucks in Ford's broad product line is at or near the top of its
class in product quality, safety, and sales."
On July 1, the Lincoln Navigator joined Ford's industry-leading sport
utility vehicles. It is the first of three new vehicles that will arrive in
Lincoln showrooms before the end of the year. To date, Ford has received over
14,000 Navigator orders.
"Navigator offers Lincoln dealers the opportunity to expand their
offerings to customers beyond the traditional luxury car buyer," said Rewey.
"The Lincoln franchise will be strengthened further when the all-new Lincoln
Town Car and redesigned Continental are introduced later this year."
The mid-point of the 1997 calendar year provides a good opportunity to
assess the automotive market. "Industry sales got off to a fast start this
year," said Rewey.
"The seasonally-adjusted rate of sales in the first quarter was almost 16
million, but the second quarter sales rate was about 15 million, causing some
observers to sound the alarm. I think you have to be careful about jumping to
conclusions based on month-to-month (or even quarter-to-quarter) variations.
Since December 1995, the six-month moving average for U.S. industry sales
consistently has been in the mid-15 million range. All of the economic and
consumer data that we have seen suggests this sales level will continue in the
second half of 1997."
In the first six months of 1997, consumers purchased or leased 1,973,276
car and trucks from Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers. Compared with the same
six-month period a year ago, the total sales were just 1.0 percent lower, with
cars down 7.7 percent and trucks up 4.5 percent.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JUNE SALES
June Month DSR % June CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES * 361,802 346,102 4.5% 1,973,276 2,006,866 -1.0%
TOTAL CARS * 160,945 154,44 4.2 833,506 909,269 -7.7
TOTAL TRUCKS 200,857 191,656 4.8 1,139,770 1,097,597 4.5
memo:
Domestic Cars 156,715 150,644 4.0% 884,375 904,103 -7.2%
Imported Cars * 4,230 3,802 11.3 17,799 24,894 -28.0
Light Trucks 196,796 187,117 5.2 1,116,775 1,073,787 4.7
Heavy Trucks 4,061 4,539 -10.5 22,995 23,810 -2.8
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 25 25 153 154
* These figures exclude sales of Jaguar Cars, a wholly-owned Ford
subsidiary, which reports its results separately.
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-446-9195
FORD DIVISION JUNE SALES
June Month DSR % June CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Crown Victoria 10,578 9,676 9.3% 60,013 60,753 -0.6%
Thunderbird 7,157 6,298 13.6 38,438 42,606 -9.2
Taurus 31,968 29,107 9.8 177,931 191,263 -6.4
Contour 18,472 16,031 15.2 84,217 101,988 -16.9
Escort 31,076 30,094 3.3 149,587 150,618 -0.0
Aspire 4,230 3,802 11.3 17,799 24,894 -28.0
Mustang 10,844 12,382 -12.4 56,824 69,140 -17.3
Probe 1,623 2,864 -43.3 9,362 17,916 -47.4
TOTAL FORD CARS 115,948 110,254 5.2% 594,171 659,178 -9.3%
Expedition/
Bronco 18,770 2,845 559.8% 107,080 20,917 415.3%
Explorer 33,675 33,354 1.0 186,345 207,358 -9.5
Econoline/Club
Wagon 18,369 17,392 5.6 98,672 97,933 1.4
Aerostar 5,555 6,830 -18.7 29,816 39,558 -24.1
Windstar 19,431 20,861 -6.9 109,239 105,995 3.7
Ranger 23,066 26,747 -13.8 147,438 148,210 0.1
F-Series 66,140 69,592 -5.0 383,353 415,329 -7.1
TOTAL FORD LT.
TRUCKS 185,006 177,621 4.2% 1,061,943 1,035,300 3.2%
Heavy Trucks 4,061 4,539 -10.5 22,995 23,810 -2.8
TOTAL FORD DIV.
TRUCKS 189,067 182,160 3.8% 1,084,938 1,059,110 3.1%
FORD DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 305,015 292,414 4.3% 1,679,109 1,718,288 -1.6%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 25 25 153 154
CONTACT: Brenda Hines, Ford Division, 313-446-7736
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION JUNE SALES
June Month DSR % June CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Grand Marquis 9,214 8,289 11.2% 51,770 48,102 8.3%
Cougar 2,574 3,142 -18.1 16,283 18,674 -12.2
Sable 12,172 10,413 16.9 60,405 60,581 0.4
Mystique 3,141 5,990 -47.6 22,909 31,251 -26.2
Tracer 4,665 5,784 -19.3 24,848 25,130 -0.5
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 31,766 33,618 -5.5% 176,215 183,738 -3.5%
Town Car 9,368 7,323 27.9 41,964 45,940 -8.1
Mark VIII 1,414 1,044 35.4 7,300 7,293 0.8
Continental 2,449 2,207 11.0 13,856 13,120 6.3
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 13,231 10,574 25.1% 63,120 66,353 -4.3%
L-M TOTAL CARS 44,997 44,192 1.8% 239,335 250,091 -3.7%
Villager 5,634 6,791 -17.0% 30,377 33,445 -8.6%
Mountaineer 3,794 2,705 40.3 22,093 5,042 341.0@
Navigator 2,362 0 0.0 2,362 0 0.0
L-M LIGHT
TRUCKS 11,790 9,496 24.2% 54,832 38,487 43.4%
L-M DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 56,787 53,688 5.8% 294,167 288,578 2.6%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
@ Mercury Mountaineer's public introduction date was May 23, 1996.
Selling Days 25 25 153 154
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Lincoln-Mercury Division, 313-446-4368
SOURCE Ford Motor Company