Ford Reports July Sales
5 August 1997
Customers Drive Ford to July U.S. Sales Record; Third Quarter Production Increased 30,000 Units
DETROIT, Aug. 5 -- The mid-summer heat is on at Ford and
Lincoln-Mercury dealerships, where U.S. consumers purchased or leased an all-
time record 357,058 cars and trucks in July. The record sales and a favorable
economic outlook moved Ford to increase its third quarter production schedules
by 30,000 units -- 15,000 cars and 15,000 trucks.
Combined car and truck sales were up five percent from last July, breaking
the previous record for the month set in 1978. Truck sales were up 14 percent
-- the eleventh consecutive monthly increase. Car sales were five percent
lower than a year ago, but there were continued signs of strengthening sales
to individual retail customers.
"Obviously, we're delighted by our continuing success in trucks," said Bob
Rewey, Ford's group vice president of marketing, sales, and service. "Not so
obvious is that our car sales are picking up -- more than we expected. For
the first time in a long time, dealers are telling us they should have ordered
more cars."
Ford's sport utility vehicles (Ford Explorer and Expedition, Mercury
Mountaineer and Lincoln Navigator) registered impressive sales results (with a
combined sales increase of 60 percent) and almost every truck recorded higher
sales in July. The Explorer and Mountaineer established new sales records for
the month, as did the Ford Windstar minivan. In its first month on sale,
customers made the all-new Lincoln Navigator America's best-selling luxury
sports utility vehicle.
"Our Lincoln dealers are extremely pleased with the showroom traffic that
has been generated by the introduction of the Navigator," said Rewey. "We
expect interest to increase when the all-new Lincoln Town Car and redesigned
Continental appear in dealerships in the coming months."
This month's report card on the economy suggests a continuation of
moderate growth, low unemployment, and low inflation. "The Conference Board's
July survey showed that consumer confidence remains high and that consumers
plan to purchase more big ticket items like autos and appliances," noted
Rewey. "This suggests that 1997's industry sales will be in the mid-15
million range for the fourth consecutive year."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JULY SALES
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES* 357,058 341,191 4.7% 2,330,334 2,348,057 -0.2%
TOTAL CARS* 153,407 162,110 -5.4 986,913 1,071,379 -7.4
TOTAL TRUCKS 203,651 179,081 13.7 1,343,421 1,276,678 5.8
memo:
Light Trucks 200,342 174,377 14.9 1,317,117 1,248,164 6.1
Heavy Trucks 3,309 4,704 -29.7 26,304 28,514 -7.2
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 26 179 180
* 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 JULY SALES
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Crown Victoria 9,125 10,519 -13.3% 69,138 71,272 -2.5%
Thunderbird 8,074 7,166 12.7 46,512 49,772 -6.0
Taurus 29,495 33,379 -11.6 207,426 224,642 -7.1
Contour 16,197 17,349 -6.6 100,414 119,337 -15.4
Escort 27,951 30,786 -9.2 177,538 181,404 -1.6
Aspire 5,687 3,183 78.7 23,486 28,077 -15.9
Mustang 12,342 12,287 0.4 69,166 81,427 -14.6
Probe 2,479 3,465 -28.5 11,841 21,381 -44.3
TOTAL FORD CARS 111,350 118,134 -5.7% 705,521 777,312 -8.7%
Expedition/Bronco 15,802 2,629 501.1% 122,882 23,546 424.8%
Explorer 34,005 30,023 13.3 220,350 237,381 -6.7
Econoline/Club
Wagon 17,313 15,826 9.4 115,985 113,759 2.5
Aerostar 5,882 8,817 -33.3 35,698 48,375 -25.8
Windstar 22,546 20,541 9.8 131,785 126,536 4.7
Ranger 26,707 25,325 5.5 174,145 173,535 0.9
F-Series 64,995 61,508 5.7 448,348 476,837 -5.4
TOTAL FORD
LT. TRUCKS 187,250 164,669 13.7% 1,249,193 1,199,969 4.7%
Heavy Trucks 3,309 4,704 -29.7 26,304 28,514 -7.2
TOTAL FORD
DIV. TRUCKS 190,559 169,373 12.5% 1,275,497 1,228,483 4.4%
FORD DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 301,909 287,507 5.0% 1,981,018 2,005,795 -0.7%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 26 179 180
CONTACT: Brenda Hines, Ford Division, 313-446-7736.
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION JULY SALES
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Grand Marquis 9,816 8,136 20.6% 61,586 56,238 10.1%
Cougar 2,821 3,401 -17.1 19,104 22,075 -13.0
Sable 10,710 10,656 0.5 71,115 71,237 0.4
Mystique 3,321 4,886 -32.0 26,230 36,137 -27.0
Tracer 3,933 5,621 -30.0 28,781 30,751 -5.9
TOTAL MERCURY CARS 30,601 32,700 -6.4% 206,816 216,438 -3.9%
Town Car 7,838 7,537 4.0 49,802 53,477 -6.4
Mark VIII 1,364 1,328 2.7 8,664 8,621 1.1
Continental 2,254 2,411 -6.5 16,110 15,531 4.3
TOTAL LINCOLN CARS 11,456 11,276 1.6% 74,576 77,629 -3.4%
L-M TOTAL CARS 42,057 43,976 -4.4% 281,392 294,067 -3.8%
Villager 5,378 6,513 -17.4% 35,755 39,958 -10.0%
Mountaineer 4,021 3,195 25.9 26,114 8,237 218.8(a)
Navigator 3,693 0 NA 6,055 0 NA
L-M LIGHT TRUCKS 13,092 9,708 34.9% 67,924 48,195 41.7%
L-M DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 55,149 53,684 2.7% 349,316 342,262 2.6%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
(a) Mercury Mountaineer's public introduction date was May 23, 1996.
Selling Days 26 26 179 180
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Lincoln-Mercury Division, 313-446-4368.
SOURCE Ford Motor Company