Ford Announces August Sales
4 September 1997
Customers Boost Ford's August U.S. Sales 3.4%; Third Quarter Production Increased 25,000 Units
DETROIT, Sept. 4 -- Customers took delivery of 300,142 cars
and trucks from Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the month of
August, up 3.4 percent from August 1996. With a third consecutive month of
higher sales, and a continued favorable economic outlook, Ford announced plans
to increase third quarter production by 25,000 units -- 15,000 cars and 10,000
trucks.
"We continue to be optimistic about the sales outlook for the remainder of
this year and into next year," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president of
marketing, sales, and service. "After consumers paused to catch their breath
in the second quarter, they're back in the market. For the first time in
nearly a year, the auto industry has achieved back-to-back monthly sales
increases."
Car sales of 126,496 were 3.5 percent lower than a year ago. Among
individual car lines, the Ford Crown Victoria, Contour, Mustang, and Aspire,
Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car had sales increases. Lincoln
(including the all-new Navigator) had its best August sales since 1990 and
topped the 15,000 sales mark for the third month in a row.
"Despite this month's small decline, our overall car sales have picked up
noticeably in recent months," said Rewey. "A lack of availability from
strengthening sales, and later-than-normal production launch dates for several
1998 model cars, may limit sales potential in the near-term. Looking forward,
however, we're more confident about the prospects for improved car sales."
Truck sales of 173,646 were up 9.2% -- the twelfth consecutive monthly
increase -- and set a record for the month of August.
Pointing to the latest surveys of consumer confidence, which have been
near record levels for the last four months, Rewey noted that "consumer
spending should be strong for the next several months. That is not to say
that year-to-year comparisons will be favorable every month, but we look for
solid industry sales in the foreseeable future."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY AUGUST SALES
August Month DSR % August CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES * 300,142 301,306 3.4% 2,630,476 2,649,363 0.3%
TOTAL CARS * 126,496 136,177 -3.5 1,113,409 1,207,556 -6.9
TOTAL TRUCKS 173,646 165,129 9.2 1,517,067 1,441,807 6.2
memo:
Light Trucks 170,491 161,549 9.6% 1,487,608 1,409,713 6.6%
Heavy Trucks 3,155 3,580 -8.5 29,459 32,094 -7.3
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 27 205 207
* 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 AUGUST SALES
August Month DSR % August CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Crown Victoria 7,987 7,386 12.3% 77,125 78,658 -1.0%
Thunderbird 6,159 7,338 -12.8 52,671 57,110 -6.9
Taurus 24,270 25,570 -1.4 231,696 250,212 -6.5
Contour 10,754 10,487 6.5 111,168 129,824 -13.5
Escort 22,515 26,950 -13.2 200,053 208,354 -3.0
Aspire 3,290 2,067 65.3 26,776 30,144 -10.3
Mustang 10,786 10,482 6.9 79,952 91,909 -12.2
Probe 1,425 2,549 -41.9 13,266 23,930 -44.0
TOTAL FORD CARS 87,186 92,829 -2.5% 792,707 870,141 -8.0%
Expedition/
Bronco 13,845 2,587 455.8% 136,727 26,133 428.3%
Explorer 29,400 27,615 10.6 249,750 264,996 -4.8
Econoline/
Club Wagon 13,336 10,110 37.0 129,321 123,869 5.4
Aerostar 3,613 6,474 -42.0 39,311 54,849 -27.6
Windstar 15,361 18,178 -12.2 147,146 144,714 2.7
Ranger 26,470 28,601 -3.9 200,615 202,136 0.2
F-Series 54,930 58,095 -1.8 503,278 534,932 -5.0
TOTAL FORD LT.
TRUCKS 156,955 151,660 7.5% 1,406,148 1,351,629 5.0%
Heavy Trucks 3,155 3,580 -8.5 29,459 32,094 -7.3
TOTAL FORD
DIV. TRUCKS 160,110 155,240 7.1% 1,435,607 1,383,723 4.8%
FORD DIVISION TOTAL
VEHICLES 247,296 248,069 3.5% 2,228,314 2,253,864 -0.2%
NOTE: Percent changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 27 205 207
CONTACT: Brenda Hines, Ford Division, 313-446-7736
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION AUGUST SALES
August Month DSR % August CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Grand Marquis 10,100 9,728 7.8% 71,686 65,966 9.7%
Cougar 3,196 3,665 -9.4 22,300 25,740 -12.5
Sable 7,213 7,916 -5.4 78,328 79,153 -0.1
Mystique 2,064 5,041 -57.5 28,294 41,178 -30.6
Tracer 3,891 4,403 -8.2 32,672 35,154 -6.2
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 26,464 30,753 -10.6% 233,280 247,191 -4.7%
Town Car 8,358 7,729 12.3 58,160 61,206 -4.0
Mark VIII 1,542 1,676 -4.5 10,206 10,297 0.1
Continental 2,946 3,190 -4.1 19,056 18,721 2.8
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 12,846 12,595 5.9% 87,422 90,224 -2.2%
L-M TOTAL CARS 39,310 43,348 -5.8% 320,702 337,415 -4.0%
Villager 5,229 6,587 -17.6% 40,984 46,545 -11.1%
Mountaineer 4,193 3,302 31.9 30,307 11,539 165.2@
Navigator 4,114 0 NA 10,169 0 NA
L-M LIGHT TRUCKS 13,536 9,889 42.1% 81,460 58,084 41.6%
L-M DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 52,846 53,237 3.1% 402,162 395,499 2.7%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
@ Mercury Mountaineer's public introduction date was May 23, 1996.
Selling Days 26 27 205 207
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Lincoln-Mercury Division, 313-446-4368
SOURCE Ford Motor Company