Fewer Daily Rental, Discontinued Models, and Super Duty Launch Lower Ford Sales 11% in January
4 February 1998
Fewer Daily Rental, Discontinued Models, and Super Duty Launch Lower Ford Sales 11% in January
DETROIT, Feb. 4 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased 250,087
cars and trucks from Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers in January, 11
percent lower than a year ago. Lower car sales to daily rental accounts, the
impact of five discontinued vehicles, and the launch of the all-new F-Series
Super Duty were the major causal factors for the decline.
Car sales totaled 102,712, down 11 percent from a year ago. The decline
in car sales reflected lower sales to daily rental customers and lower sales
of discontinued models (Ford Thunderbird, Probe, and Aspire, and Mercury
Cougar). Retail sales of Ford and Lincoln-Mercury continuing cars were 17
percent higher than a year ago -- the third consecutive monthly increase. As
a result, Ford announced plans to increase First Quarter car production by
20,000 units.
"We're pleased with the trend that we've seen in retail car sales since
the introduction of the 1998 models," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice
president of marketing, sales, and service. "Our new cars, and the enhanced
value throughout our car lineup, appear to be getting a favorable reception
from consumers." The all-new Lincoln Town Car and Continental and the
redesigned Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis posted higher retail
sales in January as did the Ford Mustang, Escort, and Contour.
Ford truck sales posted an unusual decline in January. Truck sales
totaled 147,375, down ten percent from a year ago. This January, lower Ford
truck production and lower minivan sales (including the impact of the
discontinued Aerostar) contributed to the decline. In January, Ford's North
American truck production was 21 percent lower than a year ago, reflecting
primarily the launch of the all-new F-Series Super Duty at the Kentucky Truck
Plant and downtime at the Oakville (Ontario) Assembly Plant to prepare for the
launch of the 1999-model Windstar. Last January, Ford posted a 13 percent
increase in truck sales and set an industry record.
"We expected truck sales to be adversely affected in the near term by the
Super Duty launch at Kentucky," said Rewey. "The launch of this important
addition to our F-Series lineup is progressing extremely well; we expect to
begin three-crew operations on April 6."
Commenting on January sales and the outlook for 1998, Rewey said, "We've
learned that you can't put a lot of emphasis on one month's results. Taking a
longer term view provides a much better picture of the underlying sales trend,
which has been remarkably stable over the last four years."
"Solid growth, rising employment and wages, and low inflation have been
the cornerstone of healthy consumer demand over this period," continued Rewey.
"We expect 1998 industry sales will be somewhere in the 15.0 to 15.5 million
range again."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JANUARY SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES * 250,087 280,282 -10.8% 250,087 280,282 -10.8%
TOTAL CARS * 102,712 115,795 -11.3 102,712 115,795 -11.3
TOTAL TRUCKS 147,375 164,487 -10.4 147,375 164,487 -10.4
memo:
Domestic Cars 101,761 113,936 -10.7% 101,761 113,936 -10.7%
Imported Cars * 951 1,859 -48.8 951 1,859 -48.8
Light Trucks 145,139 161,416 -10.1 145,139 161,416 -10.1
Heavy Trucks 2,236 3,071 -27.2 2,236 3,071 -27.2
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 26 26 26
* 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 JANUARY SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Crown Victoria 7,325 10,029 -27.0% 7,325 10,029 -27.0%
Thunderbird 888 5,400 -83.6 888 5,400 -83.6
Taurus 19,881 32,776 -39.3 19,881 32,776 -39.3
Contour 9,684 10,332 -6.3 9,684 10,332 -6.3
Escort 20,288 14,705 38.0 20,288 14,705 38.0
Aspire 951 1,859 -48.8 951 1,859 -48.8
Mustang 8,629 5,851 47.5 8,629 5,851 47.5
Probe 542 1,318 -58.9 542 1,318 -58.9
TOTAL FORD CARS 68,188 82,270 -17.1% 68,188 82,270 -17.1%
Expedition/
Bronco 14,235 17,372 -18.1% 14,235 17,372 -18.1%
Explorer 27,186 28,755 -5.5 27,186 28,755 -5.5
Econoline/Club
Wagon 12,098 12,686 -4.6 12,098 12,686 -4.6
Aerostar 502 4,704 -89.3 502 4,704 -89.3
Windstar 9,863 13,746 -28.2 9,863 13,746 -28.2
Ranger 20,913 21,717 -3.7 20,913 21,717 -3.7
F-Series 51,467 55,235 -6.8 51,467 55,235 -6.8
TOTAL FORD LT.
TRUCKS 136,264 154,215 -11.6% 136,264 154,215 -11.6%
Heavy Trucks 2,236 3,071 -27.2 2,236 3,071 -27.2
TOTAL FORD DIV.
TRUCKS 138,500 157,286 -11.9% 138,500 157,286 -11.9%
FORD DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 206,688 239,556 -13.7% 206,688 239,556 -13.7%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 26 26 26
CONTACT: Brenda Hines, Ford Division, 313-446-7736
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION JANUARY SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Grand Marquis 9,994 6,686 49.5% 9,994 6,686 49.5%
Cougar 1,002 2,493 -59.8 1,002 2,493 -59.8
Sable 6,194 7,490 -17.3 6,194 7,490 -17.3
Mystique 2,935 4,631 -36.6 2,935 4,631 -36.6
Tracer 2,772 2,988 -7.2 2,772 2,988 -7.2
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 22,897 24,288 -5.7% 22,897 24,288 -5.7%
Town Car 7,732 5,907 30.9 7,732 5,907 30.9
Mark VIII 936 1,015 -7.8 936 1,015 -7.8
Continental 2,959 2,315 27.8 2,959 2,315 27.8
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 11,627 9,237 25.9% 11,627 9,237 25.9%
L-M TOTAL CARS 34,524 33,525 3.0% 34,524 33,525 3.0%
Villager 2,481 3,566 -30.4% 2,481 3,566 -30.4%
Mountaineer 3,205 3,635 -11.8 3,205 3,635 -11.8
Navigator 3,189 0 NA(a) 3,189 0 NA(a)
L-M LIGHT TRUCKS 8,875 7,201 23.2% 8,875 7,201 23.2%
L-M DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 43,399 40,726 6.6% 43,399 40,726 6.6%
Memo: Total Lincoln
Brand 14,816 9,237 60.4% 14,816 9,237 60.4%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
(a) Lincoln Navigator's public introduction date was July 1, 1997.
Selling Days 26 26 26 26
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Lincoln-Mercury Division, 313-446-4368
SOURCE Ford Motor Company