Ford's February U.S. Sales Down 0.5%
4 March 1998
Ford's February U.S. Sales Down 0.5%
DETROIT, March 4 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased
294,110 new cars and trucks from Ford , Mercury, and Lincoln dealers
in February, down 0.5% from a year ago. Excluding the six cars and trucks
that were discontinued last year, Ford sales improved 5.5% compared with the
same month a year ago.
Both car and truck sales were little changed from last February. Car
sales totaled 132,089, up 2.4% from a year ago (sales of continuing cars were
up 11.9%). Truck sales totaled 162,021, down 2.8% from a year ago (sales of
continuing trucks were up 0.8%).
"February was a good month for the U.S. industry and for Ford," said Bob
Rewey, Ford's group vice president of marketing, sales, and service,
"especially considering last year's strong sales pace."
The seasonally-adjusted annual selling rate for the U.S. car and truck
industry in the First Quarter of 1997 was 15.9 million (including 300,000
medium and heavy trucks). For the full year 1997, combined car and truck
sales totaled 15.5 million.
Among the highlights for the month were strong sales for the Ford Mustang
and the Lincoln brand. Mustang sales were almost 50% higher than a year ago,
the eighth consecutive monthly increase. Since the beginning of the 1998
model year in October, Mustang sales are up 30% compared with the same period
a year ago.
"We've asked the employees at the Dearborn Assembly Plant to take
production up a notch in the coming weeks," explained Rewey. "Springtime,
graduations, and Mustang have gone together since 1964, so our dealers want to
make sure they're ready."
In February, total Lincoln sales were up 76% compared with a year ago,
thanks to outstanding customer acceptance of the new Town Car and Continental
sedans and Navigator sport utility vehicle. In the 1998 model year, Lincoln
sales are 48% higher than a year ago.
Ford's truck lineup was strengthened on February 26 with the addition of
the all-new F-Series Super Duty pickup. "One of the many new features on this
truck is a four-door Super Cab model," said Rewey. "By October, all of our
pickup customers will be able to benefit from the versatility provided by this
feature, because it will be available on the Ford Ranger, our compact pickup,
later this spring and the F-Series Light Duty pickup in the fall."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY FEBRUARY SALES
February Month DSR % February CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES * 294,110 295,615 -0.5% 544,197 575,897 -5.5%
TOTAL CARS * 132,089 128,945 2.4 234,801 244,740 -4.1
TOTAL TRUCKS 162,021 166,670 -2.8 309,396 331,157 -6.6
memo:
Domestic Cars 131,243 126,660 3.6% 233,004 240,596 -3.2%
Imported Cars * 846 2,285 -63.0 1,797 4,144 -56.6
Light Trucks 160,329 163,117 -1.7 305,468 324,533 -5.9
Heavy Trucks 1,692 3,553 -52.4 3,928 6,624 -40.7
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 24 24 50 50
* These figures exclude sales of Jaguar Cars, a wholly-owned Ford
subsidiary, which reports its results separately.
FORD DIVISION FEBRUARY SALES
February Month DSR % February CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Crown Victoria 9,634 10,061 -4.2% 16,959 20,090 -15.6%
Thunderbird* 548 6,415 -91.5 1,436 11,815 -87.8
Taurus 34,109 26,651 28.0 53,990 59,427 -9.1
Contour 15,773 10,985 43.6 25,457 21,317 19.4
Escort 21,716 25,464 -14.7 42,004 40,169 4.6
Aspire* 846 2,285 -63.0 1,797 4,144 -56.6
Mustang 11,838 7,950 48.9 20,467 13,801 48.3
Probe* 505 1,362 -62.9 1,047 2,680 -60.9
TOTAL FORD CARS 94,969 91,173 4.2% 163,157 173,443 -5.9%
Expedition/Bronco 15,289 9,546 60.2% 29,524 26,918 9.7%
Explorer 27,623 28,844 -4.2 54,809 57,599 -4.8
Econoline/Club
Wagon 15,112 11,468 31.8 27,210 24,154 12.7
Aerostar* 310 4,410 -93.0 812 9,114 -91.1
Windstar 16,160 16,152 0.0 26,023 29,898 -13.0
Ranger 23,014 23,892 -3.7 43,927 45,609 -3.7
F-Series 53,547 60,157 -11.0 105,014 115,392 -9.0
TOTAL FORD LT.
TRUCKS 151,055 154,469 -2.2% 287,319 308,684 -6.9%
Heavy Trucks* 1,692 3,553 -52.4 3,928 6,624 -40.7
TOTAL FORD DIV.
TRUCKS 152,747 158,022 -3.3% 291,247 315,308 -7.6%
FORD DIVISION
TOTAL 247,716 249,195 -0.6% 454,404 488,751 -7.0%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
* Vehicle Discontinued in 1997
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION FEBRUARY SALES
February Month DSR % February CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Grand Marquis 9,633 7,618 26.5% 19,627 14,304 37.2%
Cougar* 737 3,148 -76.6 1,739 5,641 -69.2
Sable 8,483 10,148 -16.4 14,677 17,638 -16.8
Mystique 2,823 2,924 -3.5 5,758 7,555 -23.8
Tracer 2,699 4,751 -43.2 5,471 7,739 -29.3
TOTAL MERCURY CARS 24,375 28,589 -14.7% 47,272 52,877 -10.6%
Town Car 8,609 6,029 42.8 16,341 11,936 36.9
Mark VIII 1,004 1,156 -13.1 1,940 2,171 -10.6
Continental 3,132 1,998 56.8 6,091 4,313 41.2
TOTAL LINCOLN CARS 12,745 9,183 38.8% 24,372 18,420 32.3%
L-M TOTAL CARS 37,120 37,772 -1.7% 71,644 71,297 0.5%
Villager 2,596 4,867 -46.7% 5,077 8,433 -39.8%
Mountaineer 3,254 3,781 -13.9 6,459 7,416 -12.9
Navigator 3,424 0 NA@ 6,613 0 NA@
L-M LIGHT TRUCKS 9,274 8,648 7.2% 18,149 15,849 14.5%
L-M DIVISION TOTAL 46,394 46,420 0.1% 89,793 87,146 3.0%
Memo: Total Lincoln
Brand 16,169 9,183 76.1% 30,985 18,420 68.2%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
@ Lincoln Navigator's public introduction date was July 1, 1997.
* Vehicle Discontinued in 1997
SOURCE Ford Motor Company