Ford's July U.S. Sales Off 4% From Last Year's Record
5 August 1998
Ford's July U.S. Sales Off 4% From Last Year's Record; Truck Sales Up 5% to New Industry Record
DETROIT, Aug. 4 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased
343,183 cars and trucks from Ford , Mercury, Lincoln, and Jaguar
dealers in July, down 4.3% from last year's record sales month. Lower sales
to daily rental and other fleet customers more than account for the decline.
Truck sales increased 5.2% to 214,235 -- a new industry record for July. Car
sales declined 16.8% to 128,948.
"We're pleased that July sales held up well," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group
vice president of marketing, sales, and service. "Understandably, consumers
weren't able to sustain the blistering pace that was set in May and June, but
July sales continued to be strong, particularly for trucks."
U.S. customers kept Ford's pickups and sport utility vehicles No. 1 in the
market. In July, over 80,000 customers took delivery of a new Ford F-Series
pickup, breaking a sales record that had stood for 20 years. F-Series sales
were up 25 percent from a year ago. With five months still remaining in 1998,
almost half a million U.S. customers have purchased Ford's versatile, "built
tough", full-size pickup. Ranger, Ford's tough compact pickup, also had a
strong month with sales of 28,056, up five percent from a year ago. One out
of every five Ford Rangers purchased in July was a four-door Super Cab -- a
feature that went into production in April.
Consumers also purchased a record number of both the Ford Explorer and
Expedition in July. Explorer sales of 35,096 were up three percent and
Expedition sales of 20,271 were up 28 percent. In 1998, over 400,000
customers have selected an Explorer, Expedition, Mercury Mountaineer or
Lincoln Navigator to meet the demands of their active lifestyles.
"Quality products that offer consumers go-anywhere, do-anything
versatility and great value are driving the market," said Rewey. "These
attributes are the imperatives for almost every Ford Motor Company product on
the road, and on the drawing board."
Of course, for some vehicles, versatility has to ride in the back seat.
In July, the all-new Mercury Cougar, with its unique "edge" styling, was on
the prowl -- and set a new sales record. "The Cougar is creating a huge stir
in Mercury showrooms," said Rewey. "Our Mercury dealers haven't seen this
many Gen-Xers since ... well, ever. Cougar embodies the distinctive product
design and focus underlying Lincoln Mercury's move to its new California
headquarters."
Ford Division's two-door coupes also were hot sellers in July. Mustang
sales increased for the 13th month in a row and Escort ZX2 had its second best
sales month ever.
Customers took delivery of 1,867 Jaguars in July, up 24 percent from a
year ago. In the first seven months of 1998, Jaguar sales were up 18 percent.
In a move related to July's strong sales to retail customers, Ford
increased its third quarter North American production schedules by 10,000
vehicles.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JULY SALES
(Including Jaguar Cars)
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 343,183 358,566 -4.3% 2,323,045 2,340,978 -0.8%
TOTAL CARS 128,948 154,915 -16.8 949,781 997,557 -4.8
TOTAL TRUCKS 214,235 203,651 5.2 1,373,264 1,343,421 2.2
memo:
Domestic Cars 127,081 147,720 -14.0% 932,308 963,427 -3.2%
Imported Cars 1,867 7,195 -74.1 17,473 34,130 -48.8
Light Trucks 213,261 200,342 6.4 1,362,911 1,317,117 3.5
Heavy Trucks 974 3,309 -70.6 10,353 26,304 -60.6
(Excluding Jaguar Cars)
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 341,316 357,058 -4.4% 2,310,489 2,330,334 -0.9%
TOTAL CARS 127,081 153,407 -17.2 937,225 986,913 -5.0
TOTAL TRUCKS 214,235 203,651 5.2 1,373,264 1,343,421 2.2
memo:
Domestic Cars 127,081 147,720 -14.0% 932,308 963,427 -3.2%
Imported Cars 0 5,687 -100.0 4,917 23,486 -79.1
Light Trucks 213,261 200,342 6.4 1,362,911 1,317,117 3.5
Heavy Trucks 974 3,309 -70.6 10,353 26,304 -60.6
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 26 179 179
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-446-9195
FORD DIVISION JULY SALES
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Crown Victoria 10,193 9,125 11.7% 71,723 69,138 3.7%
Thunderbird 0 8,074 -100.0 2,243 46,512 -95.2
Taurus 26,936 29,495 -8.7 223,037 207,426 7.5
Contour 12,356 16,197 -23.7 91,270 100,414 -9.1
Escort 28,244 27,951 1.0 179,316 177,538 1.0
Aspire 0 5,687 -100.0 4,917 23,486 -79.1
Mustang 13,110 12,342 6.2 88,399 69,166 27.8
Probe 0 2,479 -100.0 3,058 11,841 -74.2
TOTAL FORD CARS 90,839 111,350 -18.4% 663,963 705,521 -5.9%
Expedition/Bronco 20,271 15,802 28.3% 119,834 122,882 -2.5%
Explorer 35,096 34,005 3.2 233,879 220,350 6.1
Econoline/
Club Wagon 18,546 17,313 7.1 126,211 115,985 8.8
Aerostar 0 5,882 -100.0 1,060 35,698 -97.0
Windstar 19,049 22,546 -15.5 128,092 131,785 -2.8
Ranger 28,056 26,707 5.1 194,146 174,145 11.5
F-Series 81,133 64,995 24.8 484,173 448,348 8.0
TOTAL FORD
LT. TRUCKS 202,151 187,250 8.0% 1,287,395 1,249,193 3.1%
Heavy Trucks 974 3,309 -70.6 10,353 26,304 -60.6
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 203,125 190,559 6.6% 1,297,748 1,275,497 1.7%
TOTAL FORD
VEHICLES 293,964 301,909 -2.6% 1,961,711 1,981,018 -1.0%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-446-7730
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION JULY SALES
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Grand Marquis 8,324 9,816 -15.2% 68,155 61,586 10.7%
Cougar (RWD) 0 2,821 -100.0 2,751 19,104 -85.6
Cougar (FWD) 4,220 0 NA 11,392 0 NA
Sable 7,309 10,710 -31.8 61,334 71,115 -13.8
Mystique 2,647 3,321 -20.3 23,930 26,230 -8.8
Tracer 2,828 3,933 -28.1 21,521 28,781 -25.2
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 25,328 30,601 -17.2% 189,083 206,816 -8.6%
Town Car 7,073 7,838 -9.8 55,962 49,802 12.4
Mark VIII 1,077 1,364 -21.0 8,439 8,664 -2.6
Continental 2,764 2,254 22.6 19,778 16,110 22.8
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 10,914 11,456 -4.7% 84,179 74,576 12.9%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 36,242 42,057 -13.8% 273,262 281,392 -2.9%
Villager 4,369 5,378 -18.8% 23,673 35,755 -33.8%
Mountaineer 3,692 4,021 -8.2 27,913 26,114 6.9
TOTAL MERCURY
LT. TRUCKS 8,061 9,399 -14.2% 51,586 61,869 -16.6%
Navigator 3,049 3,693 -17.4 23,930 6,055 295.2
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
LT. TRUCKS 11,110 13,092 -15.1% 75,516 67,924 11.2%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 47,352 55,149 -14.1% 348,778 349,316 -0.2%
Memo: Total
Lincoln Vehicles 13,963 15,149 -7.8% 108,109 80,631 34.1%
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Mercury and Lincoln, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR CARS JULY SALES
July Month DSR % July CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
XJ6/8 670 497 34.8% 3,618 2,245 61.2%
XJ6/8 L 198 172 15.1 1,789 2,142 -16.5
Vanden Plas 338 194 74.2 2,632 1,625 62.0
XJR 185 30 516.7 878 300 192.7
XJ12 0 1 -100.0 0 44 -100.0
XJS 0 1 -100.0 0 48 -100.0
XK8 - Coupe 53 90 -41.1 417 686 -39.2
XK8 - Convertible 423 523 -19.1 3,222 3,554 -9.3
TOTAL JAGUAR CARS 1,867 1,508 23.8% 12,556 10,644 18.0%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537