Ford's September U.S. Sales Up 4%
5 October 1998
Ford's September U.S. Sales Up 4%; Trucks Climb 9% to Fifth Consecutive Record
Strong Demand Lifts Ford Sales to Third Quarter Record
And Higher Fourth Quarter Production
DETROIT, Oct. 5 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 326,941
cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, and Jaguar dealers in September,
up 4.1 percent from a year ago. Truck sales climbed 9.2 percent to 196,707
-- the fifth consecutive month of record truck sales. Cars sales were
130,234, down 2.6 percent.
Continued strong demand from retail customers lifted Ford sales
to a third quarter record. In July, August, and September, Ford U.S. sales
totaled 993,723, up two percent from the previous record of 974,001, which was
set last year.
"These results are quite encouraging," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice
president of marketing, sales, and service. "Third quarter sales have
exceeded our expectations. Our inventories are lean -- less than 60 days'
supply on both cars and trucks -- with a very low mix of 1998 models. Based
on the continuing strength of retail sales and dealer feedback, we've added
20,000 vehicles to our fourth quarter production plan."
In the third quarter, Ford's strategy was to sell down its 1998 models so
that dealer showrooms and lots would have room for the 1999 models, many of
which have lower prices and new features. In August, Ford announced that it
was reducing the price of its 1999-model cars and trucks by an average of 0.3%
-- the first average price reduction in more than 30 years. The largest price
reductions were on the highest volume cars in the Ford and Mercury product
lines -- the Ford Taurus and the Mercury Sable. Among the new features
available on 1999 models include:
* A double five-star safety rating on Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable
sedans and station wagons -- the only mid-size cars in their price
range to have earned the top rating in government front crash tests.
* A complete line of sport utility vehicles (Ford Explorer and
Expedition, Mercury Mountaineer and Lincoln Navigator) certified as
low-emission vehicles (LEVs).
* A complete line of pickups with four-door super cabs -- standard on the
full-size F-Series and optional on the compact Ranger.
* A redesigned Ford Windstar minivan with unmatched safety and
convenience features and also certified as a LEV.
* A redesigned Mercury Villager minivan with standard passenger and
driver-side sliding door, increased capacity, and more powerful V-6
engine.
In September, U.S. customers helped Ford's F-Series pickup celebrate its
50th anniversary by making it America's best-selling vehicle (car or truck)
for 17 model years in a row. September sales of 69,671, up 19 percent from a
year ago, lifted F-Series 1998 model year sales to 807,604, the highest for
any vehicle in 20 years.
Not to be outdone, the Ford Explorer capped off the model year with record
September sales of 41,299, up 41 percent from a year ago. With record model
year sales of 415,362, Explorer outsold its nearest sport utility competitor
by nearly 177,000 units (or 74 percent), and every passenger car in the U.S.
market. The Ford Expedition, America's best-selling full-size sport utility
vehicle, also set a model year record with sales of 216,777.
Lincoln concluded the 1998 model year with sales of 191,508, up 26%.
Jaguar model year sales totaled 22,194, up 16%.
Rewey remains optimistic about the prospect for continued higher retail
sales in the coming months. "The fundamentals that drive auto demand --
income growth along with low interest and unemployment rates -- remain
favorable and consumer confidence is still good."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEPTEMBER SALES
(Including Jaguar Cars)
September Month DSR % September CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 326,941 313,948 4.1% 2,973,585 2,956,412 0.6%
TOTAL CARS 130,234 133,732 -2.6 1,209,542 1,259,129 -3.9
TOTAL TRUCKS 196,707 180,216 9.2 1,764,043 1,697,283 3.9
memo:
Domestic Cars 128,581 129,845 -1.0% 1,188,567 1,216,478 -2.3%
Imported Cars 1,653 3,887 -57.5 20,975 42,651 -50.8
Light Trucks 195,875 177,025 10.6 1,752,080 1,664,633 5.3
Heavy Trucks 832 3,191 -73.9 11,963 32,650 -63.4
(Excluding Jaguar Cars)
September Month DSR % September CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 325,288 312,570 4.1% 2,957,527 2,943,046 0.5%
TOTAL CARS 128,581 132,354 -2.9 1,193,484 1,245,763 -4.2
TOTAL TRUCKS 196,707 180,216 9.2 1,764,043 1,697,283 3.9
memo:
Domestic Cars 128,581 129,845 -1.0% 1,188,567 1,216,478 -2.3%
Imported Cars 0 2,509 -100.0 4,917 29,285 -83.2
Light Trucks 195,875 177,025 10.6 1,752,080 1,664,633 5.3
Heavy Trucks 832 3,191 -73.9 11,963 32,650 -63.4
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 25 25 230 230
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-446-9195
FORD BRAND SEPTEMBER SALES
September Month DSR % September CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Crown Victoria 7,946 9,446 -15.9% 87,294 86,571 0.8%
Thunderbird 0 5,736 -100.0 2,243 58,407 -96.2
Taurus 28,346 30,167 -6.0 283,981 261,863 8.4
Contour 12,355 8,750 41.2 113,136 119,918 -5.7
Escort 28,579 24,584 16.3 235,659 224,637 4.9
Aspire 0 2,509 -100.0 4,917 29,285 -83.2
Mustang 10,321 9,736 6.0 109,566 89,688 22.2
Probe 0 1,191 -100.0 3,058 14,457 -78.8
TOTAL FORD CARS 87,547 92,119 -5.0% 839,854 884,826 -5.1%
Expedition/
Bronco 19,531 19,325 1.1% 158,305 156,052 1.4%
Explorer 41,299 29,293 41.0 310,553 279,043 11.3
Econoline/
Club Wagon 15,925 14,664 8.6 157,990 143,985 9.7
Aerostar 0 2,340 -100.0 1,060 41,651 -97.5
Windstar 9,814 14,418 -31.9 152,191 161,564 -5.8
Ranger 29,092 25,906 12.3 250,811 226,521 10.7
F-Series 69,671 58,778 18.5 623,549 562,056 10.9
TOTAL FORD
LT. TRUCKS 185,332 164,724 12.5% 1,654,459 1,570,872 5.3%
Heavy Trucks 832 3,191 -73.9 11,963 32,650 -63.4
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 186,164 167,915 10.9% 1,666,422 1,603,522 3.9%
TOTAL FORD
VEHICLES 273,711 260,034 5.3% 2,506,276 2,488,348 0.7%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-446-7730
LINCOLN MERCURY BRAND SEPTEMBER SALES
September Month DSR % September CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
Grand Marquis 8,837 10,003 -11.7% 85,815 81,689 5.1%
Cougar (RWD) 0 2,818 -100.0 2,751 25,118 -89.0
Cougar (FWD) 5,240 0 NA 22,184 0 NA
Sable 7,737 7,816 -1.0 76,317 86,144 -11.4
Mystique 3,191 2,672 19.4 29,753 30,966 -3.9
Tracer 3,009 3,341 -9.9 27,177 36,013 -24.5
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 28,014 26,650 5.1% 243,997 259,930 -6.1%
Town Car 9,260 9,109 1.7 73,318 67,269 9.0
Mark VIII 512 1,499 -65.8 9,754 11,705 -16.7
Continental 3,248 2,977 9.1 26,561 22,033 20.6
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 13,020 13,585 -4.2% 109,633 101,007 8.5%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 41,034 40,235 2.0% 353,630 360,937 -2.0%
Villager 2,857 4,668 -38.8% 30,667 45,652 -32.8%
Mountaineer 4,248 3,625 17.2 36,266 33,932 6.9
TOTAL MERCURY
LT. TRUCKS 7,105 8,293 -14.3% 66,933 79,584 -15.9%
Navigator 3,438 4,008 -14.2 30,688 14,177 116.5
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
LT. TRUCKS 10,543 12,301 -14.3% 97,621 93,761 4.1%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 51,577 52,536 -1.8% 451,251 454,698 -0.8%
Memo: Total
Lincoln
Vehicles 16,458 17,593 -6.5% 140,321 115,184 21.8%
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Mercury and Lincoln, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR SEPTEMBER SALES
September Month DSR % September CYTD DSR %
1998 1997 Change 1998 1997 Change
XJ6/8 699 512 36.5% 4,994 3,256 53.4%
XJ6/8 L 189 162 16.7 2,203 2,464 -10.6
Vanden Plas 341 123 177.2 3,433 1,854 85.2
XJR 92 27 240.7 1,066 355 200.3
XJ12 0 2 -100.0 0 47 -100.0
XJS 0 0 0.0 0 47 -100.0
XK8 - Coupe 38 50 -24.0 491 812 -39.5
XK8 - Convertible 294 502 -41.4 3,871 4,531 -14.6
TOTAL JAGUAR
CARS 1,653 1,378 20.0% 16,058 13,366 20.1%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537