Ford Motor Company's U.S. Sales Up 8% in January
2 February 1999
Ford Motor Company's U.S. Sales Up 8% in January; Trucks Climb 20%; Set Ninth Consecutive Sales Record
DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 2 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased
261,414 cars and trucks from Ford , Mercury, Lincoln, and Jaguar
dealers in January, up eight percent from a year ago. Truck sales climbed 20
percent and set a January sales record. It was the ninth consecutive monthly
truck sales record, and the sixth month in a row of higher overall Ford sales.
Ford Division set an all-time January sales record for combined car and truck
sales. In 1998, Ford was the No. 1 selling car and truck brand in the United
States for the 12th year in a row and set an all-time calendar year sales
record with 3.3 million vehicles.
"We're off to a great start," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president
of marketing, sales, and service. "The sales momentum that closed out 1998
carried over into January. Several factors are combining to create
outstanding values for our customers. Innovative products and features, low
interest rates and fuel prices, and growth in jobs and wages. When you couple
these factors with attractive prices -- that's an unbeatable combination."
Ford believes that U.S. car and truck sales in 1999 will be in the 15 million
plus range for the sixth consecutive year.
Ford truck sales were 170,640, with every light truck posting a sales
increase compared with a year ago. Consumers purchased or leased a record
number of "Built Ford Tough" F-Series and Ranger pickups (F-Series sales were
60,257 and Ranger sales were 26,863). On a combined basis, consumers also
purchased a record number of sport utility vehicles (53,566). Ford Explorer
sales were 30,304 (up 16%), Ford Expedition sales were 16,335 (up 19%),
Mercury Mountaineer sales were a record 3,731 (up 21%), and Lincoln Navigator
sales were a record 3,196 (up 4%). Minivan sales also were higher (up 43
percent ) bolstered by the redesigned Ford Windstar (which set a January sales
record) and Mercury Villager. Recently, Windstar earned unprecedented top
safety ratings in all categories of crash protection in the government's New
Car Assessment Program.
Sales of passenger cars were nine percent lower than a year ago. A
planned reduction in sales to daily rental customers more than accounted for
the decline. Sales of passenger cars to individual retail customers were
slightly higher than a year ago with most of the gain provided by the
redesigned 1999 Ford Mustang, all-new Mercury Cougar, and Ford Taurus and
Mercury Sable.
"Early response to the new Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar has been
outstanding," said Rewey. "We're also encouraged by consumer response to the
safety and value improvements we incorporated in the 1999 Ford Taurus and
Mercury Sable. Sales to individual retail customers have increased every
month since introduction." Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable are the only cars in
their price range to earn five-star safety ratings for both the driver and
passenger in government frontal crash tests.
Sales of large and luxury cars to individual retail customers were lower
than a year ago. "Last year, we introduced new large and luxury cars, which
boosted retail demand for those products," said Rewey. "In the next few
months, we expect generally lower sales at Lincoln and Jaguar until the all-
new Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type make their U.S. debuts. Both Lincoln and
Jaguar had excellent sales growth in 1998, and these new products will enable
our luxury brands to take it to the next level in the second half of this
year."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JANUARY U.S. SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 261,414 251,626 8.0% 261,414 251,626 8.0%
TOTAL CARS 90,774 104,251 -9.4 90,774 104,251 -9.4
TOTAL TRUCKS 170,640 147,375 20.4 170,640 147,375 20.4
memo:
Domestic Cars 89,543 101,761 -8.5% 89,543 101,761 -8.5%
Imported Cars 1,231 2,490 -48.6 1,231 2,490 -48.6
Light Trucks 170,072 145,139 21.9 170,072 145,139 21.9
Heavy Trucks 568 2,236 -73.6 568 2,236 -73.6
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 25 26 25 26
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-323-9216
FORD BRAND JANUARY SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Crown Victoria 7,156 7,325 1.6% 7,156 7,325 1.6%
Thunderbird 0 888 -100.0 0 888 -100.0
Taurus 20,710 19,881 8.3 20,710 19,881 8.3
Contour 7,415 9,684 -20.4 7,415 9,684 -20.4
Escort 17,447 20,288 -10.6 17,447 20,288 -10.6
Aspire 0 951 -100.0 0 951 -100.0
Mustang 11,075 8,629 33.5 11,075 8,629 33.5
Probe 0 542 -100.0 0 542 -100.0
TOTAL FORD CARS 63,803 68,188 -2.7% 63,803 68,188 -2.7%
Expedition 16,335 14,235 19.3% 16,335 14,235 19.3%
Explorer 30,304 27,186 15.9 30,304 27,186 15.9
Econoline/Club
Wagon 12,122 12,098 4.2 12,122 12,098 4.2
Aerostar 0 502 -100.0 0 502 -100.0
Windstar 14,449 9,863 52.4 14,449 9,863 52.4
Ranger 26,863 20,913 33.6 26,863 20,913 33.6
F-Series 60,257 51,467 21.8 60,257 51,467 21.8
Heavy Trucks 568 2,236 -73.6 568 2,236 -73.6
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 160,898 138,500 20.8% 160,898 138,500 20.8%
TOTAL FORD
VEHICLES 224,701 206,688 13.1% 224,701 206,688 13.1%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-845-1527
LINCOLN MERCURY BRAND JANUARY SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Grand Marquis 6,875 9,994 -28.5% 6,875 9,994 -28.5%
Cougar (RWD) 0 1,002 -100.0 0 1,002 -100.0
Cougar (FWD) 3,746 0 NA 3,746 0 NA
Sable 5,227 6,194 -12.2 5,227 6,194 -12.2
Mystique 2,121 2,935 -24.8 2,121 2,935 -24.8
Tracer 1,311 2,772 -50.8 1,311 2,772 -50.8
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 19,280 22,897 -12.4% 19,280 22,897 -12.4%
Town Car 5,005 7,732 -32.7 5,005 7,732 -32.7
Mark VIII 0 936 -100.0 0 936 -100.0
Continental 1,455 2,959 -48.9 1,455 2,959 -48.9
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 6,460 11,627 -42.2% 6,460 11,627 -42.2%
TOTAL MERCURY AND
LINCOLN CARS 25,740 34,524 -22.5% 25,740 34,524 -22.5%
Villager 2,815 2,481 18.0% 2,815 2,481 18.0%
Mountaineer 3,731 3,205 21.1 3,731 3,205 21.1
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 6,546 5,686 19.7% 6,546 5,686 19.7%
Navigator 3,196 3,189 4.2 3,196 3,189 4.2
TOTAL MERCURY AND
LINCOLN TRUCKS 9,742 8,875 14.2% 9,742 8,875 14.2%
TOTAL MERCURY AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 35,482 43,399 -15.0% 35,482 43,399 -15.0%
Memo: Total Lincoln
Vehicles 9,656 14,816 -32.2% 9,656 14,816 -32.2%
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Lincoln and Mercury, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR JANUARY SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
XJ6/8 330 417 -17.7% 330 417 -17.7%
XJ6/8 L 165 220 -22.0 165 220 -22.0
Vanden Plas 269 366 -23.6 269 366 -23.6
XJR 142 115 28.4 142 115 28.4
XK8 - Coupe 50 68 -23.5 50 68 -23.5
XK8 - Convertible 275 353 -19.0 275 353 -19.0
TOTAL JAGUAR CARS 1,231 1,539 -16.8% 1,231 1,539 -16.8%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537