Ford Motor Company's U.S. Sales up 13%; Trucks Climb 19%, Cars up 5%
6 April 1999
Ford Motor Company's U.S. Sales up 13%; Trucks Climb 19%, Cars up 5%
All-Time March Sales Record, Any-Month Truck Record
And Ford's Eighth Consecutive Monthly Increase
DEARBORN, Mich., April 6 -- U.S. consumers purchased or
leased an all-time record 399,908 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln,
and Jaguar dealers in March, up 13 percent from a year ago. The previous
March record (395,291) was set in 1978. Record-setting sales of Ford's "Built
Tough" pickups and sport utility vehicles and higher sales to individual
retail customers of Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, and Ford and Mercury two-door
coupes lifted Ford's U.S. sales higher for the eighth month in a row. It was
the second month in a row that Ford set an all-time sales record.
"U.S. consumers are in the driver's seat," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group
vice president of marketing, sales, and service. Rewey cited job and income
growth, low inflation and interest rates, and product innovation as the key
factors contributing to strong consumer confidence and demand, but suggested
another factor is at work. "The hallmark of this eight-year economic
expansion has been moderation," he noted. "Both Wall Street and Main Street
respond favorably to consistency and stability. We believe that stable fiscal
and monetary policy have played a key role in the duration of this expansion."
In response to strong consumer demand, Ford announced that it was
increasing second quarter production by 20,000 trucks and 10,000 cars.
Rewey outlined specific areas that contributed to Ford's U.S. March sales
record:
Passenger Cars
-- Passenger car sales were 150,096, up five percent from a year ago.
Sales to individual retail customers were 13 percent higher than a year ago,
marking the third month in a row that retail sales have increased. In the
first three months of 1999, sales of passenger cars to retail customers were
up 10 percent.
Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable
-- Although overall sales for the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable were down
slightly, reflecting lower sales to daily rental customers, sales to
individual retail customers were higher than a year ago, continuing a trend
that started when the 1999 models were introduced last October. In March,
retail sales for the Taurus were up 33 percent and Sable sales were up nine
percent. In the last five months, retail sales for the Taurus have climbed
21 percent and Sable 18 percent.
Two-Door Coupes
-- Ford Mustang sales were 16,570, up 21 percent from a year ago. March
was the 21st month in a row that Mustang sales have been higher than a year
ago. Redesigned for 1999, Mustang celebrates its 35th anniversary on April 17
in Charlotte, NC. Almost 7 million Mustangs have been sold since the
legendary pony car was introduced in 1964.
-- The all-new Mercury Cougar set an any-month sales record of 6,112. The
previous Cougar record was set in August 1998 (5,552).
-- Ford Escort ZX2 sales were an any-month record 9,814. The previous ZX2
record was set in June 1998 (9,335).
Truck Sales
-- Truck sales were an any-month record 249,812, up 19 percent from a year
ago. The previous any-month record was set in June 1998 (242,906). The
previous March record was set in 1997 (205,891). March was the 11th month in
a row of record truck sales.
Pickup Trucks
-- Pickup sales were an any-month record 131,077, up 28 percent from a
year ago. The previous any-month record was set in June 1998 (117,253). The
previous March record was set in 1996 (102,817).
-- Ford F-Series full-size pickup sales were 85,686 (up 14 percent), the
highest monthly sales for any vehicle, car or truck, in over 20 years. In
June 1978, F-Series sales were an all-time record 90,370. The F-Series March
sales record was set in 1978 (86,491).
-- Ford Ranger compact pickup sales were an any-month record 45,391, up
67 percent from a year ago. The previous Ranger any-month record was set in
June 1998 (35,886). The previous March record was set in 1985 (35,716).
Sport Utility Vehicles
-- Sport utility vehicles set a March sales record of 68,138, up
11 percent from a year ago. March was the 14th month in a row of record sport
utility sales.
-- Ford Explorer sales were a March record 40,019, up 10 percent from a
year ago. The previous Explorer record was set in 1996 (36,538).
-- Ford Expedition sales were a March record 20,704, up 20 percent from a
year ago. The previous Expedition record was set in 1997 (19,427).
Minivans
-- Minivan sales were 30,053, up 23 percent. The Ford Windstar (sales of
24,472, up 21 percent) and Mercury Villager (sales of 5,581, up 40 percent)
were redesigned for 1999.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH U.S. SALES
March Month DSR % March CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 399,908 340,284 13.2% 980,662 887,601 10.5%
TOTAL CARS 150,096 137,334 5.2 366,431 375,255 -2.4
TOTAL TRUCKS 249,812 202,950 18.5 614,231 512,346 19.9
memo:
Domestic Cars 148,421 134,666 6.1% 362,299 367,670 -1.5%
Imported Cars 1,675 2,668 -39.5 4,132 7,585 -45.5
Light Trucks 248,918 200,865 19.3 612,105 506,333 20.9
Heavy Trucks 894 2,085 -58.7 2,126 6,013 -64.6
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 27 26 76 76
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-323-9216
FORD BRAND MARCH SALES
March Month DSR % March CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Crown Victoria 11,705 12,019 -6.2% 28,610 28,978 -1.3%
Thunderbird 0 350 -100.0 0 1,786 -100.0
Taurus 35,069 34,254 -1.4 81,932 88,244 -7.2
Contour 12,781 10,740 14.6 31,870 36,197 -12.0
Escort 28,016 23,947 12.7 70,828 65,951 7.4
Aspire 0 725 -100.0 0 2,522 -100.0
Mustang 16,570 13,189 21.0 41,461 33,656 23.2
Probe 0 446 -100.0 0 1,493 -100.0
TOTAL FORD CARS 104,141 95,670 4.8% 254,701 258,827 -1.6%
Expedition 20,704 16,673 19.6% 54,473 46,197 17.9%
Explorer 40,019 34,913 10.4 102,349 89,722 14.1
Econoline/
Club Wagon 19,650 19,668 -3.8 45,279 46,878 -3.4
Aerostar 0 248 -100.0 0 1,060 -100.0
Windstar 24,472 19,421 21.3 56,970 45,444 25.4
Ranger 45,391 26,147 67.2 105,902 70,074 51.1
F-Series 85,686 72,191 14.3 213,910 177,205 20.7
Heavy Trucks 894 2,085 -58.7 2,126 6,013 -64.6
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 236,816 191,346 19.2% 581,009 482,593 20.4%
TOTAL FORD BRAND 340,957 287,016 14.4% 835,710 741,420 12.7%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-845-1527
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MARCH SALES
March Month DSR % March CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Grand Marquis 11,993 10,824 6.7% 28,864 30,451 -5.2%
Cougar (RWD) 0 511 -100.0 0 2,250 -100.0
Cougar (FWD) 6,112 0 NA 14,672 0 NA
Sable 9,629 9,727 -4.7 22,623 24,404 -7.3
Mystique 3,050 3,295 -10.9 8,257 9,053 -8.8
Tracer 1,976 2,763 -31.1 6,044 8,234 -26.6
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 32,760 27,120 16.3% 80,460 74,392 8.2%
Town Car 8,736 8,281 1.6 21,197 24,622 -13.9
Mark VIII 0 1,168 -100.0 0 3,108 -100.0
Continental 2,784 3,152 -14.9 5,941 9,243 -35.7
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 11,520 12,601 -12.0% 27,138 36,973 -26.6%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 44,280 39,721 7.3% 107,598 111,365 -3.4%
Villager 5,581 3,834 40.2% 12,287 8,911 37.9%
Mountaineer 3,999 4,057 -5.1 11,088 10,516 5.4
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 9,580 7,891 16.9% 23,375 19,427 20.3%
Navigator 3,416 3,713 -11.4 9,847 10,326 -4.6
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
TRUCKS 12,996 11,604 7.8% 33,222 29,753 11.7%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 57,276 51,325 7.5% 140,820 141,118 -0.2%
Memo:
Total Lincoln
Brand 14,936 16,314 -11.8% 36,985 47,299 -21.8%
Total Mercury
Brand 42,340 35,011 16.5 103,835 93,819 10.7
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Lincoln and Mercury, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR MARCH SALES
March Month DSR % March CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
XJ6/8 562 579 -6.5% 1,296 1,340 -3.3%
XJ6/8 L 182 300 -41.6 480 832 -42.3
Vanden Plas 316 368 -17.3 813 1,117 -27.2
XJR 137 119 10.9 414 359 15.3
XK8 - Coupe 49 64 -26.3 136 189 -28.0
XK8 - Convertible 429 513 -19.5 993 1,226 -19.0
TOTAL JAGUAR CARS 1,675 1,943 -17.0% 4,132 5,063 -18.4%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537