Ford Motor Company's April U.S. Sales Up 7%
4 May 1999
Ford Motor Company's April U.S. Sales Up 7%; Ninth Consecutive Monthly Sales Increase
Volvo Cars Included in Ford Results for First Time
DEARBORN, Mich., May 3 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased
345,672 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo dealers
in April, up seven percent from a year ago. April was Ford's ninth
consecutive monthly sales increase in the U.S. Truck sales were a record
204,361, up eight percent from a year ago. The previous record (192,068) was
set in 1997. Car sales were 141,311, up five percent from a year ago. April
is the first month that Volvo Cars has been included in Ford Motor Company's
U.S. sales results. Ford's 1998 sales exclude Volvo.
"Consumer demand remained strong in April," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group
vice president for marketing, sales, and service. "Early indications are that
the April sales rate could be in the 16 million plus range. Although slightly
lower than the exceptional sales pace we observed in the first quarter, some
of that 'fall off' may reflect lower-than-normal supplies of our hottest-
selling models. The 'good news' is that dealer orders are strong, and
economic reports suggest a continuation of healthy consumer demand in the
coming months." In response, Ford announced it was increasing second quarter
production by 20,000 vehicles (10,000 cars and 10,000 trucks).
Ford set a truck sales record for the 12th month in a row as demand for
pickups, sport utility vehicles and minivans remained strong. Combined sales
for "Built Ford Tough" F-Series and Ranger pickups were a record 109,118,
eclipsing the previous mark of 100,770 set in 1996. Combined sales of sport
utility vehicles (Ford Explorer and Expedition, Mercury Mountaineer, and
Lincoln Navigator) were a record 54,546, eclipsing the previous record of
54,350 set last year. Sales for the redesigned Ford Windstar and Mercury
Villager minivans also were higher than a year ago (Windstar sales were up 30%
and Villager sales were up 23%).
Combined Ford, Mercury and Lincoln passenger cars were slightly lower (one
percent) than a year ago, but sales to individual retail customers were four
percent higher, marking the fourth month in a row that retail car sales have
increased. The Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar were particularly strong.
Mustang continued its string of 22 consecutive monthly sales increases as
April sales climbed 40%.
Jaguar also posted higher sales in April. Jaguar sales were 2,109, up
five percent from a year ago -- the best April sales since 1986. U.S.
customers took delivery of 351 S-TYPE sedans -- the newest product to prowl
Jaguar showrooms -- in advance of today's official introduction.
Volvo's April U.S. sales were 7,914. The all-new S80, recently cited as
the top-ranked vehicle in Strategic Vision's annual total quality survey, is
the latest in a series of new products which are heightening consumer
awareness and demand for Volvo Cars.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY APRIL U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
TOTAL
VEHICLES 345,672 324,348 6.6% 1,326,334 1,211,949 9.4%
TOTAL
CARS 141,311 134,742 4.9 507,742 509,997 -0.4
TOTAL
TRUCKS 204,361 189,606 7.8 818,592 701,952 16.6
memo:
Domestic
Cars 131,288 130,342 0.7% 493,587 498,012 -0.9%
Imported
Cars 10,023 4,400 127.8 14,155 11,985 18.1
Light
Trucks 203,604 188,324 8.1 815,709 694,657 17.4
Heavy
Trucks 757 1,282 -41.0 2,883 7,295 -60.5
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 26 26 102 102
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-323-9216
Note: The sales data on this chart includes results for the Ford, Mercury,
Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo (April 1999 only) brands.
FORD BRAND APRIL U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Crown
Victoria 11,025 10,715 2.9% 39,635 39,693 -0.1%
Thunderbird 0 457 -100.0 0 2,243 -100.0
Taurus 29,324 30,812 -4.8 111,256 119,056 -6.6
Contour 10,975 11,792 -6.9 42,845 47,989 -10.7
Escort 23,330 22,189 5.1 94,158 88,140 6.8
Aspire 0 2,395 -100.0 0 4,917 -100.0
Mustang 17,420 12,470 39.7 58,881 46,126 27.7
Probe 0 1,565 -100.0 0 3,058 -100.0
TOTAL
FORD CARS 92,074 92,395 -0.3% 346,775 351,222 -1.3%
Expedition 18,647 16,404 13.7% 73,120 62,601 16.8%
Explorer 29,938 31,182 -4.0 132,287 120,904 9.4
Econoline/
Club Wagon 18,123 18,993 -4.6 63,402 65,871 -3.7
Aerostar 0 0 NA 0 1,060 -100.0
Windstar 18,409 14,190 29.7 75,379 59,634 26.4
Ranger 33,655 26,687 26.1 139,557 96,761 44.2
F-Series 75,463 71,343 5.8 289,373 248,548 16.4
Heavy
Trucks 757 1,282 -41.0 2,883 7,295 -60.5
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 194,992 180,081 8.3% 776,001 662,674 17.1%
TOTAL FORD
BRAND 287,066 272,476 5.4% 1,122,776 1,013,896 10.7%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-845-1527
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND APRIL U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Grand
Marquis 10,204 9,835 3.8% 39,068 40,286 -3.0%
Cougar
(RWD) 0 501 -100.0 0 2,751 -100.0
Cougar
(FWD) 5,292 2,862 84.9 19,964 2,862 597.6
Sable 8,656 9,592 -9.8 31,279 33,996 -8.0
Mystique 3,617 3,845 -5.9 11,874 12,898 -7.9
Tracer 2,415 2,429 -0.6 8,459 10,663 -20.7
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 30,184 29,064 3.9% 110,644 103,456 6.9%
Town Car 7,036 7,583 -7.2 28,233 32,205 -12.3
Mark VIII 0 1,307 -100.0 0 4,415 -100.0
Continental 1,994 2,388 -16.5 7,935 11,631 -31.8
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 9,030 11,278 -19.9% 36,168 48,251 -25.0
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 39,214 40,342 -2.8% 146,812 151,707 -3.2%
Villager 3,408 2,761 23.4% 15,695 11,672 34.5%
Mountaineer 3,080 3,337 -7.7 14,168 13,853 2.3
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 6,488 6,098 6.4% 29,863 25,525 17.0%
Navigator 2,881 3,427 -15.9 12,728 13,753 -7.5
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
TRUCKS 9,369 9,525 -1.6% 42,591 39,278 8.4%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 48,583 49,867 -2.6% 189,403 190,985 -0.8%
Memo: Total
Lincoln
Brand 11,911 14,705 -19.0% 48,896 62,004 -21.1%
Total
Mercury
Brand 36,672 35,162 4.3 140,507 128,981 8.9
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Lincoln and Mercury, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR CARS APRIL U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
XJ6/8 627 596 5.2% 1,923 1,936 -0.7%
XJ6/8 L 154 245 -37.1 634 1,077 -41.1
Vanden Plas 313 413 -24.2 1,126 1,530 -26.4
XJR 136 155 -12.3 550 514 7.0
S-TYPE 351 NA NA 351 NA NA
XK8 -
Coupe 45 57 -21.1 181 246 -26.4
XK8 -
Convertible 483 539 -10.4 1,476 1,765 -16.4
TOTAL JAGUAR
CARS 2,109 2,005 5.2% 6,241 7,068 -11.7%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537
VOLVO CARS APRIL U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
70 Series 5,364 6,421 -16.5% 24,991 28,554 -12.5%
90 Series 1 1,037 NA 11 6,276 NA
S80 2,541 NA NA 10,830 NA NA
850 Series 6 28 NA 16 171 NA
900 Series 2 21 NA 6 117 NA
40 Series 0 1 NA 0 1 NA
TOTAL VOLVO
CARS 7,914 7,508 5.4% 35,854 35,119 2.1%
CONTACT: Soren Johansson, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc., 201-767-4888