Ford Motor Company's U.S. Sales Up 11% In May
3 June 1999
Ford Motor Company's U.S. Sales Up 11% In May; Tenth Consecutive Monthly Sales Increase
Jaguar, Volvo, And Ford Trucks Set Sales Records
DEARBORN, Mich., June 2 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased
395,179 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo dealers
in May, up 11 percent from a year ago. May was Ford's tenth consecutive
monthly sales increase. Passenger car sales were 168,580, up 19 percent from
a year ago, paced by record sales at Jaguar and Volvo and strong sales of the
Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar. Mustang posted its 23rd consecutive year-to-
year increase with sales of 19,584, up 33 percent compared with a year ago,
and the Mercury Cougar posted its best sales month ever. Truck sales were a
record 226,599, up six percent from a year ago. It was the 13th month in a
row that Ford Motor Company's trucks set a monthly sales record.
"May was a 'blockbuster' sales month for Ford and the industry -- stronger
than we expected," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president for marketing,
sales, and service. "We estimate that the seasonally-adjusted annual sales
rate in May was higher than the 16.4 million cars and trucks sold in the 12-
month period that ended April 1999 -- and that was the best 12-months in U.S.
auto history."
"Consumers are responding to strong economic fundamentals -- growth in
jobs and income, low inflation and interest rates, as well as innovative
products," continued Rewey. "We believe those fundamentals will keep U.S.
auto sales healthy for the rest of 1999. A record year is within reach." In
response to strong consumer demand, Ford increased its second quarter North
American production by 20,000 vehicles (11,000 cars and 9,000 trucks).
Bolstered by the arrival of the all-new S-TYPE mid-size sedan, Jaguar set
an any-month sales record of 3,209, up 66 percent compared with a year ago.
The previous record was set in December 1985. In its first full month on
sale, the S-TYPE was Jaguar's best-selling model with 1,439 U.S. customers
taking delivery.
"Jaguar is definitely on the prowl," said Rewey. "The styling and
performance of the S-TYPE delivers Jaguar's brand promise of being a copy of
nothing -- elegant, sensuous, and refined power." Jaguar was rated the No. 1
brand in J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study.
Volvo sales were 10,715, up 23 percent compared with a year ago. Consumer
demand for the all-new S80, Volvo's new flagship sedan, continues to grow with
3,125 customers taking delivery in May.
"The S80 is the perfect complement to the 70 Series sedan, coupe, and
wagon," said Rewey. "This fall, Volvo will introduce its all-new S40 and V40
to North America." The S80 was recently cited as the top-ranked vehicle in
Strategic Vision's total quality survey and the top-ranked car in Auto
Pacific's vehicle satisfaction survey.
Lincoln sales were 13,089, down six percent from a year ago. "With the
introduction of the LS, Lincoln's all-new, mid-size sedan, we expect this
brand to resume the growth it achieved in 1998," noted Rewey. "Over 400
customers took delivery of the LS in May -- although dealers will not have
full availability for at least another month." Last week, Ford announced that
the Lincoln Blackwood, the ultimate utility vehicle, would begin production at
the Kansas City Assembly Plant late next year.
Overall sales of Ford and Mercury passenger cars were up 11 percent.
Sales of passenger cars to individual retail customers were three percent
higher than last year's strong levels -- the fifth consecutive monthly year-
to-year increase in retail car sales. For the year, sales of Ford and Mercury
passenger car sales to retail customers are up seven percent.
Sales of Ford's "Built Tough" pickups continued their record-setting pace.
Combined sales of the F-Series full-size pickup and Ranger compact pickup were
a record 117,373. The previous record was set last year (106,568). Sport
utility vehicles also set a record as combined sales of the Ford Explorer and
Expedition, Mercury Mountaineer, and Lincoln Navigator totaled 61,767. The
previous record was set last year (61,073).
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAY U.S. SALES
May Month DSR % May CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES 395,179 355,729 11.1% 1,721,513 1,567,678 9.8%
TOTAL CARS 168,580 141,558 19.1 676,322 651,555 3.8
TOTAL TRUCKS 226,599 214,171 5.8 1,045,191 916,123 14.1
memo:
Domestic Cars 154,656 139,622 10.8% 648,243 637,634 1.7%
Imported Cars 13,924 1,936 619.2 28,079 13,921 101.7
Light Trucks 225,253 213,212 5.6 1,040,962 907,869 14.7
Heavy Trucks 1,346 959 40.4 4,229 8,254 -48.8
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 25 25 127 127
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-323-9216
Note:
- The sales data on this chart includes results for the Ford, Mercury,
Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo (April-May 1999 only) brands.
FORD BRAND MAY U.S. SALES
May Month DSR % May CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Crown Victoria 11,260 10,092 11.6% 50,895 49,785 2.2%
Taurus 34,445 35,642 -3.4 145,701 154,698 -5.8
Contour 15,219 11,882 28.1 58,064 59,871 -3.0
Escort 27,227 29,242 -6.9 121,385 117,382 3.4
Mustang 19,584 14,753 32.7 78,465 60,879 28.9
Thunderbird NA NA NA NA 2,243 NA
Aspire NA NA NA NA 4,917 NA
Probe NA NA NA NA 3,058 NA
TOTAL FORD CARS 107,735 101,611 6.0% 454,510 452,833 0.4%
Expedition 20,081 16,179 24.1% 93,201 78,780 18.3%
Explorer 34,905 36,548 -4.5 167,192 157,452 6.2
Econoline/
Club Wagon 19,574 19,253 1.7 82,976 85,124 -2.5
Aerostar NA NA NA NA 1,060 NA
Windstar 22,305 22,698 -1.7 97,684 82,332 18.6
Ranger 38,070 33,443 13.8 177,627 130,204 36.4
F-Series 79,303 73,125 8.4 368,676 321,673 14.6
Heavy Trucks 1,346 959 40.4 4,229 8,254 -48.8
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 215,584 202,205 6.6% 991,585 864,879 14.7%
TOTAL FORD
BRAND 323,319 303,816 6.4% 1,446,095 1,317,712 9.7%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-845-1527
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MAY U.S. SALES
May Month DSR % May CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Grand Marquis 10,983 9,263 18.6% 50,051 49,549 1.0%
Cougar (FWD) 6,686 2,079 221.6 26,650 4,941 439.4
Sable 11,231 9,439 19.0 42,510 43,435 -2.1
Mystique 5,055 3,465 45.9 16,929 16,363 3.5
Tracer 2,669 3,400 -21.5 11,128 14,063 -20.9
Cougar (RWD) NA NA NA NA 2,751 NA
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 36,624 27,646 32.5% 147,268 131,102 12.3%
Town Car 7,368 6,551 12.5 35,601 38,756 -8.1
Continental 2,517 2,385 5.5 10,452 14,016 -25.4
LS 412 NA NA 412 NA NA
Mark VIII NA 1,429 NA NA 5,844 NA
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 10,297 10,365 -0.7% 46,465 58,616 -20.7%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 46,921 38,011 23.4% 193,733 189,718 2.1%
Villager 4,234 3,620 17.0% 19,929 15,292 30.3%
Mountaineer 3,989 4,829 -17.4 18,157 18,682 -2.8
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 8,223 8,449 -2.7% 38,086 33,974 12.1%
Navigator 2,792 3,517 -20.6 15,520 17,270 -10.1
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
TRUCKS 11,015 11,966 -7.9% 53,606 51,244 4.6%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 57,936 49,977 15.9% 247,339 240,962 2.6%
Memo:
Total Lincoln
Brand 13,089 13,882 -5.7% 61,985 75,886 -18.3%
Total Mercury
Brand 44,847 36,095 24.2 185,354 165,076 12.3
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Lincoln and Mercury, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR CARS MAY U.S. SALES
May Month DSR % May CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
XJ6/8 558 487 14.6% 2,481 2,423 2.4%
XJ6/8 L 157 279 -43.7 791 1,356 -41.7
Vanden Plas 376 424 -11.3 1,502 1,954 -23.1
XJR 138 73 89.0 688 587 17.2
S-TYPE 1,439 NA NA 1,790 NA NA
XK8 - Coupe 39 62 -37.1 220 308 -28.6
XK8 - Convertible 502 611 -17.8 1,978 2,376 -16.8
TOTAL JAGUAR
CARS 3,209 1,936 65.8% 9,450 9,004 5.0%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537
VOLVO CARS MAY U.S. SALES
May Month DSR % May CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
70 Series 7,585 7,957 -4.7% 32,576 36,511 -10.8%
90 Series 3 688 NA 14 6,964 NA
S80 3,125 NA NA 13,955 NA NA
850 Series 2 27 NA 18 198 NA
900 Series 0 19 NA 6 136 NA
40 Series 0 NA NA 1 1 NA
TOTAL VOLVO
CARS 10,715 8,691 23.3% 46,570 43,810 6.3%
CONTACT: Soren Johansson, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc., 201-767-4888