Ford Motor Company's September U.S. Sales Top Strong Year Ago Levels
5 October 1999
Ford Motor Company's September U.S. Sales Top Strong Year Ago Levels
Ford Breaks 21-Year-Old Sales Records for First Nine Months
and Model Year
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 4 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased
329,176 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo dealers
in September, up one percent from a year ago when sales for Ford Motor
Company's brands totaled 326,941.
In the process, Ford broke two sales records that had stood for 21 years.
In the 1999 model year, which concluded in September, Ford Motor Company's
U.S. dealers sold 4,137,543 cars and trucks, breaking the mark of 4,084,684
that was set in 1978. In the first nine months of the 1999 calendar year,
Ford's U.S. dealers sold 3,188,526 cars and trucks, breaking the mark of
3,081,562 that was set in 1978.
"We're not ready to put the history books back on the shelf just yet,"
said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president for marketing, sales, and service.
"More records will fall before this year is over."
Ford Division, America's top-selling brand of cars and trucks, posted
September sales of 266,548, down three percent from a year ago. The decline
primarily reflected lower sales of passenger cars to daily rental companies
and lower sales of the Ford Ranger compact pickup, due to limited
availability. (Earlier this year, Ford reduced Ranger production capacity to
make way for two new Ford Explorer models that will make their debut early
next year.) The Ford Expedition sport utility vehicle set a new September
sales record, Ford Windstar minivan sales were up 41 percent, and Ford Mustang
sales were up 11 percent -- the 27th consecutive monthly sales increase.
September sales for the Mercury brand were one percent higher than a year
ago as record sales for the Mercury Mountaineer sport utility vehicle and
higher sales for the Mercury Villager minivan (up 77 percent) were offset
largely by lower sales of passenger cars to daily rental companies.
Lincoln sales were seven percent lower than a year ago, despite strong
sales for the all-new Lincoln LS mid-size sedan and Lincoln Navigator sport
utility vehicle. The Lincoln sales decline primarily reflected lower Town Car
deliveries to fleet customers.
Jaguar dealers delivered 2,805 new cars to U.S. customers in September, up
70 percent from a year ago, and Jaguar's fifth consecutive monthly sales
record. The all-new S-TYPE sedan continues to pace Jaguar's record-setting
results. Also, the first XKR models, Jaguar's flagship sports car, were
delivered in September. In the first nine months of 1999, Jaguar sales were
up 44 percent compared with the same period a year ago.
Volvo's September sales totaled 9,042, up 26 percent compared with a year
ago and the best September since 1986. U.S. customers are discovering the S40
and V40, Volvo's all-new compact sedan and wagon. With starting prices of
$22,900 for the sedan and $23,900 for the wagon, the 40 Series is a key
element of Volvo's strategy to broaden its appeal in the U.S.
Customers also are discovering the all-new Ford Focus and Ford Excursion
-- even though the official "on sale" date was September 30. The Ford Focus
is a small car with unmatched levels of room, comfort, driving dynamics, and
safety. The Ford Excursion is the newest addition to the Ford Outfitters'
stable of "No Boundaries" sport utility vehicles.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEPTEMBER U.S. SALES
September Month DSR% September CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Car and Truck
Sales By Brand
Ford 266,548 273,711 -2.6% 2,633,342 2,506,276 5.1%
Mercury 35,392 35,119 0.8 347,628 310,930 11.8
Lincoln 15,389 16,458 -6.5 128,604 140,321 -8.4
Jaguar 2,805 1,653 69.7 23,157 16,058 44.2
Volvo 9,042 7,158 26.3 83,736 76,312 9.7
Total Ford Motor
Company 329,176 326,941 0.7% 3,188,526 2,973,585 7.2%
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 133,786 130,234 2.7% 1,303,543 1,209,542 7.8%
Trucks 195,390 196,707 -0.7 1,884,983 1,764,043 6.9
Total Ford Motor
Company 329,176 326,941 0.7% 3,188,526 2,973,585 7.2%
Memo: Selling
Days 25 25 230 230
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-323-9216.
Note: Ford acquired Volvo cars on March 31, 1999. Accordingly, Ford
Motor Company's 1998 sales totals exclude Volvo and Ford's 1999 sales totals
do not include Volvo prior to March 31.
FORD BRAND SEPTEMBER U.S. SALES
September Month DSR% September CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Crown Victoria 8,452 7,946 6.4% 91,755 87,294 5.1%
Taurus 25,950 28,346 -8.5 280,489 283,981 -1.2
Contour 8,618 12,355 -30.2 104,464 113,136 -7.7
Focus 5,469 NA NA 6,429 NA NA
Escort 24,539 28,579 -14.1 234,605 235,659 -0.4
Mustang 11,413 10,321 10.6 133,020 109,566 21.4
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 84,441 87,547 -3.5% 850,762 839,854 1.3%
Expedition 21,435 19,531 9.7% 175,313 158,305 10.7%
Explorer 37,119 41,299 -10.1 318,315 310,553 2.5
Excursion 3,874 NA NA 4,566 NA NA
Econoline/
Club Wagon 14,839 15,925 -6.8 157,294 157,990 -0.4
Aerostar NA NA NA NA 1,060 NA
Windstar 13,880 9,814 41.4 173,374 152,191 13.9
Ranger 20,531 29,092 -29.4 290,853 250,811 16.0
F-Series 69,620 69,671 -0.1 654,361 623,549 4.9
Heavy Trucks 809 832 -2.8 8,504 11,963 -28.9
TOTAL FORD TRUCKS 182,107 186,164 -2.2% 1,782,580 1,666,422 7.0%
TOTAL FORD BRAND 266,548 273,711 -2.6% 2,633,342 2,506,276 5.1%
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Ford Division, 313-845-1527.
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND SEPTEMBER U.S. SALES
September Month DSR% September CYTD DSR%
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
Grand Marquis 10,844 8,837 22.7% 93,509 85,815 9.0%
Cougar (FWD) 4,104 5,240 -21.7 47,427 22,184 113.8
Sable 7,765 7,737 0.4 81,032 76,317 6.2
Mystique 1,760 3,191 -44.8 30,795 29,753 3.5
Tracer 1,581 3,009 -47.5 20,278 27,177 -25.4
Cougar (RWD) NA NA NA NA 2,751 NA
TOTAL MERCURY CARS 26,054 28,014 -7.0% 273,041 243,997 11.9%
Town Car 5,861 9,260 -36.7 65,294 73,318 -10.9
Continental 2,066 3,248 -36.4 20,724 26,561 -22.0
LS 3,517 NA NA 14,770 NA NA
Mark VIII NA 512 NA NA 9,754 NA
TOTAL LINCOLN CARS 11,444 13,020 -12.1% 100,788 109,633 -8.1%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN CARS 37,498 41,034 -8.6% 373,829 353,630 5.7%
Villager 5,054 2,857 76.9% 37,802 30,667 23.3%
Mountaineer 4,284 4,248 0.8 36,785 36,266 1.4
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 9,338 7,105 31.4% 74,587 66,933 11.4%
Navigator 3,945 3,438 14.7 27,816 30,688 -9.4
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
TRUCKS 13,283 10,543 26.0% 102,403 97,621 4.9%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 50,781 51,577 -1.5% 476,232 451,251 5.5%
Memo: Total Lincoln
Brand 15,389 16,458 -6.5% 128,604 140,321 -8.4%
Total Mercury
Brand 35,392 35,119 0.8 347,628 310,930 11.8
CONTACT: Tom Mattia, Lincoln and Mercury, 949-788-2336
JAGUAR CARS SEPTEMBER U.S. SALES
September Month DSR% September CYTD DSR %
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
XJ8 382 699 -45.4% 4,307 4,994 -13.8%
XJ8 L 118 189 -37.6 1,316 2,203 -40.3
Vanden Plas 498 341 46.0 3,165 3,433 -7.8
XJR 108 92 17.4 1,164 1,066 9.2
S-TYPE 1,215 NA NA 8,999 NA NA
XK8 - Coupe 14 38 -63.2 312 491 -36.5
XK8 - Convertible 454 294 54.4 3,878 3,871 0.2
XKR - Coupe 3 0 NA 3 0 NA
XKR - Convertible 13 0 NA 13 0 NA
TOTAL JAGUAR CARS 2,805 1,653 69.7% 23,157 16,058 44.2%
CONTACT: Jaguar Public Affairs, 888-476-9537.
VOLVO CARS SEPTEMBER U.S. SALES
September Month DSR% September CYTD DSR%
1999 1998 Change 1999 1998 Change
S40 1,456 NA NA% 1,618 1 NA%
V40 496 NA NA 532 NA NA
S70 2,027 3,551 -42.9 27,323 37,963 -28.0
V70 2,134 2,640 -19.2 23,775 28,285 -15.9
C70 400 309 29.4 5,029 1,593 215.7
S80 2,519 614 NA 25,426 680 NA
S90/V90 10 44 NA 33 7,790 NA
TOTAL VOLVO CARS 9,042 7,158 26.3% 83,736 76,312 9.7%
CONTACT: Soren Johansson, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc., 201-767-4888.