Ford Motor Company's January U.S. Sales Up 8%
2 February 2000
Ford Motor Company's January U.S. Sales Up 8%
Ford Focus and Premier Automotive Group Ignite Fast Start in 2000
DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 1 -- U.S. consumers purchased or leased
281,169 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo dealers
in January. The company's January sales were eight percent higher than a year
ago bolstered by the all-new Ford Focus and Premier Automotive Group mid-size
sedans.
The Ford Focus posted January sales of 19,018 -- sure to place it among
the top-selling small cars just three months after its North American debut.
The Ford Focus is the only car ever to win Car of the Year awards in Europe
and North America. Each of the luxury brands in Ford's Premier Automotive
Group benefited from consumer demand for innovative, mid-size sedans. Lincoln
sales climbed 37 percent, Jaguar sales soared 149 percent, and Volvo sales
increased 21 percent.
"Despite difficult weather conditions up and down the east coast, Ford and
industry sales remained strong in January," said Bob Rewey, Ford's Group Vice
President, Global Consumer Services and North America. "With consumer
confidence at all-time highs, and a record-setting economic expansion, we
believe 2000 is shaping up to be another very good year."
January Sales By Brand
Not content to rest on the laurels of their record-breaking sales year in
1999, Ford dealers delivered 229,378 cars and trucks in January, two percent
higher than a year ago. Consumer demand for the all-new Ford Focus has
prompted Ford to increase production at the Wayne Assembly Plant. With mid-
winter dealer days' supply in the mid-30's, Ford increased the line rate from
65 to 74 jobs per hour on January 10, which boosts annual straight-time
capacity by about 35,000 units. Wayne Assembly produces the four-door sedan
and station wagon models; the three-door Ford Focus is produced at the
Hermosillo Assembly Plant.
"The Ford Focus is connecting with younger buyers to a much greater extent
than any car we've ever offered," noted Rewey. "Almost half of the buyers are
35 and under and about one fourth of the buyers are 25 and under."
Ford's best selling vehicle was the Ford F-Series pickup, which posted
near-record January sales of 59,428. The newest F-Series model, the F-150
SuperCrew, in production at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, will reach Ford
dealers in late February. The F-150 SuperCrew is the industry's first full-
size, light-duty pickup with four standard doors. Ford sold a record 47,964
sport utility vehicles in January despite limited availability. Soon, Ford
Outfitters will offer customers two new Explorer models, the Explorer Sport, a
two-door SUV, and the Explorer Sport Trac, the industry's first SUV with a
pickup bed. Both models are in production at the Louisville Assembly Plant
and, like the F-150 SuperCrew, will arrive at dealers in late February.
Lincoln sales in January were 13,262, up 37 percent from a year ago.
Although the Lincoln Town Car remains the top seller, the year-to-year sales
increase is due to the Lincoln LS, an all-new, mid-size sedan, selected as
Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year from a field that included both
domestic and foreign models.
Jaguar set a new January record with sales of 3,069, up 149 percent from a
year ago. The all-new S-TYPE, named People's Choice Car of the Year at the
Los Angeles Auto Show, was the major factor behind Jaguar's sales increase.
In 1999, Jaguar full year sales increased 56 percent -- the highest increase
of any European brand.
Volvo sales climbed 21 percent bolstered by the addition of the all-new
S40/V40 compact sedan and wagon. At the North American International Auto
Show, Volvo introduced two new station wagons -- the V70 and V70 Cross
Country. The front-wheel-drive V70 will arrive at Volvo dealer showrooms in
April; the all-wheel-drive V70 Cross Country will debut in August.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JANUARY 2000 U.S. SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
Car and Truck Sales By Brand
Ford 229,378 224,701 2.1% 229,378 224,701 2.1%
Mercury 26,204 25,826 1.5 26,204 25,826 1.5
Lincoln 13,262 9,656 37.3 13,262 9,656 37.3
Jaguar 3,069 1,231 149.3 3,069 1,231 149.3
Volvo 9,256 7,643 21.1 9,256 7,643 21.1
Total Ford Motor
Company 281,169 261,414 7.6% 281,169 261,414 7.6%
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 115,505 90,774 27.2% 115,505 90,774 27.2%
Trucks 165,664 170,640 -2.9 165,664 170,640 -2.9
Total Ford Motor
Company 281,169 261,414 7.6% 281,169 261,414 7.6%
Memo: Selling
Days 25 25 25 25
Note: Ford acquired Volvo Cars on March 31, 1999. Accordingly, Ford
Motor Company's January 1999 sales totals exclude Volvo.
FORD BRAND JANUARY 2000 U.S. SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
Crown Victoria 5,024 7,156 -29.8% 5,024 7,156 -29.8%
Taurus 23,131 20,710 11.7 23,131 20,710 11.7
Contour 9,686 7,415 30.6 9,686 7,415 30.6
Focus 19,018 NA NA 19,018 NA NA
Escort 5,478 17,447 -68.6 5,478 17,447 -68.6
Mustang 9,947 11,075 -10.2 9,947 11,075 -10.2
TOTAL FORD
CARS 72,284 63,803 13.3% 72,284 63,803 13.3%
Expedition 14,232 16,335 -12.9% 14,232 16,335 -12.9%
Explorer 30,058 30,304 -0.8 30,058 30,304 -0.8
Excursion 3,674 NA NA 3,674 NA NA
Econoline/Club
Wagon 12,869 12,122 6.2 12,869 12,122 6.2
Windstar 14,929 14,449 3.3 14,929 14,449 3.3
Ranger 21,150 26,863 -21.3 21,150 26,863 -21.3
F-Series 59,428 60,257 -1.4 59,428 60,257 -1.4
Heavy Trucks 754 568 32.7 754 568 32.7
TOTAL FORD
TRUCKS 157,094 160,898 -2.4% 157,094 160,898 -2.4%
TOTAL FORD
BRAND 229,378 224,701 2.1% 229,378 224,701 2.1%
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND JANUARY 2000 U.S. SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
Grand Marquis 8,096 6,875 17.8% 8,096 6,875 17.8%
Sable 6,740 5,227 28.9 6,740 5,227 28.9
Cougar 2,242 3,746 -40.1 2,242 3,746 -40.1
Mystique 3,423 2,121 61.4 3,423 2,121 61.4
Tracer 0 1,311 -100.0 0 1,311 -100.0
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 20,501 19,280 6.3% 20,501 19,280 6.3%
Town Car 5,815 5,005 16.2 5,815 5,005 16.2
Continental 1,525 1,455 4.8 1,525 1,455 4.8
LS 3,055 NA NA 3,055 NA NA
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 10,395 6,460 60.9% 10,395 6,460 60.9%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 30,896 25,740 20.0% 30,896 25,740 20.0%
Villager 1,847 2,815 -34.4% 1,847 2,815 -34.4%
Mountaineer 3,856 3,731 3.4 3,856 3,731 3.4
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 5,703 6,546 -12.9% 5,703 6,546 -12.9%
Navigator 2,867 3,196 -10.3 2,867 3,196 -10.3
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
TRUCKS 8,570 9,742 -12.0% 8,570 9,742 -12.0%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 39,466 35,482 11.2% 39,466 35,482 11.2%
Memo: Total Lincoln
Brand 13,262 9,656 37.3% 13,262 9,656 37.3%
Total Mercury
Brand 26,204 25,826 1.5 26,204 25,826 1.5
JAGUAR CARS JANUARY 2000 U.S. SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
XJ8 318 330 -3.6% 318 330 -3.6%
XJ8 L 93 165 -43.6 93 165 -43.6
Vanden Plas 248 269 -7.8 248 269 -7.8
XJR 77 142 -45.8 77 142 -45.8
S-TYPE 1,855 NA NA 1,855 NA NA
XK8 - Coupe 46 50 -8.0 46 50 -8.0
XK8 - Convertible 294 275 6.9 294 275 6.9
XKR - Coupe 18 NA NA 18 NA NA
XKR - Convertible 120 NA NA 120 NA NA
TOTAL JAGUAR
CARS 3,069 1,231 149.3% 3,069 1,231 149.3%
VOLVO CARS JANUARY 2000 U.S. SALES
January Month DSR % January CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
S40 2,181 NA NA% 2,181 NA NA%
V40 383 1 NA 383 1 NA
S70 1,894 2,901 -34.7 1,894 2,901 -34.7
V70 2,059 2,387 -13.7 2,059 2,387 -13.7
C70 368 268 37.3 368 268 37.3
S80 2,371 2,082 13.9 2,371 2,082 NA
S90/V90 0 4 NA 0 4 NA
TOTAL VOLVO
CARS 9,256 7,643 21.1% 9,256 7,643 21.1%