Ford Motor Company's U.S. April Sales Climb 12%
3 May 2000
Ford Motor Company's U.S. April Sales Climb 12%; Strong Brands, New Products Drive Higher Sales
Premier Brands Continue Strong Growth -
Jaguar Up 98%, Lincoln Up 44%, Volvo Up 26%
DEARBORN, Mich., May 2 U.S. consumers purchased or leased
372,719 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, and Volvo dealers
in April, up 12 percent compared with a year ago. The sales increase reflects
the strength of Ford brands and favorable consumer response to new products.
In the last 12 months, the company has introduced the following new products
in North America: Jaguar S-TYPE, Lincoln LS, Volvo S40/V40, Ford Excursion,
Ford Focus, Jaguar XKR, Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Explorer Sport and
Sport Trac, Ford F-150 SuperCrew, and Volvo V70.
The company's April sales were highlighted by:
Ford Division - Record April sales for America's top-selling brand of cars
and trucks
Ford F-Series - April sales for America's best-selling pickup increased
11 percent
Ford Explorer - April sales for America's top-selling SUV climbed
26 percent
Ford Focus - North American Car of the Year posts April sales of 24,742
Ford Taurus - Record April sales for redesigned 2000 model (up 32 percent)
Lincoln - April sales up 44 percent bolstered by Lincoln LS
Jaguar - Record April sales up 98 percent
Volvo - April sales up 26 percent
"Our new products are generating higher sales and record profits," said
Bob Rewey, Ford's Group Vice President, Global Consumer Services and North
America. "We're optimistic that this trend will continue."
April Sales By Brand
Ford, America's top-selling brand of cars and trucks for 13 years in row,
posted record April sales of 310,610, up 13 percent compared with a year ago.
The previous record (308,016) was set 1978. Ford highlights, and the new
products that helped achieve record sales, included:
* Ford F-Series - April sales of 80,448, up 11 percent. New product:
F-150 SuperCrew, industry's first light-duty, full-size pickup with four
standard doors.
* Ford Explorer - April sales of 36,164, up 26 percent. New Products:
Explorer Sport and Explorer Sport Trac, industry's first SUV with pickup
bed.
* Ford Focus - Only car ever to be named Car of the Year on the European
and North American continents posted April sales of 24,742. New
Product: All-new small car (four-door sedan and station wagon and three-
door hatchback models).
* Ford Taurus - Record April sales of 37,066, up 32 percent. Previous
April record (35,070) was set 1989. New Product: Taurus redesigned for
2000 model year.
* Ford Windstar - April sales of 23,379, up 32 percent. New Product:
Windstar redesigned for 1999 model year with highest government safety
rating for any minivan.
Lincoln sales were 16,540, up 44 percent. Bolstered by the addition of
the all-new Lincoln LS, Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year, Lincoln's
year-to-date sales were up 36 percent.
Jaguar achieved record April sales of 4,024, up 98 percent from a year
ago. It was the 12th month in a row of record sales. The all-new Jaguar
S-TYPE and XKR coupe and convertible are driving Jaguar toward a new sales
record. Jaguar's year-to-date sales were up 135 percent.
Volvo posted April sales of 9,605 as sales increased for the 15th month in
a row. The all-new S40/V40 compact sedan and wagon has been a major
contributor to Volvo's record-setting performance. The all-new V70 station
wagon is beginning to arrive in Volvo dealer showrooms. Volvo's year-to-date
sales were up 18 percent.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY APRIL 2000 U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
Car and Truck Sales By Brand
Ford 310,610 287,066 12.5% 1,194,929 1,122,776 6.4%
Mercury 31,940 36,672 -9.4 131,653 140,507 -6.3
Lincoln 16,540 11,911 44.4 66,541 48,896 36.1
Jaguar 4,024 2,109 98.4 14,650 6,241 134.7
Volvo 9,605 7,914 26.2 42,196 35,855 17.7
Total Ford Motor
Company 372,719 345,672 12.1% 1,449,969 1,326,334 9.3%
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 156,820 141,311 15.4% 597,817 507,742 17.7%
Trucks 215,899 204,361 9.9 852,152 818,592 4.1
Total Ford Motor
Company 372,719 345,672 12.1% 1,449,969 1,326,334 9.3%
Memo: Selling Days 25 26 102 102
Note: Ford Motor Company acquired Volvo Cars on March 31, 1999.
Accordingly, Ford's 1999 year-to-date sales exclude Volvo prior to
April 1.
FORD BRAND APRIL 2000 U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR%
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
Crown Victoria 9,677 11,025 -8.7% 32,712 39,635 -7.5%
Taurus 37,066 29,324 31.5 130,013 111,256 16.9
Contour 3,155 10,975 -70.1 27,407 42,845 -36.0
Focus 24,742 NA NA 95,834 NA NA
Escort 11,316 23,330 -49.6 36,898 94,158 -60.8
Mustang 17,667 17,420 5.5 58,659 58,881 -0.4
TOTAL FORD CARS 103,623 92,074 17.0% 381,523 346,775 10.0%
Expedition 15,537 18,647 -13.3% 65,754 73,120 -10.1%
Explorer 36,164 29,938 25.6 151,195 132,287 14.3
Excursion 3,774 NA NA 15,838 NA NA
Econoline/Club Wagon 16,356 18,123 -6.1 61,185 63,402 -3.5
Windstar 23,379 18,409 32.1 87,547 75,379 16.1
Ranger 30,278 33,655 -6.4 125,782 139,557 -9.9
F-Series 80,448 75,463 10.9 302,218 289,373 4.4
Heavy Trucks 1,051 757 44.4 3,887 2,883 34.8
TOTAL FORD TRUCKS 206,987 94,992 10.4% 813,406 776,001 4.8%
TOTAL FORD BRAND 310,610 87,066 12.5% 1,194,929 1,122,776 6.4%
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND APRIL 2000 U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
Grand Marquis 11,391 10,204 16.1% 44,756 39,068 14.6%
Sable 9,596 8,656 15.3 37,277 31,279 19.2
Cougar 3,708 5,292 -27.1 13,584 19,964 -32.0
Mystique 1,506 3,617 -56.7 10,447 11,874 -12.0
Tracer 0 2,415 -100.0 0 8,459 -100.0
TOTAL MERCURY
CARS 26,201 30,184 -9.7% 106,064 110,644 -4.1%
Town Car 7,149 7,036 5.7 28,760 28,233 1.9
Continental 1,776 1,994 -7.4 7,630 7,935 -3.8
LS 4,442 NA NA 16,994 NA NA
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 13,367 9,030 53.9% 53,384 36,168 47.6%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
CARS 39,568 39,214 4.9% 159,448 146,812 8.6%
Villager 2,902 3,408 -11.4% 10,269 15,695 -34.6%
Mountaineer 2,837 3,080 -4.2 15,320 14,168 8.1
TOTAL MERCURY
TRUCKS 5,739 6,488 -8.0% 25,589 29,863 -14.3%
Navigator 3,173 2,881 14.5 13,157 12,728 3.4
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
TRUCKS 8,912 9,369 -1.1% 38,746 42,591 -9.0%
TOTAL MERCURY
AND LINCOLN
VEHICLES 48,480 48,583 3.8% 198,194 189,403 4.6%
Memo:
Total Lincoln
Brand 16,540 11,911 44.4% 66,541 48,896 36.1%
Total Mercury
Brand 31,940 36,672 -9.4 131,653 140,507 -6.3
JAGUAR CARS APRIL 2000 U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999
Change
XJ8 483 627 -19.9% 1,644 1,923 -14.5%
XJ8 L 93 154 -37.2 415 634 -34.5
Vanden Plas 369 313 22.6 1,237 1,126 9.9
XJR 141 136 7.8 433 550 -21.3
S-TYPE 2,323 351 588.3 8,633 351 2359.5
XK8 - Coupe 65 45 50.2 232 181 28.2
XK8 - Convertible 449 483 -3.3 1,614 1,476 9.3
XKR - Coupe 15 NA NA 87 NA NA
XKR - Convertible 86 NA NA 355 NA NA
TOTAL JAGUAR
CARS 4,024 2,109 98.4% 14,650 6,241 134.7%
VOLVO CARS APRIL 2000 U.S. SALES
April Month DSR % April CYTD DSR %
2000 1999 Change 2000 1999 Change
S40 2,178 NA NA% 9,543 NA NA%
V40 433 NA NA 1,774 1 NA
S70 2,026 2,459 -14.3 8,864 12,504 -29.1
V70 2,039 2,213 -4.2 9,287 10,675 -13.0
C70 426 698 -36.5 1,931 1,828 5.6
S80 2,503 2,541 2.4 10,796 10,830 -0.3
S90/V90 NA 3 NA 1 17 NA
TOTAL VOLVO
CARS 9,605 7,914 26.2% 42,196 35,855 17.7%