Ford sees silver lining in sales numbers for April

RP news wires

Ford's new Focus continues to defy gravity - and the U.S. economy - with a 88 percent jump in retail sales vs. last April and the highest total Focus April sales since 2000.

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars achieved a 21 percent increase in retail sales. While Focus was the standout, the company's mid-size cars also posted higher retail sales. Ford Fusion retail sales were up 31 percent, Mercury Milan retail sales were up 19 percent and Lincoln MKZ retail sales were up 20 percent. The Fusion and Milan set April sales records with total sales of 15,059 for the Fusion and 3,809 for the Milan.

Retail sales for the company's crossovers were 11 percent higher than a year ago, paced by the Ford Edge (up 24 percent) and Ford Escape (up 13 percent). Retail sales for the Mercury Mariner were up 6 percent and Lincoln MKX retail sales were up 4 percent.

Higher gas prices are accelerating the industry-wide shift from trucks and traditional sport utility vehicles to cars and crossovers. At Ford, April sales for sport utility vehicles were 36 percent lower than a year ago and trucks were 19 percent lower.

Lower sales to daily rental companies (down 32 percent) also contributed to the company's sales decline. Overall, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 189,247, down 12 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales to individual customers were down 7 percent.

Total Ford Motor Company sales, including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo, totaled 200,727, down 12 percent.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY APRIL 2008 U.S. SALES
	April		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2008	2007	Change	2008	2007	Change
Sales By Brand
Ford	165,997	185,553	-10.5	649,814	708,141	-8.2
Mercury	12,910	17,481	-26.1	47,345	61,354	-22.8
Lincoln	10,340	11,832	-12.6	38,811	46,959	-17.4
Total Ford, Lincoln and Mercury	189,247	214,866	-11.9	735,970	816,454	-9.9

Jaguar	1,785	1,424	25.4	5,264	5,672	-7.2
Land Rover	2,557	4,211	-39.3	11,289	14,413	-21.7
Volvo	7,138	8,122	-12.1	31,942	35,044	-8.9
Total Ford Motor Company	200,727	228,623	-12.2	784,465	871,583	-10.0

Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars	79,913	80,732	-1.0	275,237	297,009	-7.3
Trucks	120,814	147,891	-18.3	509,228	574,574	-11.4
Total Ford Motor Company	200,727	228,623	-12.2	784,465	871,583	-10.0

FORD BRAND APRIL 2008 U.S. SALES
	April		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2008	2007	Change	2008	2007	Change
Crown Victoria	5,339	7,389	-27.7	18,286	23,922	-23.6
Taurus	5,240	6,657	-21.3	21,117	23,391	-9.7
Fusion	15,059	12,303	22.4	55,109	51,981	6.0
Focus	23,850	16,626	43.5	72,920	56,463	29.1
Mustang	10,050	12,509	-19.7	34,527	47,082	-26.7
GT	0	0	NA	0	231	-100.0
Total Ford Cars	59,538	55,484	7.3	201,959	203,070	-0.5

Escape	15,399	14,788	4.1	59,299	54,105	9.6
Edge	10,333	9,134	13.1	46,367	33,612	37.9
Taurus X	2,261	4,893	-53.8	9,758	14,686	-33.6
Explorer	7,356	11,956	-38.5	34,994	46,679	-25.0
Expedition	5,208	8,008	-35.0	23,434	32,157	-27.1
Freestar	0	150	-100.0	0	2,176	-100.0
Econoline/Club Wagon	12,784	15,740	-18.8	49,196	62,246	-21.0
Ranger	7,585	7,499	1.1	29,182	25,990	12.3
F-Series	44,813	56,692	-21.0	192,951	228,343	-15.5
Low Cab Forward	102	205	-50.2	325	868	-62.6
Heavy Trucks	618	1,004	-38.4	2,349	4,209	-44.2
Total Ford Trucks	106,459	130,069	-18.2	447,855	505,071	-11.3

Total Ford Brand	165,997	185,553	-10.5	649,814	708,141	-8.2

LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND APRIL 2008 U.S. SALES
	April		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2008	2007	Change	2008	2007	Change
Grand Marquis	3,201	6,514	-50.9	11,106	20,956	-47.0
Sable	1,862	2,295	-18.9	5,619	6,585	-14.7
Milan	3,809	3,365	13.2	12,686	13,601	-6.7
Total Mercury Cars	8,872	12,174	-27.1	29,411	41,142	-28.5

MKZ	3,268	2,740	19.3	13,012	10,838	20.1
Town Car	1,976	3,712	-46.8	5,412	15,357	-64.8
Total Lincoln Cars	5,244	6,452	-18.7	18,424	26,195	-29.7

Total MercuryÂ and Lincoln Cars	14,116	18,626	-24.2	47,835	67,337	-29.0

Mariner	3,092	3,065	0.9	12,260	11,495	6.7
Mountaineer	946	2,135	-55.7	5,674	8,133	-30.2
Monterey	0	107	-100.0	0	584	-100.0
Total Mercury Trucks	4,038	5,307	-23.9	17,934	20,212	-11.3

MKX	3,038	2,901	4.7	12,370	9,964	24.1
Navigator	1,673	1,801	-7.1	6,505	7,894	-17.6
Mark LT	385	678	-43.2	1,512	2,906	-48.0
Total Lincoln Trucks	5,096	5,380	-5.3	20,387	20,764	-1.8

Total Mercury and Lincoln Trucks	9,134	10,687	-14.5	38,321	40,976	-6.5

Total Mercury and Lincoln Vehicles	23,250	29,313	-20.7	86,156	108,313	-20.5

Total Lincoln Brand	10,340	11,832	-12.6	38,811	46,959	-17.4
Total Mercury Brand	12,910	17,481	-26.1	47,345	61,354	-22.8

JAGUAR BRAND APRIL 2008 U.S. SALES
	April		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2008	2007	Change	2008	2007	Change
XJ	259	452	-42.7	904	1,584	-42.9
XF	1,126	0	NA	2,287	0	NA
S-TYPE	94	283	-66.8	689	1,348	-48.9
X-TYPE	31	252	-87.7	356	1,052	-66.2
XK	275	437	-37.1	1,028	1,688	-39.1
Total Jaguar	1,785	1,424	25.4	5,264	5,672	-7.2

VOLVO BRAND APRIL 2008 U.S. SALES
	April		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2008	2007	Change	2008	2007	Change
C30	337	0	NA	1,399	0	NA
S40	1,317	1,725	-23.7	5,294	7,398	-28.4
V50	129	255	-49.4	621	977	-36.4
S60	771	1,502	-48.7	5,037	5,879	-14.3
V70	229	250	-8.4	873	1,099	-20.6
XC70	773	756	2.2	3,685	3,833	-3.9
C70	703	476	47.7	2,203	1,484	48.5
S80	988	990	-0.2	4,752	4,093	16.1
XC90	1,891	2,168	-12.8	8,078	10,281	-21.4
Total Volvo	7,138	8,122	-12.1	31,942	35,044	-8.9

LAND ROVER BRAND APRIL 2008 U.S. SALES
	April		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2008	2007	Change	2008	2007	Change
Range Rover	654	854	-23.4	2,949	3,763	-21.6
Range Rover Sport	945	1,247	-24.2	4,118	5,048	-18.4
LR3	501	808	-38.0	1,803	4,299	-58.1
LR2	457	1,302	-64.9	2,419	1,302	85.8
Freelander	0	0	NA	0	1	-100.0
Total Land Rover	2,557	4,211	-39.3	11,289	14,413	-21.7

Please reference this article as:
RP news wires, "Ford sees silver lining in sales numbers for April". Reliable Plant Magazine. /