• Ford Focus sales were up 23 percent and Ford Escape sales were up 17 percent versus year ago.
      
  • Lower demand for trucks and SUVs drives total Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales down 26 percent.
      
  • Ford updates second-half production plans.
      

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DEARBORN, Mich., September 3, 2008 – Higher demand for the fuel-efficient Ford Focus and Ford Escape continued in August, as consumers continued moving to smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Ford Focus sales were up 23 percent and Escape sales were up 17 percent versus a year ago, while the impact of a weak economy and lower demand for large trucks and SUVs resulted in double-digit sales declines for Ford and the auto industry.

"The Focus and Escape offer the features and fuel economy today's consumer's want," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications.

The 2009 Escape, with its new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission, delivers class-leading highway fuel economy of 28 mpg – matching the 2009 Toyota RAV4 and topping the Honda CR-V. The 2009 Escape Hybrid delivers 34 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, making it the most fuel-efficient utility vehicle available.

The 2009 Focus has similarly impressive fuel economy with an EPA highway fuel economy of 35 mpg – equal to the Toyota Corolla and the smaller 2009 Honda Fit.

Overall, during August, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle sales totaled 151,021, down 26 percent. The decline primarily reflects lower demand for SUVs (down 53 percent) and trucks (down 39 percent) and lower sales to fleet customers (down 31 percent).

"We expect the second half of 2008 will be more challenging than the first half, as weak economic conditions and the consumer credit crunch continues," said Farley.

North American Production

Ford now plans to produce 890,000 vehicles in the second half of 2008 (420,000 vehicles in the third quarter and 470,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter).

The second-half plan is 50,000 vehicles lower than the previous plan (20,000 vehicles in the third quarter and 30,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter). The reduction primarily reflects lower sales to daily rental companies, lower production associated with the transfer of the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator from Michigan Truck Plant to Kentucky Truck Plant, and a downward revision to the company's U.S. industry sales forecast (to the low end of the previously provided range of 14.0 to 14.5 million).

# # #

Note: The sales data included in this release and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit our website at www.ford.com.

 

FORD MOTOR COMPANY AUGUST 2008 U.S. SALES
August  
%  
Year-To-Date  
%  
2008  
2007  
Change  
2008  
2007  
Change  
Sales By Brand
Ford
133,088
180,282
-26.2
1,250,834
1,465,888
-14.7
Lincoln
9,540
10,423
-8.5
75,253
92,685
-18.8
Mercury
8,393
12,296
-31.7
90,400
118,340
-23.6

   Total Ford, Lincoln
    and Mercury
151,021
203,001
-25.6
1,416,487
1,676,913
-15.5
Volvo
4,669
9,119
-48.8
55,974
72,476
-22.8
   Total Ford Motor Company
155,690
212,120
-26.6
1,472,461
1,749,389
-15.8
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Sales By Type
Cars
52,677
57,812
-8.9
510,299
537,789
-5.1
Crossover Utility Vehicles
32,927
33,348
-1.3
273,320
270,291
1.1
Sport Utility Vehicles
10,852
23,087
-53.0
119,773
196,044
-38.9
Trucks and Vans
54,565
88,754
-38.5
513,095
672,789
-23.7
  Total Trucks
98,344
145,189
-32.3
906,188
1,139,124
-20.4
     Total Vehicles
151,021
203,001
-25.6
1,416,487
1,676,913
-15.5

FORD BRAND AUGUST 2008 U.S. SALES
August 
% 
Year-To-Date 
% 
2008 
2007 
Change 
2008 
2007 
Change 
Crown Victoria
3,930
3,340
17.7
35,695
42,668
-16.3
Taurus
4,462
5,851
-23.7
40,478
48,284
-16.2
Fusion
9,073
12,511
-27.5
107,603
100,553
7.0
Focus
16,387
13,282
23.4
155,036
123,158
25.9
Mustang
8,197
11,512
-28.8
73,961
99,537
-25.7
GT
0
0
NA
0
231
-100.0
   Ford Cars
42,049
46,496
-9.6
412,773
414,431
-0.4
Flex
2,010
0
NA
5,593
0
NA
Edge
9,962
10,165
-2.0
87,197
78,044
11.7
Escape
14,025
11,960
17.3
116,511
116,605
-0.1
Taurus X
1,670
4,863
-65.7
18,473
27,346
-32.4
   Ford Crossover
    Utility Vehicles
27,667
26,988
2.5
227,774
221,995
2.6
Expedition
3,867
6,883
-43.8
39,627
65,386
-39.4
Explorer
5,502
11,929
-53.9
60,841
97,845
-37.8
   Ford Sport Utility Vehicles
9,369
18,812
-50.2
100,468
163,231
-38.5
F-Series
40,429
69,220
-41.6
359,971
481,146
-25.2
Ranger
4,920
4,783
2.9
50,900
53,415
-4.7
Econoline/Club Wagon
8,081
12,821
-37.0
93,802
118,866
-21.1
Freestar
0
0
NA
0
2,390
-100.0
Low Cab Forward
55
266
-79.3
690
2,114
-67.4
Heavy Trucks
518
896
-42.2
4,456
8,300
-46.3
   Ford Trucks and Vans
54,003
87,986
-38.6
509,819
666,231
-23.5
      Ford Brand
133,088
180,282
-26.2
1,250,834
1,465,888
-14.7

LINCOLN BRAND AUGUST 2008 U.S. SALES 
August 
% 
Year-To-Date 
% 
2008 
2007 
Change 
2008 
2007 
Change 
MKS
2,374
0
NA
5,038
0
NA
MKZ
2,358
3,216
-26.7
23,336
22,948
1.7
Town Car
672
855
-21.4
10,654
24,969
-57.3
MKX
2,651
3,421
-22.5
22,224
23,145
-4.0
Navigator
923
2,163
-57.3
10,725
15,765
-32.0
Mark LT
562
768
-26.8
3,276
5,858
-44.1
   Lincoln Brand
9,540
10,423
-8.5
75,253
92,685
-18.8

MERCURY BRAND AUGUST 2008 U.S. SALES 
August 
% 
Year-To-Date 
% 
2008 
2007 
Change 
2008 
2007 
Change 
Grand Marquis
2,182
2,245
-2.8
21,492
35,543
-39.5
Sable
1,226
1,987
-38.3
12,928
14,814
-12.7
Milan
1,816
3,013
-39.7
24,078
25,084
-4.0
Mariner
2,609
2,939
-11.2
23,322
25,151
-7.3
Mountaineer
560
2,112
-73.5
8,580
17,048
-49.7
Monterey
0
0
NA
0
700
-100.0
  Mercury Brand
8,393
12,296
-31.7
90,400
118,340
-23.6

VOLVO BRAND AUGUST 2008 U.S. SALES
August 
% 
Year-To-Date 
% 
2008 
2007 
Change 
2008 
2007 
Change 
S40
512
1,463
-65.0
7,715
13,513
-42.9
V50
100
211
-52.6
1,251
1,961
-36.2
S60
467
1,950
-76.1
7,187
13,529
-46.9
S80
576
1,320
-56.4
8,233
8,650
-4.8
V70
195
430
-54.7
2,531
2,512
0.8
XC70
772
870
-11.3
7,074
8,036
-12.0
XC90
1,175
2,556
-54.0
14,186
21,011
-32.5
C70
462
293
57.7
4,606
3,213
43.4
C30
410
26
1,476.9
3,191
51
6156.9
   Volvo Brand
4,669
9,119
-48.8
55,974
72,476
-22.8