MAY BRINGS RECORD SALES FOR FORD FOCUS, FUSION

 
For the second time in its nine-year history, Ford Focus sales eclipsed the 30,000-unit milestone in May.

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  • Ford's redesigned Focus posted record May sales of 32,579, up 53 percent versus a year ago; retail sales to individual customers more than doubled (up 105 percent).
     
  • Ford Fusion May sales (18,088) were the highest for any month, up 27 percent versus a year ago.
      
  • Ford, Lincoln and Mercury car sales were 4 percent higher, with retail sales up 20 percent.
      
  • Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 206,000, down 16 percent, reflecting lower daily rental (down 30 percent), truck and van (down 29 percent) and SUV (down 44 percent) sales.
      
  • Total Ford Motor Company sales (including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo) totaled 217,998, also down 16 percent.
      
  • Ford confirms second and third quarter North American production plans.
       

DEARBORN, Mich., June 3, 2008 - For the second time in its nine-year history, Ford Focus sales eclipsed the 30,000-unit milestone in May.

Focus sales totaled 32,579, up 53 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales to individual customers more than doubled (up 105 percent). The first time was October 2001, when industry sales soared in response to zero-percent financing.

"Our dealers are selling the Focus at unprecedented turn rates," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "In fact, Focus' retail sales were 91 percent of beginning inventory, which puts it in the same league as the industry's best-selling small cars. This is a strong statement about customer demand for Ford's newest small car."

Ford is moving to increase Focus availability. In early April, Ford announced plans to produce 245,000 Focus units in 2008, approximately 30 percent more than in 2007. Ford now is targeting to produce 280,000 Focus units in 2009.

Ford Fusion sales were the highest for any month ever (18,088) and up 27 percent from a year ago, including a 30 percent increase to retail customers. The Mercury Sable and Milan also posted higher retail sales.

"Our products and our dealers are getting us back in the car business," Farley said. "Our small and mid-size cars are outperforming the industry, and we're only just beginning."

Late this year, a redesigned Fusion, Milan and MKZ will go into production. Additionally, Fusion and Milan will be offered in new hybrid versions.

Last week, Ford announced its global B-car, the Ford Fiesta, will be produced in North America in early 2010. Two Fiesta models will be offered - a sedan and a hatchback - helping feed customers' growing demand for small cars.

In all, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury car sales to retail customers were up 20 percent. Total car sales, including sales to fleet customers, were up 4 percent in May.

In May, crossover sales were lower than a year ago but remained at high levels as sales for the Ford Escape and Edge, Mercury Mariner and Lincoln MKX were among the highest recorded. During the past two years, sales growth for the company's crossovers has outpaced the industry.

The company's gains in the small and mid-size car market are helping to mitigate sharp declines among traditional SUVs (down 44 percent) and trucks and vans (down 29 percent) as well as lower sales to daily rental companies (down 30 percent).

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 206,000, down 16 percent.

Total Ford Motor Company sales, including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo, were 217,998, also down 16 percent.

North American Production

Today, the company is confirming the production plans it announced May 22. The second-quarter production plan is 690,000 units. The third-quarter plan is 525,000 units, in the middle of the range the company announced May 22. The fourth quarter production plan continues to be in the range of 590,000 to 630,000 units.

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.

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents.  With about 228,000 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 www.ford.com.

 

FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAY 2008 U.S. SALES  
  
May  
%  
 
Year-To-Date  
%  
  
2008  
2007  
Change  
 
2008  
2007  
Change  
Ford, Lincoln Mercury
Sales By Brand
Ford
184,042
212,572
-13.4
833,856
920,713
-9.4
Mercury
13,593
18,178
-25.2
60,938
79,532
-23.4
Lincoln
8,365
13,880
-39.7
47,176
60,839
-22.5
Total Ford, Lincoln Mercury
206,000
244,630
-15.8
941,970
1,061,084
-11.2
Sales By Type
Cars
85,542
82,412
3.8
335,336
352,819
-5.0
Crossover Utility Vehicles
39,097
42,174
-7.3
179,151
166,036
7.9
Sport Utility Vehicles
15,437
27,755
-44.4
86,044
122,618
-29.8
Pickup Trucks and Vans
65,924
92,289
-28.6
341,439
419,611
-18.6
Total Ford, Lincoln Mercury
206,000
244,630
-15.8
941,970
1,061,084
-11.2
Jaguar
1,757
1,379
27.4
7,021
7,051
-0.4
Land Rover
3,003
4,269
-29.7
14,292
18,682
-23.5
Volvo
7,238
9,192
-21.3
39,180
44,236
-11.4
Total Ford Motor Company
217,998
259,470
-16.0
1,002,463
1,131,053
-11.4
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars
91,634
89,126
2.8
366,871
386,135
-5.0
Trucks
126,364
170,344
-25.8
635,592
744,918
-14.7
Total Ford Motor Company
217,998
259,470
-16.0
1,002,463
1,131,053
-11.4

   

FORD BRAND MAY 2008 U.S. SALES  
  
May  
%  
Year-To-Date  
%  
  
2008  
2007  
Change  
2008  
2007  
Change  
Crown Victoria
5,225
6,714
-22.2
 
23,511
30,636
-23.3
Taurus
6,700
4,014
66.9
 
27,817
27,405
1.5
Fusion
18,088
14,279
26.7
 
73,197
66,260
10.5
Focus
32,579
21,269
53.2
 
105,499
77,732
35.7
Mustang
9,633
17,478
-44.9
 
44,160
64,560
-31.6
GT
0
0
NA
 
0
231
-100.0
Total Ford Cars
72,225
63,754
13.3
 
274,184
266,824
2.8
Escape
17,667
18,953
-6.8
 
76,966
73,058
5.3
Edge
12,367
12,701
-2.6
 
58,734
46,313
26.8
Taurus X
2,794
2,635
6.0
 
12,552
17,321
-27.5
Explorer
8,122
13,821
-41.2
 
43,116
60,500
-28.7
Expedition
5,252
9,205
-42.9
 
28,686
41,362
-30.6
Freestar
0
214
-100.0
 
0
2,390
-100.0
Econoline/Club Wagon
14,673
18,395
-20.2
 
63,869
80,641
-20.8
Ranger
7,239
9,608
-24.7
 
36,421
35,598
2.3
F-Series
42,973
61,939
-30.6
 
235,924
290,282
-18.7
Low Cab Forward
109
268
-59.3
 
434
1,136
-61.8
Heavy Trucks
621
1,079
-42.4
 
2,970
5,288
-43.8
Total Ford Trucks
111,817
148,818
-24.9
 
559,672
653,889
-14.4
Total Ford Brand
184,042
212,572
-13.4
 
833,856
920,713
-9.4

  

LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MAY 2008 U.S. SALES 
  
May 
% 
  
Year-To-Date 
% 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
Grand Marquis
3,087
6,371
-51.5
 
14,193
27,327
-48.1
Sable
1,686
1,206
39.8
 
7,305
7,791
-6.2
Milan
4,767
3,481
36.9
 
17,453
17,082
2.2
Total Mercury Cars
9,540
11,058
-13.7
 
38,951
52,200
-25.4
MKZ
3,013
3,092
-2.6
 
16,025
13,930
15.0
Town Car
764
4,508
-83.1
 
6,176
19,865
-68.9
Total Lincoln Cars
3,777
7,600
-50.3
 
22,201
33,795
-34.3
Total Mercury and Lincoln Cars
13,317
18,658
-28.6
 
61,152
85,995
-28.9
Mariner
3,319
4,395
-24.5
 
15,579
15,890
-2.0
Mountaineer
734
2,609
-71.9
 
6,408
10,742
-40.3
Monterey
0
116
-100.0
 
0
700
-100.0
Total Mercury Trucks
4,053
7,120
-43.1
 
21,987
27,332
-19.6
MKX
2,950
3,490
-15.5
 
15,320
13,454
13.9
Navigator
1,329
2,120
-37.3
 
7,834
10,014
-21.8
Mark LT
309
670
-53.9
 
1,821
3,576
-49.1
Total Lincoln Trucks
4,588
6,280
-26.9
 
24,975
27,044
-7.7
Total Mercury and Lincoln Trucks
8,641
13,400
-35.5
 
46,962
54,376
-13.6
Total Mercury and Lincoln Vehicles
21,958
32,058
-31.5
 
108,114
140,371
-23.0
Total Lincoln Brand
8,365
13,880
-39.7
 
47,176
60,839
-22.5
Total Mercury Brand
13,593
18,178
-25.2
 
60,938
79,532
-23.4

  

JAGUAR BRAND MAY 2008 U.S. SALES 
  
May 
% 
  
Year-To-Date 
% 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
XJ
229
317
-27.8
 
1,133
1,901
-40.4
XF
1,170
0
NA 
 
3,457
0
NA 
S-TYPE
53
316
-83.2
 
742
1,664
-55.4
X-TYPE
26
285
-90.9
 
382
1,337
-71.4
XK
279
461
-39.5
 
1,307
2,149
-39.2
Total Jaguar
1,757
1,379
27.4
 
7,021
7,051
-0.4

   

VOLVO BRAND MAY 2008 U.S. SALES 
  
May 
% 
  
Year-To-Date 
% 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
C30
504
0
NA
 
1,903
0
NA
S40
918
1,586
-42.1
 
6,212
8,984
-30.9
V50
201
286
-29.7
 
822
1,263
-34.9
S60
542
1,629
-66.7
 
5,579
7,508
-25.7
V70
366
293
24.9
 
1,239
1,392
-11.0
XC70
1,027
1,236
-16.9
 
4,712
5,069
-7.0
C70
677
571
18.6
 
2,880
2,055
40.1
S80
1,127
970
16.2
 
5,879
5,063
16.1
XC90
1,876
2,621
-28.4
 
9,954
12,902
-22.8
Total Volvo
7,238
9,192
-21.3
 
39,180
44,236
-11.4

   

LAND ROVER BRAND MAY 2008 U.S. SALES 
  
May 
% 
  
Year-To-Date 
% 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
  
2008 
2007 
Change 
Range Rover
732
931
-21.4
 
3,681
4,694
-21.6
Range Rover Sport
1,416
1,341
5.6
 
5,534
6,389
-13.4
LR3
355
972
-63.5
 
2,158
5,271
-59.1
LR2
500
1,025
-51.2
 
2,919
2,327
25.4
Freelander
0
0
NA
 
0
1
-100.0
Total Land Rover
3,003
4,269
-29.7
 
14,292
18,682
-23.5