Ford's F-Series Truck Sets September Record as Sales Soar 31 Percent
* Ford's total September sales increased 5 percent compared with a year ago * Sales to individual retail customers climbed 8 percent; fleet sales declined 11 percent * F-Series sales were 81,782 - best September in its 55-year history * Ford Escape, Expedition and Lincoln Aviator pace record SUV sales * Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo set September sales records
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 1 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 294,991 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in September, up 5 percent compared with a year ago. Sales of trucks (pickups, sport utility vehicles, and vans) were 207,772 (up 14 percent), while sales of passenger cars were 87,219 (down 11 percent). Sales to individual retail customers climbed 8 percent compared with a year ago, while sales to fleet customers declined 11 percent.
Year-to-date, the company's sales were 2.65 million, down 4 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales of trucks were 1.7 million, up 0.4 percent, while car sales were 913,991, down 12 percent.
September sales for Ford's F-Series truck were the highest in its 55-year history and 31 percent higher than a year ago. Ford dealers sold 81,782 F- Series trucks, eclipsing the previous September record of 74,787 set in 2001. In addition, it was the highest F-Series sales for any month since December 2001.
Ford dealers reported strong showroom traffic in September coinciding with the introduction of the all-new F-150 model.
"The new F-150 is doing exactly what we expected our clean-up hitter to do -- drive in truck buyers to Ford dealer showrooms," said Jim O'Connor, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "We're seeing a 'halo' effect from the showroom traffic generated by the F-150 that puts Ford in a position of strength no one else can match."
Ford Ranger, the best-selling compact pickup in America, benefited from the increased showroom traffic as September sales rose 15 percent.
Sales for the Ford Escape (up 29 percent), Ford Expedition (up 52 percent), and Lincoln Aviator (which posted its best sales month since introduction) paved the way for a new company SUV sales record. September sales of sport utility vehicles were 87,526, up 10 percent compared with a year ago.
Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo all set September sales records. In fact, Land Rover's September sales were the highest for any month.
Jaguar sales were 6,030, up 43 percent compared with last year's record sales. Land Rover also bested last year's record as September sales advanced 17 percent. Each of these brands are benefiting from the introduction of new products at the top end of the price range (Jaguar XJ sedan and Land Rover Range Rover).
Volvo dealers reported September sales of 10,418, up 25 percent compared with a year ago. September was the eleventh month in a row of higher sales at Volvo, a streak that started with the introduction of the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. Volvo retailers remain on pace to set a new calendar year sales record in 2003 as year-to-date sales totaled 101,370, up 22 percent from a year ago.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEPTEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 246,208 232,674 5.8 2,207,980 2,288,469 -3.5
Mercury 14,989 18,554 -19.2 153,206 205,841 -25.6
Lincoln 13,159 12,968 1.5 119,736 114,312 4.7
Jaguar 6,030 4,222 42.8 42,092 48,006 -12.3
Volvo 10,418 8,332 25.0 101,370 83,048 22.1
Land Rover 4,187 3,569 17.3 29,125 30,060 -3.1
Total Ford
Motor Company 294,991 280,319 5.2 2,653,509 2,769,736 -4.2
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 87,219 98,353 -11.3 913,991 1,036,344 -11.8
Trucks 207,772 181,966 14.2 1,739,518 1,733,392 0.4
Total Ford
Motor Company 294,991 280,319 5.2 2,653,509 2,769,736 -4.2
FORD BRAND SEPTEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Crown Victoria 4,878 5,517 -11.6 60,277 63,546 -5.1
Taurus 21,864 19,311 13.2 241,772 247,015 -2.1
Focus 17,496 25,249 -30.7 176,913 189,285 -6.5
Thunderbird 1,659 1,378 20.4 14,696 15,513 -5.3
Mustang 8,763 11,184 -21.6 106,890 111,837 -4.4
Escort 2,483 2,155 15.2 19,451 45,120 -56.9
Total Ford Cars 57,143 64,794 -11.8 619,999 672,316 -7.8
Escape 13,216 10,282 28.5 123,590 105,766 16.9
Explorer 36,696 42,381 -13.4 282,816 328,036 -13.8
Expedition 17,115 11,238 52.3 139,516 112,858 23.6
Excursion 1,792 2,539 -29.4 17,887 22,904 -21.9
Econoline/Club Wagon 11,853 12,604 -6.0 123,213 126,002 -2.2
Windstar 7,019 9,629 -27.1 98,197 113,755 -13.7
Ranger 18,912 16,416 15.2 170,197 181,289 -6.1
F-Series 81,782 62,224 31.4 627,364 620,197 1.2
Heavy Trucks 680 567 19.9 5,201 5,346 -2.7
Total Ford Trucks 189,065 167,880 12.6 1,587,981 1,616,153 -1.7
Total Ford Brand 246,208 232,674 5.8 2,207,980 2,288,469 -3.5
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND SEPTEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Grand Marquis 5,875 5,604 4.8 66,706 59,875 11.4
Sable 5,496 5,436 1.1 48,532 83,702 -42.0
Cougar 0 1,857 -100.0 2,024 14,806 -86.3
Total Mercury Cars 11,371 12,897 -11.8 117,262 158,383 -26.0
Town Car 4,210 4,859 -13.4 44,396 46,574 -4.7
LS 2,490 3,547 -29.8 26,484 30,325 -12.7
Continental 0 1,315 -100.0 280 13,375 -97.9
Total Lincoln Cars 6,700 9,721 -31.1 71,160 90,274 -21.2
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 18,071 22,618 -20.1 188,422 248,657 -24.2
Mountaineer 3,618 4,643 -22.1 35,944 34,438 4.4
Villager 0 1,014 -100.0 0 13,020 -100.0
Total Mercury Trucks 3,618 5,657 -36.0 35,944 47,458 -24.3
Navigator 3,199 2,863 11.7 27,065 21,846 23.9
Aviator 3,260 0 NA 21,358 0 NA
Blackwood 0 384 -100.0 153 2,192 -93.0
Total Lincoln Trucks 6,459 3,247 98.9 48,576 24,038 102.1
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 10,077 8,904 13.2 84,520 71,496 18.2
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 28,148 31,522 -10.7 272,942 320,153 -14.7
Total Lincoln Brand 13,159 12,968 1.5 119,736 114,312 4.7
Total Mercury Brand 14,989 18,554 -19.2 153,206 205,841 -25.6
JAGUAR BRAND SEPTEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
XJ 1,020 582 75.3 7,160 6,521 9.8
S-TYPE 1,458 1,234 18.2 11,549 11,798 -2.1
X-TYPE 3,324 2,046 62.5 21,212 26,696 -20.5
XK 228 360 -36.7 2,171 2,991 -27.4
Total Jaguar 6,030 4,222 42.8 42,092 48,006 -12.3
VOLVO BRAND SEPTEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
S40 865 1,201 -28.0 10,333 12,090 -14.5
V40 240 262 -8.4 2,392 2,123 12.7
S60 2,543 2,798 -9.1 27,617 30,619 -9.8
S70 0 0 NA 0 0 NA
V70 720 1,060 -32.1 8,928 7,893 13.1
V70 XC 1,361 1,613 -15.6 12,874 15,683 -17.9
C70 330 327 0.9 3,431 2,987 14.9
XC90 3,082 0 NA 25,018 0 NA
S80 1,277 1,071 19.2 10,777 11,653 -7.5
Total Volvo 10,418 8,332 25.0 101,370 83,048 22.1
LAND ROVER BRAND SEPTEMBER 2003 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change
Range Rover 1,191 616 93.3 8,126 5,757 41.1
Discovery 2,003 1,592 25.8 13,388 12,872 4.0
Freelander 993 1,361 -27.0 7,611 11,431 -33.4
Total Land Rover 4,187 3,569 17.3 29,125 30,060 -3.1
