Ford's U.S. Sales Declined in September 2005
* Overall, Ford Motor Company's U.S. sales totaled 228,157, down 19 percent compared with a year ago."As expected, we experienced 'pay back' in September following a strong performance to start the quarter," said Steve Lyons, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "We're optimistic we can close the year on a positive note with the introduction of our new mid- size cars."
In September, car sales were up 3 percent as strong sales of the new Ford Mustang, Ford Five Hundred, and Mercury Montego offset declines in other car models. The first shipments of Ford's new mid-size cars (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr) have started to arrive at dealer showrooms and are available for delivery even though the official introduction month is November.
Sales of crossover utilities (Ford Escape, Ford Freestyle, Mercury Mariner, and Volvo XC70 and XC90) climbed 39 percent in September. The Ford Escape Hybrid set a new monthly sales record (1,808) in September. Almost 15,000 Escapes equipped with hybrid engine technology have been sold so far.
Traditional sport utilities experienced the largest declines. Sales in this category were off 51 percent compared with last September. A strong showing last year, when the company offered 0 percent financing for 72 months, exacerbated the magnitude of the decline. Still, sales of these models have experienced declines in 2005 as gas prices have risen.
"Traditional SUVs will continue to face headwinds in the coming months," said Lyons. "Fortunately, our lineup of cars and crossover utility vehicles is strong and getting stronger. These categories likely will continue to attract buyers in an environment where gasoline prices are rising. We're optimistic we can achieve further gains with the introduction of three all-new mid-size cars -- the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr -- and the Mercury Mariner hybrid utility vehicle."
Land Rover was a notable exception to the trend of lower SUV sales as the all-new LR3 and Range Rover Sport models helped the brand post a 45 percent sales increase in September.
The company's top selling model, the Ford F-Series truck, achieved the highest sales for any quarter (286,936) in its 57-year history despite a sharp decline in the last month of the quarter. September sales were 69,643, down 30 percent from last year's record sales (99,720).
FORD MOTOR COMPANY SEPTEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES
September Month% September CYTD %
Sales By Brand
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Ford 190,012 236,919 -19.8 2,090,838 2,114,450 -1.1
Mercury 13,385 15,888 -15.8 161,205 150,015 7.5
Lincoln 9,686 13,271 -27.0 93,700 104,229 -10.1
Jaguar 2,135 3,671 -41.8 24,284 35,570 -31.7
Volvo 9,514 10,541 -9.7 97,760 104,358 -6.3
Land Rover 3,425 2,366 44.8 30,930 23,454 31.9
Total Ford 228,157 282,656 -19.3 2,498,717 2,532,076 -1.3
Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars 72,990 70,683 3.3 829,029 790,162 4.9
Trucks 155,167 211,973 -26.8 1,669,688 1,741,914 -4.1
Total Ford 228,157 282,656 -19.3 2,498,717 2,532,076 -1.3
FORD BRAND SEPTEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Crown Victoria 4,161 5,220 -20.3 52,858 57,185 -7.6
Five Hundred 9,094 0 NA 84,240 0 NA
Taurus 13,897 16,134 -13.9 161,667 200,128 -19.2
Focus 11,712 15,309 -23.5 155,072 166,596 -6.9
Mustang 10,976 6,333 73.3 128,485 94,468 36.0
Thunderbird 478 706 -32.3 8,617 9,698 -11.1
GT 176 0 NA 772 0 NA
Escort 0 0 NA 0 1,210 -100.0
Total Ford Cars 50,494 43,702 15.5 591,711 529,285 11.8
Freestyle 7,146 0 NA 59,648 0 NA
Escape 12,052 12,564 -4.1 132,234 140,718 -6.0
Explorer 12,879 30,448 -57.7 196,878 260,030 -24.3
Expedition 5,906 15,003 -60.6 91,778 121,871 -24.7
Excursion 1,740 1,498 16.2 13,583 14,412 -5.8
Freestar 3,948 7,280 -45.8 64,060 79,922 -19.8
Windstar 0 0 NA 0 2,950 -100.0
Econoline/Club
Wagon 14,862 12,173 22.1 135,801 130,943 3.7
Ranger 10,105 13,687 -26.2 99,907 127,360 -21.6
F-Series 69,643 99,720 -30.2 694,690 697,938 -0.5
Low Cab Forward 131 0 NA 291 0 NA
Heavy Trucks 1,106 844 31.0 10,257 9,021 13.7
Total Ford
Trucks 139,518 193,217 -27.8 1,499,127 1,585,165 -5.4
Total Ford
Brand 190,012 236,919 -19.8 2,090,838 2,114,450 -1.1
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND SEPTEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Grand Marquis 4,019 6,899 -41.7 56,503 65,017 -13.1
Montego 2,792 0 NA 21,230 0 NA
Sable 1,888 3,132 -39.7 21,849 34,928 -37.4
Total Mercury Cars 8,699 10,031 -13.3 99,582 99,945 -0.4
Town Car 4,635 4,919 -5.8 37,008 38,974 -5.0
LS 1,222 2,493 -51.0 16,697 22,255 -25.0
Total Lincoln Cars 5,857 7,412 -21.0 53,705 61,229 -12.3
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 14,556 17,443 -16.6 153,287 161,174 -4.9
Mariner 2,038 723 NA 27,991 723 NA
Mountaineer 1,771 3,846 -54.0 26,611 35,398 -24.8
Monterey 877 1,288 -31.9 7,021 13,949 -49.7
Total Mercury Trucks 4,686 5,857 -20.0 61,623 50,070 23.1
Navigator 1,559 3,514 -55.6 20,283 25,822 -21.5
Aviator 1,407 2,345 -40.0 13,785 17,178 -19.8
Mark LT 863 0 NA 5,927 0 NA
Total Lincoln Trucks 3,829 5,859 -34.6 39,995 43,000 -7.0
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 8,515 11,716 -27.3 101,618 93,070 9.2
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 23,071 29,159 -20.9 254,905 254,244 0.3
Total Lincoln Brand 9,686 13,271 -27.0 93,700 104,229 -10.1
Total Mercury Brand 13,385 15,888 -15.8 161,205 150,015 7.5
JAGUAR BRAND SEPTEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
XJ 827 776 6.6 6,433 7,459 -13.8
S-TYPE 567 628 -9.7 6,911 8,896 -22.3
X-TYPE 603 2,074 -70.9 9,004 17,061 -47.2
XK 138 193 -28.5 1,936 2,154 -10.1
Total Jaguar 2,135 3,671 -41.8 24,284 35,570 -31.7
VOLVO BRAND SEPTEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
S40 2,218 2,007 10.5 19,458 16,970 14.7
V50 554 335 NA 4,490 929 NA
V40 1 32 -96.9 8 1,478 -99.5
S60 1,782 1,558 14.4 20,067 22,581 -11.1
V70 568 767 -25.9 5,992 8,429 -28.9
XC70 1,149 1,457 -21.1 11,241 12,881 -12.7
C70 17 294 -94.2 1,419 3,226 -56.0
S80 665 874 -23.9 8,313 10,520 -21.0
XC90 2,560 3,217 -20.4 26,772 27,344 -2.1
Total Volvo 9,514 10,541 -9.7 97,760 104,358 -6.3
LAND ROVER BRAND SEPTEMBER 2005 U.S. SALES
September Month % September CYTD %
2005 2004 Change 2005 2004 Change
Range Rover 985 1,010 -2.5 9,370 8,810 6.4
Range Rover Sport 1,106 0 NA 4,656 0 NA
LR3 1,192 0 NA 14,272 0 NA
Discovery 4 1,060 -99.6 807 10,279 -92.1
Freelander 138 296 -53.4 1,825 4,365 -58.2
Total Land Rover 3,425 2,366 44.8 30,930 23,454 31.9
