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F-Series Powers Ford to Highest Retail Share in Two Years; Flex, Lincoln MKS Gain More Retail Share


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)
Ford F-150

- Ford's F-Series drove through economic gauntlet to post October sales of 43,324, lifting Ford to highest retail share in two years.

- New F-150 launch begins from position of strength with the one and only 'Truck of Texas' crown in tow.

- Ford Focus, Fusion and Escape also contribute to strong retail performance.

- New Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan continue to grow retail share.

- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 129,121.

DEARBORN, MI - November 4, 2008: An economic gauntlet, the likes of which haven't been seen in more than two decades, could not deter Ford's best-selling F-Series truck. Ford dealers celebrated Truck Month by delivering 43,324 F-Series in October.

October also marked the annual Texas Truck Rodeo competition conducted by the Texas Auto Writer's Association, punctuated with the new F-150 besting all competitors to take the coveted "Truck of Texas" crown.

"We're launching the new F-150 from a position of strength," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "The F-150 has raised the bar again with best-in-class capability and unsurpassed fuel economy."

The 2009 model Ford F-150 has class-leading capability, delivering 11,300 pounds towing and 3,030 pounds payload and unsurpassed fuel economy of 21/15 highway/city mpg with the SFE package, which is available on F-150's highest volume XL and XLT series.

The national marketing launch of the F-150 began Sunday, Nov. 2, and nearly 3,000 new F-150s already were delivered to customers in October.

PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)
Ford Flex
The company's strong retail sales performance in a challenging environment enabled Ford to post its highest retail share in more than two years. In addition to the F-Series, the Ford Focus and Fusion sedans and Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles contributed to the balanced retail performance. In addition, the new Ford Flex crossover and Lincoln MKS sedan continued to gain retail share in their segments.

PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)
Ford Focus
"Our dealers delivered solid overall performance in October," said Farley. "Challenging external conditions present the best opportunity to challenge the competition. In the next nine months, we will introduce nine new products plus two new hybrids, which together account for 45 percent of our volume in 2009. Every new product will offer customers class-leading fuel economy and product quality that's on par with the best in the industry."

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 129,121 in October, down 29 percent compared with a year ago.

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.

                FORD MOTOR COMPANY OCTOBER 2008 U.S. SALES
                ------------------------------------------

                               October      %           Year-To-Date    %
                               -------                  ------------
                            2008    2007 Change       2008      2007 Change
                            ----    ---- ------       ----      ---- ------
  Sales By Brand
    Ford                 114,969 159,361  -27.9  1,468,488 1,780,286  -17.5
    Lincoln                7,399  10,229  -27.7     90,223   112,678  -19.9
    Mercury                6,753  12,844  -47.4    103,631   142,587  -27.3
                           -----  ------           -------   -------
      Total Ford,
       Lincoln and
       Mercury           129,121 182,434  -29.2  1,662,342 2,035,551  -18.3
    Volvo                  3,717   7,761  -52.1     63,745    88,645  -28.1
                           -----   -----            ------    ------
      Total Ford Motor
       Company           132,838 190,195  -30.2  1,726,087 2,124,196  -18.7

  Ford, Lincoln and
   Mercury Sales By Type
    Cars                  40,854  55,812  -26.8    591,606   643,813   -8.1
    Crossover Utility
     Vehicles             22,552  36,852  -38.8    318,455   339,476   -6.2
    Sport Utility
     Vehicles              9,102  19,730  -53.9    137,498   235,814  -41.7
    Trucks and Vans       56,613  70,040  -19.2    614,783   816,448  -24.7
                          ------  ------           -------   -------
      Total Trucks        88,267 126,622  -30.3  1,070,736 1,391,738  -23.1
                          ------ -------         --------- ---------
        Total Vehicles   129,121 182,434  -29.2  1,662,342 2,035,551  -18.3

                    FORD BRAND OCTOBER 2008 U.S. SALES
                    ----------------------------------

                               October      %           Year-To-Date    %
                               -------                  ------------
                            2008    2007 Change       2008      2007 Change
                            ----    ---- ------       ----      ---- ------

  Crown Victoria           3,299   5,098  -35.3     42,616    51,286  -16.9
  Taurus                   2,517   5,361  -53.0     46,167    57,875  -20.2
  Fusion                  10,836  11,210   -3.3    128,381   123,729    3.8
  Focus                   10,576  12,934  -18.2    175,958   145,977   20.5
  Mustang                  4,686   9,156  -48.8     83,557   118,959  -29.8
  GT                           0       0     NA          0       231 -100.0
                               -       -                 -       ---
    Ford Cars             31,914  43,759  -27.1    476,679   498,057   -4.3

  Flex                     2,017       0     NA      9,569         0     NA
  Edge                     5,951  14,133  -57.9     99,781   103,809   -3.9
  Escape                   9,886  12,174  -18.8    135,558   139,911   -3.1
  Taurus X                 1,329   4,204  -68.4     20,907    34,615  -39.6
                           -----   -----            ------    ------
    Ford Crossover
     Utility Vehicles     19,183  30,511  -37.1    265,815   278,335   -4.5

  Expedition               3,647   5,931  -38.5     46,919    77,144  -39.2
  Explorer                 3,991   9,786  -59.2     68,330   118,321  -42.3
                           -----   -----            ------   -------
    Ford Sport Utility
     Vehicles              7,638  15,717  -51.4    115,249   195,465  -41.0

  F-Series                43,324  51,741  -16.3    436,022   588,952  -26.0
  Ranger                   3,891   4,775  -18.5     58,706    62,209   -5.6
  Econoline/Club Wagon     8,429  12,013  -29.8    109,848   142,776  -23.1
  Freestar                     0       0     NA          0     2,390 -100.0
  Low Cab Forward             30     165  -81.8        775     2,422  -68.0
  Heavy Trucks               560     680  -17.6      5,394     9,680  -44.3
                             ---     ---             -----     -----
    Ford Trucks and Vans  56,234  69,374  -18.9    610,745   808,429  -24.5
                          ------  ------           -------   -------

    Ford Brand           114,969 159,361  -27.9  1,468,488 1,780,286  -17.5

                  LINCOLN BRAND OCTOBER 2008 U.S. SALES
                  -------------------------------------

                               October      %           Year-To-Date    %
                            2008    2007 Change       2008      2007 Change

  MKS                      2,072       0     NA      8,924         0     NA
  MKZ                      1,309   2,941  -55.5     26,223    28,478   -7.9
  Town Car                 1,146     477  140.3     12,831    26,057  -50.8
  MKX                      1,459   3,787  -61.5     25,436    30,737  -17.2
  Navigator                1,034   2,358  -56.1     12,771    20,087  -36.4
  Mark LT                    379     666  -43.1      4,038     7,319  -44.8
                             ---     ---             -----     -----

    Lincoln Brand          7,399  10,229  -27.7     90,223   112,678  -19.9

                  MERCURY BRAND OCTOBER 2008 U.S. SALES
                  -------------------------------------

                               October      %           Year-To-Date    %
                               -------                  ------------
                            2008    2007 Change       2008      2007 Change
                            ----    ---- ------       ----      ---- ------

  Grand Marquis            1,967   3,595  -45.3     25,058    41,875  -40.2
  Sable                      645   1,818  -64.5     14,356    18,483  -22.3
  Milan                    1,801   3,222  -44.1     27,535    30,863  -10.8
  Mariner                  1,910   2,554  -25.2     27,204    30,404  -10.5
  Mountaineer                430   1,655  -74.0      9,478    20,262  -53.2
  Monterey                     0       0     NA          0       700 -100.0
                               -       -                 -       ---

    Mercury Brand          6,753  12,844  -47.4    103,631   142,587  -27.3

                   VOLVO BRAND OCTOBER 2008 U.S. SALES
                   -----------------------------------

                               October      %           Year-To-Date    %
                               -------                  ------------
                            2008    2007 Change       2008      2007 Change
                            ----    ---- ------       ----      ---- ------

  S40                        501   1,113  -55.0      8,638    15,758  -45.2
  V50                        187     241  -22.4      1,557     2,426  -35.8
  S60                        612   1,113  -45.0      8,269    15,468  -46.5
  S80                        424     892  -52.5      9,235    10,850  -14.9
  V70                        140     218  -35.8      2,812     3,102   -9.3
  XC70                       469   1,036  -54.7      8,204    10,026  -18.2
  XC90                       901   2,278  -60.4     16,193    25,749  -37.1
  C70                        244     388  -37.1      5,142     3,922   31.1
  C30                        239     482  -50.4      3,695     1,344  174.9
                             ---     ---             -----     -----

    Volvo Brand            3,717   7,761  -52.1     63,745    88,645  -28.1