August 2006 Sales: Ford Motor Company

[Northstar]

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?...4&make_id=trust

HIGHEST SALES EVER FOR FORD'S NEW MID-SIZE SEDANS; NEARLY 23,000 FUSIONS, MILANS AND ZEPHYRS DELIVERED IN AUGUST

* Combined sales for the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr in August were 22,863 – easily eclipsing the previous monthly sales record for company's new mid-size sedans.

* Overall, Ford's August sales up 6 percent compared with July 2006, but down 12 percent compared with August 2005 when Ford offered employee prices to all customers.

* Car sales were up 9 percent compared with July and 9 percent compared with August 2005; truck sales were up 4 percent compared with July, but down 21 percent compared with August 2005.

* Ford Mustang posts best August sales since 1979 including over 800 Shelby GT 500 models. Total Mustang sales were 17,933, up 64 percent from August 2005.

* Ford F-Series posts second highest sales month in 2006. Total sales were 76,804, up 11 percent from July, but down 15 percent from last year's record sales.

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 1 - Consumer demand continues to grow for Ford's new mid-size sedans (Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr). Combined sales for the trio totaled 22,863, up 13 percent from the previous best sales month (20,267), which was May 2006. Demand for these products is expected to remain strong in the coming months as 2007 models will incorporate several standard safety features (e.g., side air bags) and all-wheel drive as an option.

August sales totaled 255,112, up 6 percent from July 2006, but down 12 percent compared with August 2005 when Ford offered employee prices to all customers.

The Fusion, Milan, and Zephyr are helping the company to increase car sales and market share. Total Ford car sales were 9 percent higher than July and 9 percent higher than a year ago.

Ford Mustang "rocked the house" in August with sales of 17,933, up 64 percent compared with August 2005. It was the highest Mustang sales in August since 1979. Included in the total were over 800 Shelby GT 500s.

The company's truck sales were up 4 percent compared with July 2006, but down 21 percent compared with August 2005. Ford's F-Series truck had its second highest sales month in 2006. Sales for America's best-selling truck in August were 76,804, up 11 percent from July 2006, but down 15 percent from last year's record sales of 90,388.

"Retail business was very strong at the end of the month," said Al Giombetti, president, Ford and Lincoln Mercury sales and marketing. "Zero percent financing put a big dent in 2006 model inventories." Giombetti noted August retail sales challenged March as the best retail month of the year.

Ford's zero percent financing program is available on 2006 models and concludes September 5 – after the Labor Day weekend.

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Five Hundred sales were terrible, as were the F-150s and most of the SUVs, but the cars did okay other than the Five Hundred.

[mustang84]

Link

Highlights:

Fusion sales eclipsed 15,000 mark for the month

Mustang outsold everything except the F-150 in the Ford lineup...highest sales since 1979

Explorer only down 6% for the month

F-Series sold 76,000 units, down from 90,000 last year

Milan is now the best-selling vehicle in Mercury's lineup...4100 in August

Five Hundred / Montego / Freestyle hurting

"Retail business very strong at the end of the month"

Car sales up 9% from July 2006, truck sales up 4% from August 2005

Car sales up 9% from August 2005, truck sales down 21% from August 2005

[Member55]

76K F150s is terrible? If they could do that every month that would be 900K units a year.

[thegriffon]

The cars did OK? Despite the perennial strength of the Ranger, F150 and Econoline, I think with a similar lineup that BPG could outsell Ford on any given month. They already do in many comparable segments.

[regfootball]

if you look at all the cars etc. that ford has tanking in sales, its generally because ford didn't invest in making the car desirable or as good as the competition or they have given up on it or they half assed it.

those are management issues. fire them all.

build on the success of the fusion and mustang, and wait for the edge.

[Northstar]

76K F150s is terrible? If they could do that every month that would be 900K units a year.

188027[/snapback]

Well, it was down 15%. I'd say that's pretty bad for their most important product.

Car sales were OK, they were up 12% for Ford and 8% for the whole FoMoCo.

[Satty]

Coming down from an insanely high record isn't horrible. There is no way they're going to sell 90k trucks a month regularly, thats almost 1.1 million a year. Gas is still pretty expensive and the F-150 is a couple of years old, though still better than what the competition has right now.

[Member55]

Well, it was down 15%. I'd say that's pretty bad for their most important product.

Car sales were OK, they were up 12% for Ford and 8% for the whole FoMoCo.

188286[/snapback]

900k F150s is their target, which they will probably not going to hit this year. 75K a month would take them where they want to be. Now, they are down 15% this month but the last August "Employe pricing" was in full swing.

[Dirty Harry]

The Fusion has done pretty well in it's 1st yr but be careful not to read too much into Ford's upcoming boasts. The Taurus is going out of production and although it only is sold as a fleet car it has so far this yr it still outsold the Fusion 125K units to 100K. These fleet sales will have to be transfered to some line in 2007 so expect big Fusion gains (and possibly Five Hundred gains) nxt yr but little net total sales gain to Ford.

Also expect F-Series sales to tank even further in 2007 once the GMT900 pickups and new Tundra hit the market.

All of this along with tumbling SUV sales means the Ford Edge MUST be a success.

[ocnblu]

Look at that sweetheart... Mustang, doing fine.

Ford needs to keep the Fusion and Milan in front of people's faces to build momentum. MKZ will get an inFusion with the new V6 and AWD availability. I'd like to see coupe versions of the cars.

Crown Vic needs an extensive update on a RWD platform... I'll say it again... 427.

Edge and MKX look good, and as long as there are no quality issues, should do well. The launch needs to be perfect. Seriously. For the health of the company.

500/Freestyle/Montego are odd ducks. So dull and frumpy. A complete reskin is in order. The new engine should help perceptions.

I'm interested in seeing this reworked Focus, especially the rumored coupe. I hope the wagon continues.