Ford March 2010

[Justin Bimmer]

Ford’s U.S. Sales Up 43 Percent in March; New Products With Industry-Leading Quality and Fuel Efficiency Net 1Q Sales Increase of 37 Percent and Share Gains

DEARBORN, Mich., April 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

* Ford, Lincoln and Mercury March sales totaled 178,546, up 43 percent versus year ago

* Ford brand sales up 46 percent versus year ago, Lincoln up 19 percent and Mercury up 26 percent

* Cars up 53 percent versus year ago, utilities up 46 percent and trucks up 30 percent; March retail sales up 38 percent; fleet sales up 53 percent

* Ford, Lincoln and Mercury first quarter sales totaled 428,596, up 37 percent versus year ago

* Ford gains retail market share for the 17th time in the last 18 months, as more buyers turn to Ford’s fresh lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles to meet their needs

Ford (NYSE: F) punctuated a strong first quarter with a 43 percent sales increase in March. Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers delivered 178,546 new vehicles in March. First quarter sales totaled 428,596, up 37 percent. The 43 percent gain matches a similar increase in February. These are the highest monthly sales increases since February 1984.

In March, Ford gained retail market share for the 17th time in the last 18 months.

“Our dealers welcome more new customers every day with the strongest lineup of products in our history,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service. “We are working to build further on this sales momentum by delivering even more new products with industry-leading quality, smart technologies and fuel-efficient powertrains this year.”

New or significantly upgraded U.S. vehicles this year include the Ford Fiesta, Focus, Edge and Edge Sport, Explorer, F-Series Super Duty, Transit Connect Electric, Lincoln MKX crossover and the brand’s first luxury hybrid vehicle, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid midsize sedan.

In addition, the company is introducing nine new or upgraded fuel-efficient engines and six new transmissions this year. These include the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, new Mustang V-6 and V-8, new Super Duty 6.7-liter diesel and 6.2-liter gasoline engines.

Once again, sales were higher throughout Ford’s lineup in March. Cars were up 53 percent versus a year ago, utilities were up 46 percent, and trucks were up 30 percent. Among brands, Ford sales were up 46 percent, Lincoln sales were up 19 percent, and Mercury sales were up 26 percent.

In March, Ford sales to retail customers were 38 percent higher than a year ago, and fleet sales were up 53 percent. Individuals, small businesses and large fleet customers are turning to Ford to meet their needs knowing that high-quality, class-leading fuel economy and strong resale values reduce ownership costs and provide a compelling value proposition.

In the first quarter, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 428,596, up 37 percent versus a year ago. Ford estimates its first-quarter market share was 16.5 percent, up more than 2.5 percentage points compared with a year ago.

Additional Sales Highlights

* Ford Fusion, Motor Trend’s Car of the Year, set an all-time monthly record in March with sales of 22,773, up 79 percent versus a year ago. Mercury Milan sales were up 71 percent, its fifth consecutive monthly sales increase. The Lincoln MKZ midsize sedan was up 22 percent.

* Ford Taurus sales totaled 7,001 in March, up 86 percent.

* Ford Focus and Ford Mustang sales each were up 57 percent versus a year ago.

* With sales of 42,514, Ford’s F-Series posted a 30 percent sales increase in March. In 2009, F-Series increased its leadership position among full-size pickups with a 4 percentage-point gain in segment share, and the F-Series continues to gain share in 2010. In the first two months of 2010, F-Series’ share of the full-size pickup market was 40 percent – up almost 8 percentage points versus the same period a year ago. F-Series – America’s best-selling truck for 33 years in a row and best-selling vehicle (car or truck) for 28 years in row – is also the first vehicle in the U.S. to eclipse 100,000 sales in 2010 as first quarter sales rose to 103,039.

* Utility vehicles also posted strong sales increases. In March, Escape set a March sales record of 19,182, up 52 percent. Edge sales were up 67 percent, Flex sales were up 17 percent, and Mercury Mariner sales were up 25 percent. Sales for traditional SUVs (Explorer, Mountaineer, Expedition and Navigator) also were higher than a year ago.

* Sales for Ford’s E-Series van (Econoline/Club Wagon) were up 34 percent versus a year ago. E-Series has been America’s best-selling full-size van for 31 years.

* Sales of the new Transit Connect small commercial van totaled 1,836 in March. In the first two months of 2010, Ford garnered two-thirds of the commercial van segment, more than 8 percentage points higher than a year ago. Production of a battery-electric Transit Connect begins later this year.

* Ford’s hybrid vehicles (Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner) posted sales of 3,050 in March, up 69 percent versus a year ago. Year-to-date, the company’s hybrid sales totaled 7,016, up 77 percent. Ford has sold more than 125,000 hybrid vehicles in the U.S. and is America’s largest domestic hybrid company.

“Ford’s plan is working,” Czubay said. “People increasingly are discovering that the Ford difference is the strength of our fresh, new product lineup, especially our leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart technologies and value.”

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.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and, until its sale, Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

    

                   FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH 2010 U.S. SALES
                   ----------------------------------------

                                 March        %      Year-To-Date      %
                                 -----                ------------
                              2010    2009  Change    2010    2009  Change
                              ----    ----  ------    ----    ----  ------
   Sales By Brand
     Ford                  159,367 109,490    45.6 382,762 273,234    40.1
     Lincoln                 8,693   7,310    18.9  22,410  19,034    17.7
     Mercury                10,486   8,307    26.2  23,424  19,479    20.3
                            ------   -----          ------  ------
       Total Ford, Lincoln
        and Mercury        178,546 125,107    42.7 428,596 311,747    37.5
     Volvo                   5,237   6,358   -17.6  14,006  12,624    10.9
                             -----   -----          ------  ------
        Total Ford Motor
         Company           183,783 131,465    39.8 442,602 324,371    36.4

   Ford, Lincoln and
    Mercury Sales By
    Type
     Cars                   71,015  46,467    52.8 165,306 109,852    50.5
     Utilities              47,908  32,827    45.9 118,100  87,689    34.7
     Trucks                 59,623  45,813    30.1 145,190 114,206    27.1
                            ------  ------         ------- -------
         Total Vehicles    178,546 125,107    42.7 428,596 311,747    37.5




                       FORD BRAND MARCH 2010 U.S. SALES
                       --------------------------------

                               March          %       Year-To-Date       %
                               -----                   ------------
                           2010       2009  Change    2010       2009  Change
                           ----       ----  ------    ----       ----  ------

   Focus                 19,500     12,383    57.5  43,597     30,056    45.1
   Fusion                22,773     12,723    79.0  51,411     28,478    80.5
   Taurus                 7,001      3,758    86.3  17,128      8,753    95.7
   Mustang                5,829      3,711    57.1  15,691      9,645    62.7
   Crown Victoria         3,223      3,416    -5.6   8,871      8,334     6.4
                          -----      -----           -----      -----
     Ford Cars           58,326     35,991    62.1 136,698     85,266    60.3

   Escape                19,182     12,580    52.5  45,091     31,030    45.3
   Edge                  10,254      6,134    67.2  25,191     16,321    54.3
   Flex                   3,468      2,971    16.7   8,722      7,782    12.1
   Taurus X                  11      1,148   -99.0      12      3,187   -99.6
   Explorer               5,907      3,317    78.1  14,192     10,077    40.8
   Expedition             2,596      1,548    67.7   7,666      5,489    39.7
                          -----      -----           -----      -----
     Ford Utilities      41,418     27,698    49.5 100,874     73,886    36.5

   F-Series              42,514     32,728    29.9 103,039     81,579    26.3
   Ranger                 4,445      4,879    -8.9  12,294     11,289     8.9
   Econoline/Club Wagon  10,470      7,831    33.7  24,628     20,036    22.9
   Transit Connect        1,836          0      NA   4,335          0      NA
   Low Cab Forward           51         21   142.9      72         50    44.0
   Heavy Trucks             307        342   -10.2     822      1,128   -27.1
                            ---        ---             ---      -----
     Ford Trucks         59,623     45,801    30.2 145,190    114,082    27.3
                         ------     ------         -------    -------

     Ford Brand         159,367    109,490    45.6 382,762    273,234    40.1




                      LINCOLN BRAND MARCH 2010 U.S. SALES
                      -----------------------------------

                        March             %           Year-To-Date       %
                        -----                          ------------
                    2010      2009     Change        2010       2009   Change
                    ----      ----     ------        ----       ----   ------

   MKZ             2,456     2,005       22.5       5,557      4,711     18.0
   MKS             1,443     1,716      -15.9       3,906      4,597    -15.0
   Town Car        1,342       860       56.0       3,216      2,454     31.1
   MKX             2,032     2,372      -14.3       5,682      5,776     -1.6
   MKT               744         0         NA       2,106          0       NA
   Navigator         676       345       95.9       1,943      1,372     41.6
   Mark LT             0        12     -100.0           0        124   -100.0
                     ---       ---                    ---        ---

     Lincoln Brand 8,693     7,310       18.9      22,410     19,034     17.7




                       MERCURY BRAND MARCH 2010 U.S. SALES
                       -----------------------------------

                     March              %             Year-To-Date       %
                     -----                             ------------
                 2010      2009      Change          2010       2009  Change
                 ----      ----      ------          ----       ----   ------

   Milan        3,897     2,280        70.9         8,453      5,298     59.6
   Grand
    Marquis     3,532     2,674        32.1         7,439      4,832     54.0
   Sable           19       941       -98.0            37      2,694    -98.6
   Mariner      2,482     1,990        24.7         6,324      5,239     20.7
   Mountaineer    556       422        31.8         1,171      1,416    -17.3
                  ---       ---                     -----      -----

     Mercury
      Brand    10,486     8,307        26.2        23,424     19,479     20.3




                        VOLVO BRAND MARCH 2010 U.S. SALES
                        ---------------------------------

                      March          %         Year-To-Date        %
                      -----                    ------------
                  2010      2009   Change     2010        2009   Change
                  ----      ----   ------     ----        ----   ------

   S40             513       895    -42.7    1,775       1,786     -0.6
   V50             175       109     60.6      580         373     55.5
   S60               1       999    -99.9       24       1,547    -98.4
   S80             851       778      9.4    2,045       1,922      6.4
   V70             159       313    -49.2      348         475    -26.7
   XC60          1,263       641     97.0    2,419         876    176.1
   XC70            698       575     21.4    1,891       1,414     33.7
   XC90            833       848     -1.8    2,346       2,086     12.5
   C70             451       728    -38.0    1,514       1,253     20.8
   C30             293       472    -37.9    1,064         892     19.3
                   ---       ---             -----         ---

     Volvo Brand 5,237     6,358    -17.6   14,006      12,624     10.9

[regfootball]

I'd like to see Lincoln do better. Ford is promoting 'Ford' so much, Lincoln's new product is getting lost in the shuffle.

Look at those truck based explorer and expedition sales......

Ford has momentum. But Toyota does too?

[mustang84]

I can't remember the last time Mercury sold over 10K in a month. A pat on the back for the winged messenger.

So much for Lincoln being volume and Mercury being niche. I'd rather have it this way and see Lincoln move upmarket into more exclusive territory, while Mercury covers the premium compacts and smaller vehicles that are within the price range of the urban hipster crowd. The Milan has really been gaining steam lately...I'm crossing my fingers for it to hit 5,000 at least one month this year.