March 2006 Sales: Ford Motor Company

[Variance]

HIGHEST SALES YET FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S NEW MID-SIZE SEDANS; FORD'S F-SERIES SETS THE PACE FOR FULL-SIZE TRUCKS

*Ford Motor Company's March U.S. sales totaled 291,146.

*Highest sales yet for new mid-size sedans – Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr. Combined sales in March were 17,157, up 28 percent from February.

*Ford's F-Series posts third consecutive sales increase. March sales were 84,168, up 5 percent from year ago.

*All-new Explorer Sport Trac debuts with higher-than-expected sales.

*Lincoln , bolstered by new Zephyr and Mark LT, achieves higher sales in March and first quarter.

*Land Rover dealers report record sales for the sixth consecutive month.

DEARBORN, Mich., April 3 - U.S. customers purchased or leased 291,146 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo dealers in March, down 5 percent from a year ago. In the first quarter, the company's sales totaled 740,838, down 3 percent.

Sales for the company's new mid-size sedans – Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr – continued to grow as each of the cars posted their highest monthly sales to date. Combined sales totaled 17,157 in March, up 28 percent from February.

"The Fusion, Milan and Zephyr are helping us to carve out a larger share of the market among mid-size car buyers," said Al Giombetti, vice president Ford and Lincoln Mercury marketing and sales. "These cars are helping our dealers to retain our owners and capture new ones in one of the largest segments in the industry."

Ford's F-Series truck also has gained market share in another important segment, the full-size pickup market. In March, F-Series sales totaled 84,168, up 5 percent compared with a year ago and the highest March sales since 2000. It was the third month in a row of higher sales for America's best-selling vehicle. Through March, F-Series sales totaled 199,801, up 6 percent. Another full-size pickup, Lincoln's Mark LT posted its second highest sales month (1,543) in March. Through February, the company gained three full points of share in the full-size pickup segment.

In March, the all-new Ford Explorer Sport Trac arrived in dealer showrooms and sales totaled almost 1,500. When the original Sport Trac was introduced in early 2000, it was the industry's first sport utility truck (SUT). The new Sport Trac offers consumers truck capability, including a 4.6-liter V-8 engine, with the comfort and convenience of a 4-door Explorer.

Overall, sales for the 4-door Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer were lower than a year ago reflecting lower fleet deliveries. Retail sales for these new models were equal to a year ago.

Lincoln, bolstered by the all-new Zephyr sedan and Lincoln Mark LT full-size pickup, posted a sales increase in March and higher sales for the first quarter.

Land Rover dealers reported record sales for March and the first quarter. Sales totaled 4,153 for the month (up 39 percent) and 11,299 for the quarter (up 34 percent). March was the sixth consecutive month of record sales for Land Rover.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH 2006 U.S. SALES


                                 March Month     %        March CYTD      %
                                2006     2005  Change    2006     2005  Change
    Sales By Brand
       Ford                  241,642  252,636   -4.4  615,900  624,577   -1.4
       Mercury                18,915   21,457  -11.8   47,646   55,306  -13.9
       Lincoln                13,446   12,938    3.9   32,504   31,662    2.7
       Jaguar                  1,866    3,545  -47.4    5,124    8,707  -41.2
       Volvo                  11,124   11,614   -4.2   28,365   32,152  -11.8
       Land Rover              4,153    2,982   39.3   11,299    8,444   33.8
          Total Ford Motor
           Company           291,146  305,172   -4.6  740,838  760,848   -2.6

    Memo: Cars and Trucks
       Cars                  104,775  107,834   -2.8  278,423  270,043    3.1
       Trucks                186,371  197,338   -5.6  462,415  490,805   -5.8
          Total Ford Motor
           Company           291,146  305,172   -4.6  740,838  760,848   -2.6



                       FORD BRAND MARCH 2006 U.S. SALES


                                March Month      %        March CYTD      %
                               2006     2005   Change    2006     2005  Change

    Crown Victoria            5,358    7,500   -28.6   16,545   17,614   -6.1
    Five Hundred              7,726    9,375   -17.6   22,962   22,300    3.0
    Taurus                   20,262   20,887    -3.0   51,833   55,114   -6.0
    Fusion                   10,703        0      NA   29,845        0     NA
    Focus                    16,171   17,726    -8.8   42,251   46,666   -9.5
    Mustang                  16,117   17,926   -10.1   40,692   42,261   -3.7
    Thunderbird                   0    1,546  -100.0      469    3,062  -84.7
    GT                          204       44   363.6      555       55  909.1
      Total Ford Cars        76,541   75,004     2.0  205,152  187,072    9.7

    Freestyle                 6,078    6,191    -1.8   16,842   15,922    5.8
    Escape                   15,675   16,921    -7.4   42,268   44,099   -4.2
    Explorer                 17,157   24,858   -31.0   46,716   62,586  -25.4
    Expedition                8,220    9,489   -13.4   20,828   26,296  -20.8
    Excursion                   250    1,461   -82.9      965    3,432  -71.9
    Freestar                  4,187    9,307   -55.0   15,532   23,522  -34.0
    Econoline/Club Wagon     17,886   16,742     6.8   41,156   42,466   -3.1
    Ranger                    9,809   10,764    -8.9   22,378   26,612  -15.9
    F-Series                 84,168   80,527     4.5  199,801  189,408    5.5
    Low Cab Forward             357        0      NA      875        0     NA
    Heavy Trucks              1,314    1,372    -4.2    3,387    3,162    7.1
      Total Ford Trucks     165,101  177,632    -7.1  410,748  437,505   -6.1

      Total Ford Brand      241,642  252,636    -4.4  615,900  624,577   -1.4



               LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MARCH 2006 U.S. SALES


                                 March Month      %       March CYTD      %
                                 2006    2005   Change   2006    2005   Change

    Grand Marquis               5,787   7,913   -26.9  16,489  20,328   -18.9
    Montego                     2,225   2,297    -3.1   6,107   5,280    15.7
    Sable                           0   4,048  -100.0       0   9,898  -100.0
    Milan                       3,236       0      NA   7,630       0      NA
      Total Mercury Cars       11,248  14,258   -21.1  30,226  35,506   -14.9

    Town Car                    4,344   5,238   -17.1  10,209  11,820   -13.6
    LS                          1,418   2,595   -45.4   3,365   6,923   -51.4
    Zephyr                      3,218       0      NA   7,784       0      NA
      Total Lincoln Cars        8,980   7,833    14.6  21,358  18,743    14.0

      Total Mercury
        and Lincoln Cars       20,228  22,091    -8.4  51,584  54,249    -4.9

    Mariner                     4,964   3,053    62.6   9,997   8,218    21.6
    Mountaineer                 2,373   3,265   -27.3   6,339   8,973   -29.4
    Monterey                      330     881   -62.5   1,084   2,609   -58.5
      Total Mercury Trucks      7,667   7,199     6.5  17,420  19,800   -12.0

    Navigator                   2,405   2,722   -11.6   5,994   7,258   -17.4
    Aviator                       518   1,814   -71.4   1,554   5,062   -69.3
    Mark LT                     1,543     569      NA   3,598     599      NA
      Total Lincoln Trucks      4,466   5,105   -12.5  11,146  12,919   -13.7

      Total Mercury
        and Lincoln Trucks     12,133  12,304    -1.4  28,566  32,719   -12.7

      Total Mercury
        and Lincoln Vehicles   32,361  34,395    -5.9  80,150  86,968    -7.8

    Total Lincoln Brand        13,446  12,938     3.9  32,504  31,662     2.7
    Total Mercury Brand        18,915  21,457   -11.8  47,646  55,306   -13.9



                      JAGUAR BRAND MARCH 2006 U.S. SALES

                                      March Month    %     March CYTD     %
                                      2006   2005  Change  2006   2005  Change
    XJ                                 486    850  -42.8  1,380  2,333  -40.8
    S-TYPE                             660  1,023  -35.5  1,849  2,441  -24.3
    X-TYPE                             514  1,435  -64.2  1,429  3,362  -57.5
    XK                                 206    237  -13.1    466    571  -18.4
      Total Jaguar                   1,866  3,545  -47.4  5,124  8,707  -41.2



                      VOLVO BRAND MARCH 2006 U.S. SALES

                                   March Month      %      March CYTD      %
                                   2006    2005  Change   2006    2005  Change
    S40                           2,356   2,166    8.8   6,129   6,381   -3.9
    V50                             372     466  -20.2   1,072   1,460  -26.6
    V40                               0       1     NA       0       2     NA
    S60                           2,339   2,462   -5.0   6,269   6,320   -0.8
    V70                             464     659  -29.6   1,296   1,972  -34.3
    XC70                          1,331   1,264    5.3   3,247   3,410   -4.8
    C70                              11     274  -96.0      85     697  -87.8
    S80                             598   1,166  -48.7   1,712   3,183  -46.2
    XC90                          3,653   3,156   15.7   8,555   8,727   -2.0
      Total Volvo                11,124  11,614   -4.2  28,365  32,152  -11.8



                    LAND ROVER BRAND MARCH 2006 U.S. SALES

                                     March Month     %     March CYTD      %
                                     2006   2005  Change   2006   2005  Change
    Range Rover                       991    867   14.3   2,762  2,515    9.8
    Range Rover Sport               1,667      0     NA   4,329      0     NA
    LR3                             1,489  1,797  -17.1   4,189  4,611   -9.2
    Discovery                           1    124  -99.2       1    627  -99.8
    Freelander                          5    194  -97.4      18    691  -97.4
      Total Land Rover              4,153  2,982   39.3  11,299  8,444   33.8

Link: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?...6&make_id=trust

[mustang84]

The Fusion, Milan, and Zephyr are doing great, but I'm a little disappointed at the decline in Five Hundred/Montego sales. Hopefully the new engine in '07 will boost them up again.

[chevelle454]

I didn't know they still made the Taurus?

[mustang84]

I didn't know they still made the Taurus?

They end production this summer. I'm surprised it's still selling as well as it is, despite it probably being 99% fleet.

Edited April 3, 2006 by mustang84

[Chicagoland]

The last Taurus is to be built on Halloween [10/31] this year.

[Flybrian]

Man, did the Car Gods ever take a big dump on the Explorer.

[Intrepidation]

wow the Taurus sales are double the Fusion's

[Mule Bakersdozen LS]

Those are not good results-not surprising and probably deserved overall too, thanks to bland, aging, stale product that looks that way for the nearest future, if the latest spy shots say anything about it at all.