Ford Reports October U.S. Car and Truck Sales
4 November 1997
Ford's U.S. Car and Truck Sales Slip 2% From Strong Year-Ago Levels
DETROIT, Nov. 4 -- Customers purchased or leased 330,731 cars
and trucks from Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers in October, a
decrease of two percent from a year ago when Ford had its highest sales for
the month since 1978. Car sales of 140,370 were two percent lower than a year
ago; truck sales of 190,361 also were two percent lower.
"Overall, we're pleased with these results, especially considering the
height of the chinning bar," said Bob Rewey, Ford's group vice president of
marketing, sales, and service.
Last year, Ford set an industry record for October truck sales, paced by
the all-new F-150 pickup and Expedition (which was introduced on October 2,
1996).
"We have entered a period where favorable year-to-year truck sales
comparisons will be increasingly difficult to achieve because the base is so
high," noted Rewey. "Some people may interpret this as an indication that
truck sales are weakening. We expect continued strong truck sales, but future
year-to-year percentage increases probably will be smaller."
Beginning in September 1996, Ford set truck sales records in twelve of the
next thirteen months, and posted sales increases that averaged eight percent
per month.
Ford car sales continue to show more favorable year-to-year comparisons
than in the first five months of 1997 when sales declined 10 percent. In the
five months from June to October, car sales declined four percent compared
with a year ago.
Growing customer awareness of the Lincoln brand is an emerging trend. For
the first time since 1990, Lincoln sales have eclipsed 15,000 for five
consecutive months with sales up 34 percent compared with a year ago in the
June to October period. October Lincoln sales of 17,978 were the highest for
any month since September 1994.
"The all-new Navigator, introduced on July 1, has made an important
contribution to Lincoln sales," said Rewey. "But perhaps its most important
contribution is its role in attracting new customers to the brand. Lincoln
dealers are very enthusiastic about the redesigned Continental and the all-new
Lincoln Town Car, which will be introduced on November 26. Lincoln's 1998-
model product lineup is the strongest in its 77-year history."
Looking forward, Rewey is optimistic about the economy and the sales
outlook for Ford and the U.S. industry.
"World currency and equity markets went on a wild ride last week," said
Rewey, "but the U.S. economy has been remarkably stable during the current
expansion and gives every indication that it will remain so in 1998."
FORD MOTOR COMPANY OCTOBER SALES
October Month DSR % October CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
TOTAL VEHICLES* 330,731 337,881 -2.1% 3,273,777 3,292,233 -0.2%
TOTAL CARS * 140,370 143,191 -2.0 1,386,133 1,495,455 -6.9
TOTAL TRUCKS 190,361 194,690 -2.2 1,887,644 1,796,778 5.5
Memo:
Domestic Cars 138,641 140,806 -1.5% 1,355,119 1,461,348 -8.7%
Imported Cars* 1,729 2,385 -27.5 31,014 34,107 -6.9
Light Trucks 187,102 191,399 -2.2 1,851,735 1,758,000 5.7
Heavy Trucks 3,259 3,291 -1.0 35,909 38,778 -7.0
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 27 27 257 258
* These figures exclude sales of Jaguar Cars, a wholly-owned Ford
subsidiary, which reports its results separately.
CONTACT: George Pipas, 313-446-9195
FORD DIVISION OCTOBER SALES
October Month DSR % October CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Crown Victoria 8,475 8,750 -3.1% 95,046 93,999 1.5%
Thunderbird 4,459 6,573 -32.2 62,866 69,882 -9.7
Taurus 42,160 36,644 15.1 304,023 332,060 -8.1
Contour 11,523 11,272 2.2 131,441 152,330 -13.4
Escort 19,506 22,571 -13.6 244,143 251,254 -2.5
Aspire 1,729 2,385 -27.5 31,014 34,107 -8.7
Mustang 9,347 8,761 6.7 99,035 108,812 -8.6
Probe 782 2,710 -71.1 15,239 28,750 -46.8
TOTAL FORD CARS 97,981 99,666 -1.7% 982,807 1,071,194 -7.9%
Expedition/Bronco 21,035 13,984 50.4% 177,087 49,617 258.3%
Explorer 34,635 38,134 -9.2 313,678 334,291 -5.8
Econoline/Club
Wagon 15,561 13,851 12.3 159,546 148,370 8.0
Aerostar 1,504 4,251 -64.6 174,864 178,572 -1.7
Windstar 13,300 17,692 -24.8 43,155 64,516 -32.8
Ranger 25,025 22,443 11.5 251,546 244,370 3.3
F-Series 64,559 72,061 -10.4 626,615 663,463 -5.2
TOTAL FORD LT.
TRUCKS 175,619 182,416 -3.7% 1,746,491 1,683,199 4.2%
Heavy Trucks 3,259 3,291 -1.0 35,909 38,778 -7.0
TOTAL FORD DIV.
TRUCKS 178,878 185,707 -3.7% 1,782,400 1,721,977 3.9%
FORD DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 276,859 285,373 -3.0% 2,765,207 2,793,171 -0.6%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 27 27 257 258
CONTACT: Brenda Hines, Ford Division, 313-446-7736
LINCOLN-MERCURY DIVISION OCTOBER SALES
October Month DSR % October CYTD DSR %
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
Grand Marquis 8,950 10,100 -11.4% 90,639 85,379 6.6%
Cougar 2,492 2,997 -16.9 27,610 31,391 -11.7
Sable 11,343 8,704 30.3 97,487 99,039 -1.2
Mystique 3,603 3,908 -7.8 34,569 48,140 -27.9
Tracer 2,387 4,377 -45.5 38,400 42,598 -9.5
TOTAL MERCURY CARS 28,775 30,086 -4.4% 288,705 306,547 -5.5%
Town Car 8,240 8,679 -5.1 75,509 78,956 -4.0
Mark VIII 1,840 1,373 34.0 13,545 12,996 4.6
Continental 3,534 3,387 4.3 25,567 25,762 -0.4
TOTAL LINCOLN
CARS 13,614 13,439 1.3% 114,621 117,714 -2.2%
L-M TOTAL CARS 42,389 43,525 -2.6% 403,326 424,261 -4.6%
Villager 3,505 5,177 -32.3% 49,157 56,609 -12.8%
Mountaineer 3,614 3,806 -5.0 37,546 18,192 107.2
Navigator 4,364 0 NA 18,541 0 NA
L-M LIGHT TRUCKS 11,483 8,983 27.8% 105,244 74,801 41.2%
L-M DIVISION
TOTAL VEHICLES 53,872 52,508 2.6% 508,570 499,062 2.3%
Memo: Total Lincoln
Brand 17,978 13,439 33.8% 133,162 117,714 13.6%
Note: Percentage changes are based on daily selling rates.
Selling Days 27 27 257 258
CONTACT: Anne Doyle, Lincoln-Mercury Division, 313-446-4368
SOURCE Ford Motor Company