Posted on 04/27/2010 4:15:22 AM PDT by taildragger
* 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
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DEARBORN, Mich., April 1, 2010 – Ford 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.
GM trumping paying back 5 billion from one pocket to another of Gov't money vs. this free-market approach.
The question is, what will GM's earnings be if any, as we are unwilling tangential shareholders....
A real American car company.
Dangerous game for them, given the health of the state of MI and Ford is one of the few bright spots. They can’t pi$$ off those UAW guys, they are just glad they aren’t their brothers at the other two companies. Obama and Company must not ask to much from the Ford golden goose, yet they haven’t shown much wisdom as of yet, so they may go down that path given they will print more and try to repave and green job MI via Porkulus money.....
I bought a new F-150 Supercrew last month. I love it, but parking something that long takes some practice.
I’ve got two F150s sitting in my drive.
Now Barry will want to take over the company and give it to the union. That'll fix em for making a profit!
look for sudden job actions and major complaints about “working conditions” and “obscene profits” in the future.
Been driving an F-250 crew cab since '97. Try backing into parking spots. It's easier both in and out.
And the 2011 Shelby GT500 knocks the Camaro and Challenger out of the ring.
I wonder how many customers Ford gained because many refuse to buy cars from Government Motors.
My wife and I rented an F-150 Crew Cab when we were out in Colorado in February. I had to put my truck in the shop for the day and we needed some wheels. Man, what a nice truck! Very plush for a truck. They’ve come a long way since my ‘97 F-250 CC.....
Ford has my vote. This is a perfect example of an auto company responding to its shortcomings (Ford products in the ‘70s & 80’s sucked - big time.) Their line-up today is most impressive and a model for the rest of the industry.
Kudos to them I say.
The UAW is, like Obama, all about getting, expanding and keeping power. Like all unions and community organizers, it does not understand productivity, profit generation, product creation, sales, and customer satisfaction.
We can see that same orientation in Obama's style of governance. He wants and gets power, but the only thing he knows to do with it once he gets it is to provide payouts to his homeys.
An auto company cannot be managed that way either.
This "standard operating procedure" of the unions running all the way to the top of GM and Chrysler pretty much kills their ability to design new products and soon their product line (with a few new exterior gimmicks but all on old platforms) will be grossly outdated and out of style.
All the while Ford is trotting out great new designs and platforms.
Could be a material number. I, for one, will adhere to the slogan “It’s Ford, or it’s foreign” when I buy my next car in the next year or two. Obamamotors can go eff themselves as far as I’m concerned.
Viva capitalism! Down with socialistic control of GM and Chrysler!
You’re right. I’m not planning on any vehicle purchases for a while yet. But when I do... GM and Chrysler aren’t even in consideration. I won’t even bother going to their websites to see their lineups. It’ll be Ford, Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, VW, maybe even Mini. I’d prefer to buy American, but Ford has some stiff competition in the market segments I’m looking at.
I love this news.When Hendricks Motor Sports switches over to running Fords we have truely won.
didn’t their sales go up when they agreed to stop appeasing to the homosexual community too.
I believe there was over a million who was boycotting Ford while the appeased the homosexuals.
Just goes to show what the Government can't do! Way to go Ford!
same here.
my car is on the garage but it’;spaid off so I’ll pay a gran to have it fixed than rather go into debt and purchase another car but sooner or later I will have to get one and it will not be those two compnies.
Anything the Govt took over to help their union pals will not get my money.
besides I’d love to have an Audi one day as we have never had a really nice car
You can bet the libs are pacing the floor trying to think of a way to bring Ford under government control.
I know what you mean. The last time I bought a vehicle I “downsized” significantly and guess what? Driving is fun again. 4 cylinders, 5 speed stick, 30+ mpg without even working at it. I’d like to get something like a Honda S2000, maybe once the kids are in college...
You mean they never took Accounting, Marketing, and Economics and failed to critically integrate where they intersect to make profit and how it takes skill to due so rather than arm-twisting?
Nah.. say it ain't so! :-)
Dude, you are about $58,000,000,000 short. That is why you are majority owned by the government.
Is it remotely possibly he thinks people are really that stupid?
I am one. Now own my first Ford.
Press embargo lifted by car mags on the American Fiesta. Go to all the car mags and "Jalopnik" they are raving about it.
Which begs the question...
Fiesta at the high end @ 20 grand+ vs. $43,000 estimated for the Volt?
Don't get me wrong I think the Volt is a breakthrough in many ways, but at that point, why bother, or buy 2 Fiesta's.....
??? Why the love affair with Ford? Yes, I know they are not government owned. But they are still UAW.
Not happening in this household. UAW is a scourge.
I’ve always been a Ford fan (I currently own 5), so I’m not surprised Ford is doing much better than its competition.
However, these sales numbers put Ford on track to sell only about 1/2 of the vehicles they sold in 2005.
Not good, just better than last year.
I'd guess a bunch. After all if you want to buy an American car Ford is the only game in town. Other than that you can buy japanese, german or kenyan.
I'm not selling Ford's designs short, they really are at the top of the game right now, but they have no domestic competition.
Last week I traded in a 2008 VW New Beetle convertible (a Mexican-built lemon) for a new Ford Focus. I was raised a GM man, Dad owned Buicks and Chevy trucks. But after problems with my Chevy trucks, and the change from General Motors to Government Motors I felt that I would give Ford a try.
The wife loves the new car. I’m happy with it too. And no more $100.00 every 5000 miles for regular service.
Caution not all UAW commrades are equal :-)...
I have met and had some very indepth and technical conversations with both Ford and Chrysler UAW guys, not what you would expect. One guy I know, started on the line, got his AS degree and started drafting (i.e. that got him out of the UAW and the plants), got his BS and became a plant safety/ergonomics expert. Far from the UAW stereotype.
Everything Obama learned about business, he learned at Baskin Robbins...such as how to pass out free samples to your buddies.
He didn't care that he was cheating his employer. He only thought of the power such act gave him over his pals.
I’m waiting for my kids to go as well, my oldest is 12 and I have 3 kids so I have a long time to wait.
driving a car when you know you have to pay so much a month is just not me, it takes the fun of driving away
Ford Mustang sales ... were up 57 percent versus a year ago!..............
We have the exact same vehicle, 2000 Eddie Bauer. Ours has about 130,000 miles and runs like brand new. We baby it also because like you, we know we may never be able to get another one. It is red and my daughters have always called it Clifford (from the big red dog.) We thought about selling it a few years back because we had too many vehicles with my company car, but both girls cried because we had so many wonderful family memories made while taking Clifford on adventures all over the country.
Now they will have a BIG TARGET painted on their back. They have shown that money can be made without the meddling of government bureaucrats. This cannot be allowed to go on much longer............
2011 GT knocks both out of the ring, actually.
And it ain’t even covertible season yet, or we are on the cusp of it. A friend noted he saw a 2011 V6 convert w/ std shift on the lot already. The V6 alone is heads and shoulders better than the V8’s of just a few years ago. No I haven’t driven one, yet......
I will never buy another GM car again or Chrysler.....Ford however, is on my list.
I still have a Duramax with over 220 K on it and I use it to pull my 26 foot Wellcraft & 36 foot camper. (6,000 #) The biggest reason I will not buy a new GM vehicle is because of how they let MaObama take them over. The UAW assumed ownership when that happened and I am done buying Union made vehicles. The Union attitude is the primary reason. (no explanation necessary.)
You could not give me a Ford. I have owned several and they were ALL a big pain in the ass. Their pickup engines spew oil after about 70 K, they went through major components regularly, from engines, transmissions, axles, bearings, transfer cases and so on.
At 220 K my Duramax still does not leak anything. The oil stays on the full mark for the entire 6,000 mile change interval. It is by far the most amazing vehicle I have ever owned. I only wish that things had not taken such an ugly direction. I am now in the wait and see mode.
I am considering a new Toyota diesel pickup once I see how well their new engine is holding up. But from what I hear, they are gaining credibility fast.
I meet Rob Steele the Cardiologist running against Dingell, Oh my is he impressive!!!
It’s convertible season here..........;^)
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