FOMOCO Sales Tank 13% in April

Ford Motor Company’s April U.S. sales totaled 228,623, down 13 percent compared with a year ago.

“With April behind us, we remain focused on getting the word out about the strength of our new products, and our marketing offensive is moving into high gear,” said Mark Fields, Ford's President of The Americas. “Customers are responding very positively to our new ‘Ford Challenge’ ads that pit Ford vehicles against the best of the competition, so we’re accelerating our plans.”

Today, Ford begins airing two new F-Series truck ads starring Mike Rowe, creator and star of the Discovery Channel’s hit show “Dirty Jobs.” The ads demonstrate the clear advantages of Ford Tough trucks in safety, strength and capability.

Ford’s internal data show that the Ford Challenge campaign has generated a strong response in product favorability, purchase consideration and sales. Following the start of the successful “Fusion Challenge” ads in January, the Ford Fusion posted double-digit sales increases throughout the first quarter.

Strong Crossover Growth Continues

Although April sales for most products were lower than a year ago, new crossover utilities helped Ford increase its share of the industry’s fastest growing category. Ford Edge sales were 9,134, and Lincoln MKX sales were 2,901. In addition, Land Rover introduced its first crossover utility, the LR2, and first month sales were 1,302. Total Ford Motor Company crossover sales were 28 percent higher than a year ago during April.

“The success of our newest products – Ford Fusion, Edge, Lincoln MKX, Ford Super Duty and Ford Expedition – gives us encouragement that we’re creating the products our customers really want, and we’re beginning to stabilize our retail market share,” Fields said.

“Three years ago, 70 percent of new Ford Motor Company vehicles sold in the U.S. were trucks and traditional SUVs. Today, the balance is nearly 50 percent cars and crossovers, and 50 percent trucks and SUVs,” Fields explained. “We will continue to introduce new crossovers and even more small cars in the U.S., as they represent the consumer growth segments going forward.”

1970toyotamarc - 5/1/2007 3:39:39 PM

+1 Boost

It's really sad that Ford is now relying on CUVs, just as they once relied on SUVs. They just wont learn. What about cars? The Fusion seems to have maxed out at less than 15K a month, and the Focus is not doing much better. People are tiring of the Mustang, despite a new edition every month. The 500 may be given a new lease on life when it is resurrected at the Taurus. But all in all this lousy news for Ford.

jt716 - 5/1/2007 4:29:30 PM

+1 Boost

I guess once everything is even when all the new cars like the Focus and Taurus and the new Fiesta will come soon and also when the new Mustang, F-150, and Explorer they will be generating some profit and I guess everything will be okay. If Ford puts their mind to it and get Lincoln out of the "luxury Ford status" and also get Volvo and Jag up to par they will be back n better perhaps

Westside7th - 5/1/2007 11:17:04 PM

+1 Boost

This really isn't a surprise. Almost every car company had a sales slide this April except for Chrysler.