FOMOCO Sales Drop 12.2% For The Month Of April

"Focus is the right car at the right time," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "This is the little car that delivers in a big way for customers, with outstanding fuel economy, cool features including SYNC, a fun drive and the right price, right along with the rest of our newest cars and crossovers."

Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars achieved a 21 percent increase in retail sales. While Focus was the standout, the company's mid-size cars also posted higher retail sales. Ford Fusion retail sales were up 31 percent, Mercury Milan retail sales were up 19 percent and Lincoln MKZ retail sales were up 20 percent. The Fusion and Milan set April sales records with total sales of 15,059 for the Fusion and 3,809 for the Milan.

Retail sales for the company's crossovers were 11 percent higher than a year ago, paced by the Ford Edge (up 24 percent) and Ford Escape (up 13 percent). Retail sales for the Mercury Mariner were up 6 percent and Lincoln MKX retail sales were up 4 percent.

Higher gas prices are accelerating the industry-wide shift from trucks and traditional sport utility vehicles to cars and crossovers. At Ford, April sales for sport utility vehicles were 36 percent lower than a year ago and trucks were 19 percent lower.

Lower sales to daily rental companies (down 32 percent) also contributed to the company's sales decline. Overall, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 189,247, down 12 percent compared with a year ago. Retail sales to individual customers were down 7 percent.

Total Ford Motor Company sales, including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo, totaled 200,727, down 12 percent.

 

jt716 - 5/1/2008 9:12:20 PM

+1 Boost

Interesting they still counting LR and Jag

mercuryguy - 5/1/2008 9:23:51 PM

+1 Boost

I drive a Mercury Grand Marquis, I love it. This is a lot of car for under $20,000 and power heated mirrors are standard. It is an extremely reliable car and trouble-free, not requiring any service since my purchase in 2003, and I drive the interstates for sales. The engine provides great performance and acceleration. This engine is very quiet, the transmission shifts smoothly, it gets good gas mileage, about 23 MPG on the highway since it doesn’t have 4 wheel drive. It even has a 5,000 lb towing capacity. This is among the few cars that come with a full size spare tire, and my business colleges love the spacious truck space for their luggage when I pick them up at the airport. The full frame means you can jack the car up from any spot as opposed to searching for some marking on the bottom of a fender.
Even the insurance is cheap on this car due to the triple 5 star crash rating. People don’t know about this car because Ford doesn’t advertise it on TV.
I hear people constantly complaining that crossovers and minivans have inadequate towing capacities, but they refuse to consider Mercury, because it doesn’t give them that status symbol effect.
With young solders dying daily in war, there are more important things in life than a front hood emblem.
Who really needs a world-class car anyways? Drive it into the ground and get a new one every couple of years.

mercuryguy - 5/1/2008 9:25:24 PM

+1 Boost

Ford’s big success is in the Lincoln Town Car, Lincoln LS, Mustang, and now the Edge.
I see a lot of Edges on the road these days.

mercuryguy - 5/1/2008 9:30:47 PM

+1 Boost

Efficient Ideas from Ford
Looks like Ford is taking steps to save us. They are planning to build the 2009 SUVs and trucks with the new 4.4 Liter Turbo Diesel. If they took it a step further and allow people to choose 2-wheel drive and a manual transmission, these vehicles would become even more efficient.

http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied_vehicles/112_0804_lincoln_navigator_diesel_spied

Kirk Kerkorian just bought a huge stake in Ford due to his renewed confidence in the product line. It caused Ford Stock to rise 9%.
Excerpt:
Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian, making another attempt to shape the U.S. automotive industry, disclosed Monday that he had acquired a 4.7 percent stake in Ford Motor Co.

jt716 - 5/1/2008 11:02:28 PM

+1 Boost

mercuryguy we get it now stop with the spam i drive a ford but im not obsessed like you are.