F-Series Truck Drives Ford to March 2004 Sales Increase
* F-Series March sales were 80,056 - up 18 percent compared with a year ago. * Ford's overall March sales were up 3 percent. * Ford's O'Connor: "March was a solid month and tax refunds should help keep spring sales brisk."
DEARBORN, Mich., April 1 -- Ford's F-Series truck drove Ford Motor Company to higher sales in March. America's perennial best- selling vehicle posted March sales of 80,056, up 18 percent compared with a year ago. March was the seventh month in a row F-Series achieved a double- digit sales increase -- a streak coinciding with the introduction of the all- new F-150 last September.
Overall, U.S. customers purchased or leased 310,565 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Volvo, and Land Rover dealers in March, up 3 percent compared with a year ago. Sales of trucks (pickups, sport utilities, and vans) were 202,799, up 8 percent. Sales of passenger cars were 107,766, down 7 percent.
"March was a solid month and tax refunds should help keep spring sales brisk," said Jim O'Connor, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service.
In addition to higher F-Series sales, the company continued to see higher sales for sport utility vehicles (up 5 percent) and its premium brands. Lincoln sales were up 9 percent, Jaguar sales were up 11 percent and Volvo sales were up 6 percent -- its 17th month in a row of higher sales. Land Rover sales were down slightly from last year's record sales.
Ford, America's best-selling brand of cars and trucks for 17 years in a row, posted sales of 259,791, up 2 percent compared with a year ago, including a sales increase of 16 percent for its legendary pony car, the Ford Mustang. Since its introduction almost 40 years ago (April 17, 1964), over 7.6 million Mustangs have been sold in the U.S.
Mercury sales were up 6 percent in March on higher sales of the Mercury Mountaineer (up 27 percent) and added sales from the Mercury Monterey minivan.
Year-to-date through March, the company's sales were 802,295, down 1 percent compared with the same period a year ago. Sales of trucks were 536,653, up 4 percent, and sales of passenger cars were 265,642, down 11 percent.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH 2004 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 259,791 254,765 2.0 667,886 682,317 -2.1
Mercury 16,904 15,992 5.7 47,137 47,746 -1.3
Lincoln 14,184 13,066 8.6 34,521 33,761 2.3
Jaguar 4,005 3,601 11.2 11,240 10,857 3.5
Volvo 12,925 12,225 5.7 33,367 30,168 10.6
Land Rover 2,756 2,814 -2.1 8,144 8,365 -2.6
Total Ford Motor
Company 310,565 302,463 2.7 802,295 813,214 -1.3
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 107,766 115,321 -6.6 265,642 299,028 -11.2
Trucks 202,799 187,142 8.4 536,653 514,186 4.4
Total Ford Motor
Company 310,565 302,463 2.7 802,295 813,214 -1.3
FORD BRAND MARCH 2004 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change
Crown Victoria 9,835 8,026 22.5 21,772 19,685 10.6
Taurus 27,862 33,156 -16.0 68,679 86,574 -20.7
Focus 19,432 24,522 -20.8 48,161 59,843 -19.5
Thunderbird 1,703 1,731 -1.6 3,460 4,065 -14.9
Mustang 15,799 13,573 16.4 36,339 31,265 16.2
Escort 0 2,736 -100.0 1,210 7,205 -83.2
Total Ford Cars 74,631 83,744 -10.9 179,621 208,637 -13.9
Escape 15,694 13,129 19.5 41,194 36,058 14.2
Explorer 29,862 29,991 -0.4 83,602 81,590 2.5
Expedition 13,700 13,032 5.1 35,932 35,648 0.8
Excursion 1,877 1,595 17.7 4,866 5,367 -9.3
Econoline/Club Wagon 15,785 15,362 2.8 41,334 39,144 5.6
Windstar 144 10,372 -98.6 2,950 35,244 -91.6
Freestar 9,111 0 NA 23,638 0 NA
Ranger 17,796 19,480 -8.6 43,006 55,832 -23.0
F-Series 80,056 67,697 18.3 209,021 183,544 13.9
Heavy Trucks 1,135 363 212.7 2,722 1,253 117.2
Total Ford Trucks 185,160 171,021 8.3 488,265 473,680 3.1
Total Ford Brand 259,791 254,765 2.0 667,886 682,317 -2.1
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MARCH 2004 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change
Grand Marquis 7,066 7,782 -9.2 20,169 20,228 -0.3
Sable 4,184 4,458 -6.1 11,466 15,708 -27.0
Cougar 0 498 -100.0 0 2,024 -100.0
Total Mercury Cars 11,250 12,738 -11.7 31,635 37,960 -16.7
Town Car 5,969 5,331 12.0 13,269 13,301 -0.2
LS 3,318 2,628 26.3 8,155 7,950 2.6
Continental 0 0 NA 0 280 -100.0
Total Lincoln Cars 9,287 7,959 16.7 21,424 21,531 -0.5
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 20,537 20,697 -0.8 53,059 59,491 -10.8
Mountaineer 4,146 3,254 27.4 11,814 9,786 20.7
Monterey 1,508 0 NA 3,688 0 NA
Total Mercury Trucks 5,654 3,254 73.8 15,502 9,786 58.4
Navigator 2,924 2,862 2.2 7,770 7,144 8.8
Aviator 1,973 2,245 -12.1 5,327 4,933 8.0
Blackwood 0 0 NA 0 153 -100.0
Total Lincoln Trucks 4,897 5,107 -4.1 13,097 12,230 7.1
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 10,551 8,361 26.2 28,599 22,016 29.9
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 31,088 29,058 7.0 81,658 81,507 0.2
Total Lincoln Brand 14,184 13,066 8.6 34,521 33,761 2.3
Total Mercury Brand 16,904 15,992 5.7 47,137 47,746 -1.3
JAGUAR BRAND MARCH 2004 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change
XJ 898 342 162.6 2,591 1,069 142.4
S-TYPE 997 1,089 -8.4 2,782 3,475 -19.9
X-TYPE 1,935 1,965 -1.5 5,329 5,640 -5.5
XK 175 205 -14.6 538 673 -20.1
Total Jaguar 4,005 3,601 11.2 11,240 10,857 3.5
VOLVO BRAND MARCH 2004 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change
S40 2,441 1,394 75.1 5,324 3,804 40.0
V40 288 351 -17.9 573 857 -33.1
S60 2,941 2,747 7.1 8,556 8,403 1.8
V70 886 1,117 -20.7 2,885 2,703 6.7
V70 XC 1,231 1,580 -22.1 3,301 4,032 -18.1
C70 356 358 -0.6 898 876 2.5
XC90 3,101 3,366 -7.9 8,344 6,093 36.9
S80 1,681 1,312 28.1 3,486 3,400 2.5
Total Volvo 12,925 12,225 5.7 33,367 30,168 10.6
LAND ROVER BRAND MARCH 2004 U.S. SALES
March Month % March CYTD %
2004 2003 Change 2004 2003 Change
Range Rover 914 709 28.9 2,547 2,133 19.4
Discovery 1,181 1,383 -14.6 3,476 3,845 -9.6
Freelander 661 722 -8.4 2,121 2,387 -11.1
Total Land Rover 2,756 2,814 -2.1 8,144 8,365 -2.6
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