Ford Motor Company Reports May U.S. Sales Down 11%
* Ford Motor Company's May U.S. sales totaled 283,994, down 11 percent compared with a year ago. * Car sales totaled 101,711, down 5 percent; truck sales totaled 182,283, down 13 percent. * Ford Mustang sales totaled 19,721, up 47 percent compared with year ago. * Ford announces third quarter North American production plans.

DEARBORN, Mich., June 1 -- U.S. customers purchased or leased 283,994 cars and trucks from Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo dealers in May, down 11 percent compared with a year ago. Car sales totaled 101,711, down 5 percent and truck sales totaled 182,283, down 13 percent.

Mustang sales were 19,721, up 47 percent compared with a year ago and the highest May sales for Ford's legendary pony car since 1980.

"Mustang received straight A's again," said Steve Lyons, Ford group vice president, North America Marketing, Sales and Service. "The F-Series truck and Ford Five Hundred sedan also had pretty good report cards, but Mustang was the valedictorian in May's graduating class."

North American Production

The company plans to build 730,000 vehicles (210,000 cars and 520,000 trucks) in its North American assembly plants in the third quarter 2005. In the third quarter 2004, the company produced 747,000 vehicles (194,000 cars and 553,000 trucks).

In the second quarter of 2005, the company plans to build 905,000 vehicles (290,000 cars and 615,000 trucks), unchanged from the previously-announced plan.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

May 2005 Sales VS May 2004 Sales %

Sales By Brand
Ford -10.5
Mercury -4.1
Lincoln -17.1
Jaguar -39.3
Volvo -8.6
Land Rover +20.0
Total Ford
Motor Company -10.5

Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars -5.1
Trucks -13.3
Total Ford
Motor Company -10.5

FORD BRAND MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

Crown Victoria -3.0
Five Hundred NA
Taurus -17.3
Focus -39.6
Mustang +46.9
Thunderbird -14.8
GT NA
Escort NA
Total Ford Cars -1.5

Freestyle NA
Escape -39.5
Explorer -35.2
Expedition -10.5
Excursion -35.1
Freestar -25.7
Windstar NA
Econoline/Club
Wagon +0.6
Ranger -27.7
F-Series -5.5
Heavy Trucks -8.0
Total Ford
Trucks -14.1

Total Ford Brand -10.5

LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

Grand Marquis -6.8
Montego NA
Sable -65.4
Total Mercury Cars -12.1

Town Car -2.5
LS -29.8
Total Lincoln Cars -12.4

Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars -12.2

Mariner NA
Mountaineer -24.7
Monterey -71.9
Total Mercury Trucks +15.7

Navigator -32.0
Aviator -43.3
Mark LT NA
Total Lincoln Trucks -23.4

Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks -4.2

Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles -9.5

Total Lincoln Brand -17.1
Total Mercury Brand -4.1

JAGUAR BRAND MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

XJ -29.6
S-TYPE -41.8
X-TYPE -42.7
XK -37.5
Total Jaguar -39.3

VOLVO BRAND MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

S40 +27.2
V40 -100.0
V50 NA
S60 -1.3
V70 -23.9
XC70 -9.4
C70 -62.6
S80 -34.2
XC90 -18.6
Total Volvo -8.6

LAND ROVER BRAND MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

Range Rover -16.8
LR3 NA
Discovery -94.7
Freelander -35.7
Total Land Rover +20.0

Interesting... their trucks sales are down, but oddly the "truck" that's selling the worst compared to last year is the Escape, one that you would think would be gaining popularity because of it's more fuel-efficient nature, especially with the Hybrid version. Apparently overall their truck sales aren't too good this year, which isn't good news because truck sales have become Ford's "bread and butter" income. The Mustang obviously is selling great because of the redesign... I bet in a year or two Mustang sales will either have leveled off or will start going down again, too.

Range Rover's numbers make no sense, all minuses then a positive number.....odd. Enron must be doing their accounting [:)]

Originally posted by Kneel
FORD MOTOR COMPANY MAY 2005 U.S. SALES

May 2005 Sales VS May 2004 Sales %

Sales By Brand
Ford -10.5
Mercury -4.1
Lincoln -17.1
Jaguar -39.3
Volvo -8.6
Land Rover +20.0
Total Ford
Motor Company -10.5

Memo: Cars and
Trucks
Cars -5.1
Trucks -13.3
Total Ford
Motor Company -10.5


I notice that Mazda isn't on the list. Have they broken away from Ford, or is this just an oversight on somebodies part?

Being that I've heard that Mazda's sales are up, you'd think Ford would want to include them to make their numbers look better. [scratch]

Originally posted by Goat Roper
Range Rover's numbers make no sense, all minuses then a positive number.....odd. Enron must be doing their accounting [:)]

The reason for this discrepancy is the new LR3 model, which has been selling very well, but was not available in May 2004 - so, they cannot do a proper sales comparison of May '05 vs. May '04 on that model.

Originally posted by TomH
I notice that Mazda isn't on the list. Have they broken away from Ford, or is this just an oversight on somebodies part?

Being that I've heard that Mazda's sales are up, you'd think Ford would want to include them to make their numbers look better. [scratch]

Yeah, I don't know why Ford has Mazda on their website, but doesn't put them under the FoMoCo umbrella on the reports. Anyway - here is the Mazda report for May. Mazda 3 is kicking ass.

Mazda Announces May 2005 Sales
IRVINE, Calif., June 1 -- Mazda North American Operations today released the following sales figures for May 20, 2005:

Mazda3 +36.3%

Mazda6 +18.2%

RX8 -53.7%

Miata -39.9%

Protege -100.0%

626 N/A

Millenia -100.0%

MPV -67.9%

Mazda Truck -80.3%

Tribute +0.5%

Total Vehicles

CARS +13.7%

TRUCKS -38.3%

TOTAL -3.2%

wow, look at those focus numbers.... did it sell that well last year, or is this just a downward trend?

Well that's interesting, the Tribute, which is the Mazda version of the Escape, actually posted an increase (yes, half a percent, but still an increase) while the Escape was down almost 40% from last year. And the Mazda B-Series trucks, which are actually just Ford Rangers, are down an astounding 80%, compared to the Ranger being down less than 30%. I guess if people want a Ford Ranger, they buy a Ford Ranger, not a "Mazda Ranger."

It's a downward trend that is rapidly accelerating. It would be a different story if Ford had seen fit to bring the new Focus to North America for 2005, instead of just the UK and Asia. If you want the new Focus in North America, buy the Mazda3. It's sales are up 36%.

Kinda gives you and idea of what people are wanting. Affordable, sporty, (relatively) fuel efficient cars. Personally I hope full size trucks and SUVs rust on dealer lots. The better small cars sell, we will get more and better equipped small cars.

Or if you've got more coin, the new Volvo S40, which is also based on the new Focus platform.

Originally posted by Kneel
It's a downward trend that is rapidly accelerating. It would be a different story if Ford had seen fit to bring the new Focus to North America for 2005, instead of just the UK and Asia. If you want the new Focus in North America, buy the Mazda3. It's sales are up 36%. Let's see, Ford decontented the Focus (no more standard tach in the ZX3), made it less powerful (deleted the 2.3L PZEV engine in favor of the less powerful 2.0L Duratec), just slightly redesigned the front-end and dash, deleted the SVT models and increased the price, all on an aged, six-year-old platform.

I guess the theory was to bring the Focus in line with the more 'restrained' styling and demeanor of the rest of the Ford line. In other words, they made it as boring as they possibly could. What the hell did they think was going to happen to Focus sales? I swear, there must be some GM guys working in Ford senior management now.

I was actually considering buying a 2004 Focus ZX3 when you could get the 2.3L PZEV engine for another $100. But now, there's just no way. Hell, new PT Cruisers (which aren't selling, either) can be had for less money with more equipment. At least you get a standard tachometer.

I wonder if sales have ever 'increased' when a manufacturer 'lowers' horsepower through the product cycle. It sure wouldn't seem likely...

well i can definatly vouch for the lincoln mercury numbers as i used to work for the number 2 lincoln mercury dealer in the country... i got laid off yesterday but u could just see everyone stressin out the entire month of may

Ford raised incentives on Explorer, Expedition, Ranger, and Focus sedans today. The Focus incentive increased from $2,000 to $2,500.

Originally posted by Kneel
Ford raised incentives on Explorer, Expedition, Ranger, and Focus sedans today. The Focus incentive increased from $2,000 to $2,500. That's probably not going to be enough - today, GM began offering employee pricing to the general public an every vehicle. I think that's like $1k under invoice, excluding any incentives or rebates.

Be a good time to buy a new Corvette (if they're really included in the program)...

Originally posted by rudiger
That's probably not going to be enough - today, GM began offering employee pricing to the general public an every vehicle. I think that's like $1k under invoice, excluding any incentives or rebates.

Be a good time to buy a new Corvette (if they're really included in the program)...

The Corvette is not included in the offer, unfortunately.