Year-to-date, FMC sales are down 22%, led by 29% drops in the Mercury and Lincoln brands.
In September, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle sales totaled 109,939, down 6% versus the year ago period. Retail sales were down 14% and fleet sales were up 23%.
Ford has been stressing its retail sales numbers all year long, and warned of the impending huge increase in fleet sales in its sales analysis call last month.
The Dearborn based maker is claiming a 2% increase in retail share, nonetheless. The effect on financial results from fleet discounting will not be known until they are released later this month, but sales this year are off almost 300,000 units.
Year-to-date, FMC sales are down 22%, led by 29% drops in the Mercury and Lincoln brands. Volvo and Ford brands are off 22%.
One clear trend is emerging from the data – sport utility vehicle sales at Ford are dying, as the company stayed with gas gulping body-on-frame technology for too long. Overall SUV sales dropped 49%, twice the rate of the drop in its light truck sales.
Still, the company claimed Ford, Lincoln and Mercury U.S. third quarter sales increased 5% versus a year ago and U.S. market share increased 2 points, as Chrysler and General Motors floundered from the effects of their bankruptcies this past summer.
“Our balanced new lineup of high-quality, fuel-efficient products helped us navigate through an exceptional period in industry sales,” claimed Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.
For comparison purpose, quarterly highlights are probably best since CARS, aka Cash for Clunkers, severely distorted monthly sales trends in August.
Quarterly highlights include:
- Ford Focus sales totaled 56,559, up 35% versus a year ago. The Focus is among the most fuel-efficient compact cars in America with an EPA highway rating of 35 mpg.
- Ford Fusion sales totaled 49,454, up 67% versus a year ago. Mercury Milan sales were 8,352, up 57%. The Fusion and Milan and their hybrid versions are the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America.
- Ford Escape sales totaled 49,866, up 48% versus a year ago. Mercury Mariner sales were 8,938, up 33%. The Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid are the most fuel-efficient utility vehicles in America.
- Ford Flex sales totaled 9,815, up 59% versus a year ago. The Flex is among the most fuel-efficient full-size crossover utilities in America.
- Ford’s hybrid vehicles – Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner – posted combined sales of 12,186, up 239% versus a year ago. At 41 miles per gallon, the Fusion Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in America – 8 mpg better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.