Ford Motor Company Posts Strongest U.S. March Sales in Five Years; Fusion, Focus, Edge Post Record Sales Months

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Apr 03, 2012, 09:30 ET

DEARBORN, Mich., April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Ford Motor Company posts its strongest U.S. March sales in five years with 223,418 vehicles sold – a 5 percent sales increase over last March
Ford Fusion posts its best sales month ever at 28,562 vehicles
Ford Focus has its best March sales ever at 28,293 vehicles
Ford Edge has its best March ever at 14,058 vehicles
F-Series March sales of 58,061 are up 9 percent, its best March sales performance since 2007; EcoBoost accounts for 41 percent of the F-150 retail sales

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) posted its best March U.S. sales month since 2007 – with the Ford Fusion recording its best month ever, Ford Focus and Ford Edge achieving their best March ever and the F-Series showing the strongest March sales in five years.

Total company sales totaled 223,418 vehicles for March, a 5 percent gain over year-ago levels. Retail sales increased 11 percent for the month.

For the first quarter, Ford Motor Company's sales were up 9 percent versus year-ago levels, totaling 539,247 vehicles sold. The increases were driven by the popularity of Ford's most fuel-efficient models posting record sales months.

"Rising gas prices continued to drive strong customer demand for Ford's fuel-efficient vehicles throughout March and the first quarter," said Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. "Ford is answering the call with what we call the power of choice – a full family of cars, utilities and trucks that offer leading fuel economy in their classes."

March sales highlights:

Fusion set an all-time monthly sales record, with 28,562 vehicles sold.
Focus delivered its best March sales performance ever, selling 28,293 cars.
F-Series sold 58,061 for the month – a 9 percent increase versus last March and F-Series' best March sales performance since 2007. EcoBoost accounted for 41 percent of the F-150 retail sales, with all V6 engines comprising 56 percent for the month.
The Ford Edge had it best March sales month ever, with 14,058 vehicles sold.
Ford began selling its Police Interceptor Sedans and Utilities at the end of March.

During the first quarter:

Car sales at Ford Motor Company were up 8 percent. The fuel-efficient Focus was the biggest seller among Ford's car lineup, with sales up 78 percent during this period, with 66,043 vehicles sold.
Utility sales totaled 150,415 vehicles, a 6 percent increase versus year-ago levels. Escape sales were up 5 percent, making it the strongest-ever first quarter start for Escape – America's best-selling utility.
Ford Motor Company truck sales increased 11 percent, with 195,807 vehicles sold. F-Series pickups – America's top-selling truck for 35 years – posted sales of 143,827 vehicles for the quarter, a 14-percent increase versus the same period in 2011.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.


FORD MOTOR COMPANY MARCH 2012 U.S. SALES

	March		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2012	2011	Change	2012	2011	Change
SALES BY BRAND
Ford	214,615	204,276	5.1	518,411	476,465	8.8
Lincoln	8,803	8,501	3.6	20,836	20,007	4.1
Mercury	0	0	NA	0	248	NA
Total Vehicles	223,418	212,777	5.0	539,247	496,720	8.6

SALES BY TYPE
Cars	84,772	80,255	5.6	193,025	178,544	8.1
Utilities	60,366	58,418	3.3	150,415	141,433	6.4
Trucks	78,280	74,104	5.6	195,807	176,743	10.8
Total Vehicles	223,418	212,777	5.0	539,247	496,720	8.6

FORD BRAND
Fiesta	6,502	9,787	-33.6	15,522	20,327	-23.6
Focus	28,293	17,178	64.7	66,043	37,071	78.2
Fusion	28,562	27,566	3.6	63,949	65,023	-1.7
Taurus	7,095	5,954	19.2	14,871	14,470	2.8
Police Interceptor Sedan	28	0	NA	28	0	NA
Mustang	9,046	8,557	5.7	20,133	15,419	30.6
Crown Victoria	481	6,176	-92.2	1,672	14,620	-88.6
Ford Cars	80,007	75,218	6.4	182,218	166,930	9.2

Escape	22,679	23,975	-5.4	58,604	55,953	4.7
Edge	14,058	12,388	13.5	32,908	31,444	4.7
Flex	3,330	2,468	34.9	6,807	6,823	-0.2
Explorer	13,212	12,482	5.8	33,618	29,490	14.0
Police Interceptor Utility	27	0	NA	27	0	NA
Expedition	3,022	3,641	-17.0	8,422	9,082	-7.3
Ford Utilities	56,328	54,954	2.5	140,386	132,792	5.7

F-Series	58,061	53,272	9.0	143,827	126,627	13.6
Ranger	4,404	5,833	-24.5	13,929	12,461	11.8
Econoline/Club Wagon	12,308	11,827	4.1	29,194	29,529	-1.1
Transit Connect	2,973	2,690	10.5	7,432	6,914	7.5
Heavy Trucks	534	482	10.8	1,425	1,212	17.6
Ford Trucks	78,280	74,104	5.6	195,807	176,743	10.8

Ford Brand	214,615	204,276	5.1	518,411	476,465	8.8



	March		%	Year-To-Date		%
	2012	2011	Change	2012	2011	Change
LINCOLN BRAND
MKZ	2,932	3,138	-6.6	7,081	6,487	9.2
MKS	1,689	1,060	59.3	3,287	2,229	47.5
Town Car	144	839	-82.8	439	2,650	-83.4
MKX	2,609	2,267	15.1	6,427	5,449	17.9
MKT	785	455	72.5	1,485	1,257	18.1
Navigator	644	742	-13.2	2,117	1,935	9.4

Lincoln Brand	8,803	8,501	3.6	20,836	20,007	4.1

MERCURY BRAND
Milan	0	0	NA	0	0	NA
Grand Marquis	0	0	NA	0	248	NA
Sable	0	0	NA	0	0	NA
Mariner	0	0	NA	0	0	NA
Mountaineer	0	0	NA	0	0	NA

Mercury Brand	0	0	NA	0	248	-100.0