Ford: GM didn’t win ’05 sales crown -- we did

[SobeSVT]

Ford: GM didn’t win ’05 sales crown -- we did
Amy Wilson
Jamie LaReau

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Ford Motor Co. says its Ford brand actually outsold Chevrolet in 2005. Ford will demand that Chevrolet stop advertising itself as America’s top brand, a company official said.

But General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner responded Sunday that GM will stand by sales data showing Chevrolet won the 2005 sales crown.

R.L. Polk & Co. registration data received by Ford executives Saturday morning showed that Ford had 5,000 more total registrations in 2005 than Chevrolet, spokesman Jim Cain said. Ford quickly whipped up a slide on the Polk data to include in its meeting with dealers Sunday here at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.

Chevrolet earlier reported sales of 2,651,124 vehicles in 2005. Ford’s reported sales were 2,634,041. Chevrolet has been blanketing the airwaves with commercials touting it as America’s top brand.

Ford intends to send GM a letter this week asking that Chevrolet change the ads, Cain said.

“The lesson here is to make sure that all the facts are in your favor before you make such a bold claim,” he said. “Fair is fair.”

According to Ford, Polk data show 2.630 million total registrations in 2005 compared with 2.625 million for Chevrolet. Even when medium-duty trucks are exempted, Ford still had the most registrations, Cain said.

Polk registrations show the number of vehicles registered by retail and fleet customers. The earlier data released by the manufacturers reflect sales as reported by dealers.

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No comments :p

[AdmiralViscen]

I'd say new car registrations are more accurate than dealer sales reports.

Unless someone can explain to me why someone would buy a car and not put it on the road right away.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by AdmiralViscen

I'd say new car registrations are more accurate than dealer sales reports.

Unless someone can explain to me why someone would buy a car and not put it on the road right away.

Sure. You do it to inflate your sales records and make claims you have been desperate to make for the last 20 years.

It already happened I think in 98 when Lincoln sold more cars than Cadillac.

[AJR]

Oh brother, here we go again. You would think there are more important things for Ford to concentrate on than this. I wish Ford could have this much fire and tenacity against other automakers.

[nsap]

Wonderful! Ford made enough fleet sales to get the crown! Woot!

Regardless, both GM and Ford need to stop worring about each other; and more about Toyota and Honda.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by AJR

Oh brother, here we go again. You would think there are more important things for Ford to concentrate on than this. I wish Ford could have this much fire and tenacity against other automakers.

I don't think that Ford is as worried about this as GM is. Ford talks through a spokesman while GM rebutes by its very own Chairman and CEO Mr. Wagoner's mouth.

[AdmiralViscen]

Originally Posted by SobeSVT

Sure. You do it to inflate your sales records and make claims you have been desperate to make for the last 20 years.

It already happened I think in 98 when Lincoln sold more cars than Cadillac.

Here we go with the nonsense conspiracy theories. I really doubt that GM told its salespeople to sell cars to themselves and hide them in garages.


In 1998, Cadillac sold more 1998MY vehicles, but Lincoln sold more vehicles from Jan 1 1998 through Dec 31 1998. Or vice versa. That was the source of the confusion.

[01cavalier]

Eh, for some people this is a big deal. I guess it shows that FOrd really wants this title back. Let them fight it out and make the same claims at the same time. If Ford does that now, it may not really look so good though.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by 01cavalier

Eh, for some people this is a big deal. I guess it shows that FOrd really wants this title back. Let them fight it out and make the same claims at the same time. If Ford does that now, it may not really look so good though.

. . . or maybe that Chevrolet never got it. I mean, how could Ford want it back if they never lost it in the first place?

Why is Wagoner responding to an unknown spokesperson? Wasn't GM all througout last year kept on releasing statements on how Chevy was going to be #1 in 2005 after 19 years trailing Ford?

[nsap]

Originally Posted by SobeSVT

. . . or maybe that Chevrolet never got it. I mean, how could Ford want it back if they never lost it in the first place?

Why is Wagoner responding to an unknown spokesperson? Wasn't GM all througout last year kept on releasing statements on how Chevy was going to be #1 in 2005 after 19 years trailing Ford?

Seriously Sobe, neither brand should be proud of the title. They both sell a TON of fleet vehicles.

[SobeSVT]

Originally Posted by nsap

Seriously Sobe, neither brand should be proud of the title. They both sell a TON of fleet vehicles.

I couldn't agree more. But it isn't Ford the one using the Best Selling Car in America line in its advertisment.

[monza164]

Great it's a race to see who can loose the least amount of sales.

[J..D]

I don't think Chevy is pulling a fast one they both reported there sales numbers them selves if Ford did sell more then why did they report what they did.

Chevrolet earlier reported sales of 2,651,124 vehicles in 2005. Ford’s reported sales were 2,634,041. Chevrolet has been blanketing the airwaves with commercials touting it as America’s top brand.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by SobeSVT

Sure. You do it to inflate your sales records and make claims you have been desperate to make for the last 20 years.

It already happened I think in 98 when Lincoln sold more cars than Cadillac.

I do remember that, too. And then one or two years later, Lexus surpassed both Lincoln and Cadillac in sales (after Mercedes took the crown for one year, I believe) and hasn't looked back since.

I think there are more important things for Chevrolet and Ford to focus on, quite honestly. Eyes on the prize and such. While you these two duke it out, Toyota Division is reporting significant sales gains year after year. Ford Division sales were off by 4.7% last year, Chevrolet saw sales fall 3.4%, while Toyota moved about 10% more vehicles than it did in 2004.

[Innotech]

about 17,500 more Chevys reported than Fords. Big deal.
Thats not exactly a landslide is it? "I demand a recount"