Ford motor may US Sales Down 6.8%; Focus, Escape, Edge, Fusion Sell Less Than Prius

[MOOSTOPHA]

(RTTNews) - Ford Motor Co. (F) on Friday recorded a 6.8% decrease in total U.S sales of 259,470 units from 278,546 units in the same month prior year. Ford Motor May car sales declined 17.7% to 89,126 units from 108,248 units in May last year.

The company's Truck sales decreased to 744,918 units from 789,780 units a year-ago. Crossover sales for the month rose 67%.

Looking forward, for the second quarter, the company still expects to produce 810 thousand vehicles. The company said it plans to produce 640 thousand vehicles in the third quarter.

For the full-year 2007, the company said it expects edge sales to reach 120 thousand units.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20070601\ACQRTT200706011217RT TRADERUSEQUITY_0665.htm&selected=F&selecteddisplay symbol=F&symbol=F`&symbol=GM`&coname=Ford%20Motor% 20Credit%20Company&logopath=&market=NYSE&pageName= Company%20News

[igor]

http://media.ford.com/article_displa...ticle_id=26099

Not as good as expected:
- Retail down 3%
- overall down 6.8%
Focus is at 21k
Escape is doing well 19k
Edge is OK 12k
Fusion 14k

Igor

[paul8488]

The worst part is that because some random journalists suggested that it would be a pretty good month, this news seems even worse than it is. I'm surprised the Fusion seems to be more or less levelled off at 14,000 units per month... I figured that while it wouldn't hit Camry-esque volume, it's challenge the Altima at least.

[Ach]

The Escape and Edge are doing well, but sedan sales...not good to see the Fusion hitting a plateau at this point, I really wanted to see it break into the 20K per month range, which it more than deserves. And the Five Hundred is dropping off the map. I really, really hope the Taurus can at least move 100K units a year, but I never expected to see the Five Hundred crash and burn like it has.

The Panthers continue to do surprisingly well...I know the CV is mostly fleet, but the Grand Marquis and Town Car must have a fairly substantial retail component-imagine if they updated those things.

[mikesright]

Looks like Fusion and Focus are picking up some of the 16,000 fleet-only Taurus sales. There were some bright spots with Edge, Escape, and Mustang doing well.

I'm really surprised how well the Escape continues to do. It has one of the worst interiors on the market (even though its brand-new!) and screams low-rent in person with cheesy trim and poor fit-and-finish.

[airglow]

Originally Posted by Ach

The Escape and Edge are doing well, but sedan sales...not good to see the Fusion hitting a plateau at this point, I really wanted to see it break into the 20K per month range, which it more than deserves. And the Five Hundred is dropping off the map. I really, really hope the Taurus can at least move 100K units a year, but I never expected to see the Five Hundred crash and burn like it has.

The Panthers continue to do surprisingly well...I know the CV is mostly fleet, but the Grand Marquis and Town Car must have a fairly substantial retail component-imagine if they updated those things.

I was just in Detroit and saw 2 Taurus X's on I-94 with an F-150 and Escape, all of them had Ford ID numbers on them. The Taurus X is by far the best looking tall station wagon ever. Far better looking than Freestyle. I'm amazed a nose and tail job can do so much for a car's looks. The taillights are awesome on the Taurus X.

[Cabana Boy]

Originally Posted by mikesright

I'm really surprised how well the Escape continues to do. It has one of the worst interiors on the market (even though its brand-new!) and screams low-rent in person with cheesy trim and poor fit-and-finish.

Have you even seen one in person? The materials, textures and fit/finish are as good or better than anyone else.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by igor

Focus is at 21k
Escape is doing well 19k
Edge is OK 12k
Fusion 14k

Prius: 24,009 184.9% Gain over last year

I hope this is a wake up call to Ford that "good enough" isn't good enough. Americans are not going to Ford to buy cars as a default anymore "X plan" or not. I aim that criticism squarely at the long-ignored Focus which has become the new Taurus of rental car agencies around here. And I'm not convinced a Saturn ION like facelift will help.

[FoMoCo Fan]

Originally Posted by Ming

Prius: 24,009 184.9% Gain over last year

I hope this is a wake up call to Ford that "good enough" isn't good enough. Americans are not going to Ford to buy cars as a default anymore "X plan" or not. I aim that criticism squarely at the long-ignored Focus which has become the new Taurus of rental car agencies around here. And I'm not convinced a Saturn ION like facelift will help.

You're right, it won't help. Not when you can buy a Civic or Mazda 3 that is a much better car.

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by Cabana Boy

Have you even seen one in person? The materials, textures and fit/finish are as good or better than anyone else.

Yes, I actually like the Escape's interior compared to other Ford interiors. It's pretty high quality. But the design is very dated now and sends the wrong visual message.

[mikesright]

Originally Posted by Cabana Boy

Have you even seen one in person? The materials, textures and fit/finish are as good or better than anyone else.

Yes. Been there and touched that. I happen to like the new front-end treatment, but the interior is horrid, the plastics are all fisher price quality and the switchgear sucked bad, not to mention there was plastic flashing in places on top of misalignment on the dash near the doors. Admittedly I haven't been in all of the competition's (like Rav4, CRV, etc) but its pretty crappy. I know also the price point is pretty good there for the Escape, but still. The Equinox/Torrent don't have the best interior either, but they sell a lot less of them.

My Ford friends agreed with me. Also, the side trim near the rocker panels needs to go or be changed on the Escape.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by Ach

The Panthers continue to do surprisingly well...I know the CV is mostly fleet, but the Grand Marquis and Town Car must have a fairly substantial retail component-imagine if they updated those things.

Actually all Panthers are predominately fleet. George Pipas said of the Town Car earlier this year in an interview with Automotive News that "..the retail business is nothing." And then mentioned something like 60-65% of Town Car production goes straight to rental/fleet. I did not see any mention of the Marquis in that article, but I think it's safe to assume the same thing applies. Add to this that both the Town Car and the Grand Marquis have the highest customer rebates available in the US. $7,000.00 for each. (According to Automotive News/ May 28 issue)

[andy82471]

Ford is finished as a credible automaker. They are heading in the same direction as Chrysler. Looks like GM is our last and only hope to fend off foreign competition. BILLY FORD IS A JACKASS

[FoMoCo Fan]

Ford isn't building the kind of vehicles consumers want to buy. They want vehicles with class leading fuel economy, the latest in advanced technology. Vehicles that are stylish and contemporary, with excellent fit and finish, low NVH, with fine interior appointments, and vehicles that they can be confident won't be in the shop. Ford doesn't seem to know how to build a desirable vehicle any more, aside from say the Mustang. New taillights on the Taurus X aren't going to cut it.

[1931Chevy]

I will wait until the new products start arriving by late 08 09, remember right now all the products that arrive this year where not blessed by the new management , when the Mullaly era product start arriving by late 08 then I will judge