Explorer sales dropped 18.7% from last January in figures released by Ford on Friday. Still no word if Ford has made any progress in planning for the promised new vehicle and flex body shop for the Louisville Assembly Plant, where Explorers are made, now. Here are the numbers:
Louisville made vehicles:
Louisville Assembly Plant
Explorer: down 18.7% compared with last January (7,217 sold compared with 8,876 last year)
Mountaineer down 17.9% (1,553 vs. 1,891)
Kentucky Truck Plant
(Ford does not delineate between F-150 sales (not made in Louisville) and Super Duty sales, i.e. F-250 and above (made in Louisville)
F-Series down 8.4% (41,125 vs. 44,919)
Here is the Ford release:
FORD CROSSOVERS STAYED HOT IN JANUARY
Ford crossovers pick up where they left off in 2007; Ford Edge sales climbed 95 percent and Lincoln MKX rose 78 percent.
New Focus bolsters Ford’s share of small car market with 44 percent increase.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 148,355, down 4 percent.
Total Ford Motor Company sales (including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo) totaled 159,914, down 4 percent.
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DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 1, 2008 – Demand for Ford’s crossovers remained strong in January. Sales for the Ford Edge were 95 percent higher than a year ago and the Lincoln MKX was up 78 percent.
Retail demand for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars also was strong in January, especially for the new Focus. Sales for the Focus were up 44 percent compared with a year ago, with retail sales up 33 percent. Combined retail sales for the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ also were higher than a year ago.
“We’re very pleased with this result,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president, Marketing and Communications. “Our dealers really delivered this month, despite a challenging economic and competitive environment.
“It’s not going to get any easier – at least for awhile,” said Farley. “Recent monetary actions and the proposed stimulus package may help the economy later this year, but we’re not pinning our hopes on that. Our plan is based on restructuring our business to be profitable at lower demand and changed mix while also accelerating the development of new products people want to buy.”
The next wave of new Ford products will arrive this summer – the distinctively designed Ford Flex crossover and the elegant Lincoln MKS sedan. A new Ford F-150 pickup truck will debut later in the fall.
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 148,355, down 4 percent compared with a year ago.
Total Ford Motor Company sales, including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo, were 159,914, down 4 percent.
Note: The sales data included in this release and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 245,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
FORD MOTOR COMPANY JANUARY 2008 U.S. SALES
January % Year-To-Date %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
Sales By Brand
Ford 131,074 132,006 -0.7 131,074 132,006 -0.7
Mercury 9,296 12,604 -26.2 9,296 12,604 -26.2
Lincoln 7,985 9,594 -16.8 7,985 9,594 -16.8
Total Ford, Lincoln and Mercury 148,355 154,204 -3.8 148,355 154,204 -3.8
Jaguar 664 1,390 -52.2 664 1,390 -52.2
Land Rover 2,859 3,433 -16.7 2,859 3,433 -16.7
Volvo 8,036 7,808 2.9 8,036 7,808 2.9
Total Ford Motor Company 159,914 166,835 -4.1 159,914 166,835 -4.1
Memo: Cars and Trucks
Cars 50,076 55,842 -10.3 50,076 55,842 -10.3
Trucks 109,838 110,993 -1.0 109,838 110,993 -1.0
Total Ford Motor Company 159,914 166,835 -4.1 159,914 166,835 -4.1
FORD BRAND JANUARY 2008 U.S. SALES
January % Year-To-Date %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
Crown Victoria 4,431 5,424 -18.3 4,431 5,424 -18.3
Taurus 4,180 3,526 18.5 4,180 3,526 18.5
Fusion 9,183 10,529 -12.8 9,183 10,529 -12.8
Focus 11,600 8,035 44.4 11,600 8,035 44.4
Mustang 6,545 9,064 -27.8 6,545 9,064 -27.8
GT 0 62 -100.0 0 62 -100.0
Total Ford Cars 35,939 36,640 -1.9 35,939 36,640 -1.9
Escape 11,191 8,408 33.1 11,191 8,408 33.1
Edge 10,888 5,586 94.9 10,888 5,586 94.9
Taurus X 2,234 2,011 11.1 2,234 2,011 11.1
Explorer 7,217 8,876 -18.7 7,217 8,876 -18.7
Expedition 4,963 6,143 -19.2 4,963 6,143 -19.2
Freestar 0 1,072 -100.0 0 1,072 -100.0
Econoline/Club Wagon 11,333 12,521 -9.5 11,333 12,521 -9.5
Ranger 5,546 4,652 19.2 5,546 4,652 19.2
F-Series 41,125 44,919 -8.4 41,125 44,919 -8.4
Low Cab Forward 79 220 -64.1 79 220 -64.1
Heavy Trucks 559 958 -41.6 559 958 -41.6
Total Ford Trucks 95,135 95,366 -0.2 95,135 95,366 -0.2
Total Ford Brand 131,074 132,006 -0.7 131,074 132,006 -0.7
LINCOLN AND MERCURY BRAND JANUARY 2008 U.S. SALES
January % Year-To-Date %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
Grand Marquis 1,963 4,053 -51.6 1,963 4,053 -51.6
Sable 986 1,190 -17.1 986 1,190 -17.1
Milan 2,453 2,662 -7.9 2,453 2,662 -7.9
Total Mercury Cars 5,402 7,905 -31.7 5,402 7,905 -31.7
MKZ 2,712 2,209 22.8 2,712 2,209 22.8
Town Car 206 3,124 -93.4 206 3,124 -93.4
Total Lincoln Cars 2,918 5,333 -45.3 2,918 5,333 -45.3
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Cars 8,320 13,238 -37.2 8,320 13,238 -37.2
Mariner 2,341 2,633 -11.1 2,341 2,633 -11.1
Mountaineer 1,553 1,891 -17.9 1,553 1,891 -17.9
Monterey 0 175 -100.0 0 175 -100.0
Total Mercury Trucks 3,894 4,699 -17.1 3,894 4,699 -17.1
MKX 3,026 1,699 78.1 3,026 1,699 78.1
Navigator 1,665 1,788 -6.9 1,665 1,788 -6.9
Mark LT 376 774 -51.4 376 774 -51.4
Total Lincoln Trucks 5,067 4,261 18.9 5,067 4,261 18.9
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Trucks 8,961 8,960 0.0 8,961 8,960 0.0
Total Mercury
and Lincoln Vehicles 17,281 22,198 -22.2 17,281 22,198 -22.2
Total Lincoln Brand 7,985 9,594 -16.8 7,985 9,594 -16.8
Total Mercury Brand 9,296 12,604 -26.2 9,296 12,604 -26.2
JAGUAR BRAND JANUARY 2008 U.S. SALES
January % Year-To-Date %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
XJ 202 384 -47.4 202 384 -47.4
S-TYPE 113 310 -63.5 113 310 -63.5
X-TYPE 99 269 -63.2 99 269 -63.2
XK 250 427 -41.5 250 427 -41.5
Total Jaguar 664 1,390 -52.2 664 1,390 -52.2
VOLVO BRAND JANUARY 2008 U.S. SALES
January % Year-To-Date %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
C30 351 0 NA 351 0 NA
S40 1,519 1,371 10.8 1,519 1,371 10.8
V50 163 195 -16.4 163 195 -16.4
S60 1,713 1,235 38.7 1,713 1,235 38.7
V70 167 257 -35.0 167 257 -35.0
XC70 965 855 12.9 965 855 12.9
C70 375 385 -2.6 375 385 -2.6
S80 865 1,131 -23.5 865 1,131 -23.5
XC90 1,918 2,379 -19.4 1,918 2,379 -19.4
Total Volvo 8,036 7,808 2.9 8,036 7,808 2.9
LAND ROVER BRAND JANUARY 2008 U.S. SALES
January % Year-To-Date %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change
Range Rover 776 930 -16.6 776 930 -16.6
Range Rover Sport 1,030 1,263 -18.4 1,030 1,263 -18.4
LR3 379 1,239 -69.4 379 1,239 -69.4
LR2 674 0 NA 674 0 NA
Freelander 0 1 -100.0 0 1 -100.0
Total Land Rover 2,859 3,433 -16.7 2,859 3,433 -16.7
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Ford continues to shoot themselves in their own foot at every opportunity, and the UAW continues to help them reload. My 1993 5-speed Escort got over 40 mpg on the highway, yet now with today's upgraded technology and fuel prices soaring, Ford can't seem to manufacture a gasoline engine vehicle that tops 36 mpg on the open road. What gives? Several years ago Ford folded its Euro-based "Think" line of electric vehicles only months before oil prices surged. Talk about dropping the ball. At contract negotiations in the late 90's and early 2000's, the UAW chose to ignore the writing on the wall and instead flex its muscle in favor of higher pay for workers (and hence, higher union dues) instead of job security and progressive thinking in the product line. This has had a tremendous negative effect locally, and that effect is likely to increase in coming months as more buyouts appear certain.
UAW Local 862 and Ford Motor Company are currently in a position to condense the floundering operations of LAP into the spacious confines of KTP. This move could bring increased job security to local workers, as well as increase the profitability of the ailing auto giant...and all around good move for the Louisville economy. Further more, the entire shift could be financed by the sale of the LAP property and facility to UPS...yet another boon for the local economy (as this would allow further UPS expansion and and increase in local jobs). Best of all, the move would still leave room inside the KTP facility to add another line of smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles, bringing tremendous stability to Ford's position in the local economic infrastructure. That's an economic Trifecta of the highest order for our community. However, based on the track record of Ford and the UAW, it makes far too much sense to ever happen.