Ford Motor Company March U.S. sales increased by 6% at 236,160 vehicles sold compared to last March in a market projected to grow by 8% overall. It was Ford Motor Company’s best U.S. sales results since May 2007. Cars were even with a year ago, utilities up 14% and trucks up 6%.
In spite of troublesome quality and recall problems for overheating and fires, Ford Fusion and Escape posted all-time monthly sales records. The moribund Lincoln brand once again posted a decline, this time -23% at 6,825 vehicles year-over-year. How Lincoln dealers are surviving at these volumes is unknown. The new MKZ sold but 2,360 units (-20%) as quality problems have delayed the launch of what was Lincoln’s highest volume vehicle.
America’s best-selling pickup, the Ford F-Series sales increased sales 16% to 67,513 pickups in March slightly above March full-size pickup segment growth estimated to be up 15% over last year. This was F-Series 20th straight month of monthly sales increases and represented F-Series’ best March and first quarter sales performance since 2007.
“Full-size pickup demand continues gaining momentum, outperforming the industry for the third consecutive month,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
