The strongest May since 2005 for the profit producing F-Series.
Ford Motor Company’s May U.S. sales rose 14% compared with one year ago. It was the best May sales since 2006 for the Number Two U.S. automaker. The U.S.’s best-selling pickup by far, F-Series, had its strongest May sales since 2005 at 71,604, which meant a 31% increase versus last year and its 22nd straight monthly sales increase.
The quality challenged Escape and Fusion both posted monthly sales records, something they have done for four straight months in the slowly recovering U.S auto market. (Read AutoInformed on Ford Motor Recalls 465,000 2013 Models for Fuel Leaks) As a result, Ford announced a 2013 Q3 production plan of 740,000 vehicles, an increase of 10% compared to the prior year.
This third quarter plan includes the company’s recent announcement to add 40,000 vehicles from a reduced July summer shutdown and the addition of 200,000 units of annualized straight-time capacity starting in the fall of this year.
Whether Ford can recover from a series of recent quality gaffs with its now overworked UAW employees remains to be seen. Much of Ford’s quality problems, though, have come from suppliers and bad engineering that is beyond the UAW’s control. Second quarter production of 800,000 vehicles is unchanged.
