Ford continued to post strong sales and market share gains in May, with Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealers delivering 192,253 new vehicles in May – a 23 percent increase versus a year ago. It marks the sixth month in a row Ford sales have increased more than 20 percent. Year-to-date sales totaled 783,845, up 31 percent. Ford Sales Analyst, George Pipas, says it’s all about having the product people want.
Click on to hear audio. Use right mouse click to download.
Cut #1:
"The biggest reason of course is our full family of cars, utilities and trucks that offer class leading quality, fuel economy, value, & safety to our consumer’s in the United States." :13 sec.
In May, Ford retail sales were up 19 percent versus a year ago, and Ford gained retail market share for the 19th time in the last 20 months. Fleet sales were up 32 percent, primarily reflecting higher sales of Ford’s hard-working trucks to commercial customers.
Cut #2:
"Trucks did do particularly well this month and principally we’re seeing the impact of the new 2011 models Super Duty with it’s all new gas and all-new diesel engines that have provided more horsepower and capability for our truck customers as well as quite substantially improved fuel economy." :20 sec.
According to Pipas, Super Duty sales were up almost over 80 percent in the month of May compared to a year ago and the entire F-series truck line was up close to 50 percent, but according to Pipas resale value is the ultimate litmus test of the strength of the Ford brand and the desire customers have for your vehicles.
Cut #3:
"There is no question about it, the consistency of results, the balanced results we’ve seen over the past several months, really has paid dividends….and it’s not only paying dividends on the showroom floor in terms of more Ford customers, but we’re seeing resale value up as a result of our focus on quality and fuel efficiency, and this is improving resale value for our customers, which is a real dollar factor in their wallet, when they come to trade in their vehicle." :32 sec
Adding to the lineup were Econoline vans up 30percent in sales, while the Transit connect had its best month since it was introduced last summer.
Cut #4:
"On a year-to-date basis however, you see this a really strong balance with cars and utilities being up about 30 percent, trucks being up about 34 percent so the balance in the Ford line-up is satisfying all kinds of customer needs in the market place." :15 sec.
But that satisfaction should reach new high’s this summer when the Ford Fiesta starts appearing in showrooms.
Cut #5:
"It’s already extremely successful in Europe and Asia, now it’s coming to the U.S. and the incoming statistics on orders and inquiries, and web traffic, digital traffic as well as showroom traffic, since the new advertising began in about the second and third week of May has us really excited about the arrival of this product." :26
In the third quarter of 2010, Ford plans to produce 570,000 vehicles, up 80,000 vehicles (16 percent) versus the third quarter of 2009.