F-Series sales of 71,115 trucks were up 22 percent, marking the 25th consecutive monthly increase and the first time since 2006 that sales have passed 70,000 vehicles in two separate months.
DEARBORN, MI- Sales of Ford Motor Co.’s F-Series pickups topped 70,000 units for a second time this year, leading the Dearborn-based automaker to a 12 percent sales increase last month compared to August 2012.
F-Series sales of 71,115 trucks were up 22 percent, marking the 25th consecutive monthly increase and the first time since 2006 that sales have passed 70,000 vehicles in two separate months.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ford’s small car sales – including Fiesta, Focus and C-Max hybrids – were up 30 percent, with combined sales of 30,148 vehicles. C-Max hybrids contributed 44 percent of Ford’s small car growth in August. Fiesta sales increased 61 percent, for the best August Fiesta sales ever.
Ford officials expect car sales to continue to increase this year, as the company’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan adds 30 percent more capacity for the hot-selling Fusion mid-size sedan.
“Producing more Fusions at Flat Rock Assembly with its 1,400 new workers is a welcome opportunity, as Fusion showed great strength in August,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. “Small cars and hybrids continue to outpace the market in the coastal regions of the U.S., with Ford brand retail small car sales growing at more than three times the rate of the U.S. small car industry.”
In this June 28, 2009 file photo, a long line of F-150 pickup trucks is reflected in the grille of another F-150 at a Ford dealership in Centennial, Colo.Regarding retail sales in August, car sales were up 15 percent, utilities up 16 percent and trucks up 30 percent.
Ford's luxury Lincoln brand continued to struggle, with sales primarily flat in August and down 6.4 percent for the year.
Overall, Ford's sales through August are up 13 percent to more than 1.7 million vehicles sold.
Top five Ford models by units sold in August (2013 sales):
1. Ford F-Series- 71,115 (499,050)
2. Ford Escape- 26,714 (205,683)
3. Ford Fusion- 24,653 (206,321)
4. Ford Focus- 20,372 (171,921)
5. Ford Explorer- 14,148 (122,192)
Top five Ford models by year-over-year sales in August (monthly units sold):
1. Police Interceptor Utility- 114.2% (1,489)
2. Ford heavy trucks- 73.2% (866)
3. Ford Fiesta- 61.5% (6,744)
4. Ford Taurus- 26.1% (6,836)
5. Ford F-Series- 22.2% (71,115)
Ford is the second of the Detroit automakers to release August sales. Earlier today, Chrysler Group LLC also reported a 12 percent increase from the same time a year ago -- marking 41-consecutive months of year-over-year sales gains. General Motors Co. and non-domestic automakers are expected to release August sales results later today.
Analysts expect August to be a healthy month, with U.S. sales up about 13 percent to nearly 1.5 million vehicles sold.