Led by pickup trucks and all-time monthly sales records of its Fusion full-size sedan and Escape utility, the Dearborn-based automaker reported sales of 236,160 vehicles in March – a 6 percent increase from a year ago.
DEARBORN- Ford Motor Co. today reported its best monthly U.S. sales since May 2007.
Led by pickup trucks and all-time monthly sales records of its Fusion full-size sedan and Escape utility, the Dearborn-based automaker reported sales of 236,160 vehicles in March – a 6 percent increase from a year ago.
“Customers are buying our all-new Fusion and Escape in record numbers, and we are working harder than ever to keep pace with demand for these fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, in a statement. “Full-size pickup demand continues gaining momentum, outperforming the industry for the third consecutive month.”
Ford F-Series sales increased 16 percent to 67,513 pickups in March. This was F-Series 20th straight month of monthly sales increases and represented F-Series’ best March and first quarter sales performance since 2007.
According to analysts, pickups are expected to play a crucial role in March sales.
Ford’s namesake brand saw sales increase about 7 percent last month compared to March 2012, but its luxury Lincoln brand continues to weigh it down. The brand’s sales dropped nearly 23 percent 20 6,825 units sold.
Through the first quarter of 2012, Ford’s U.S. sales were up 11 percent compared to last year to 598,483 cars and trucks sold.
Ford’s best-selling vehicles remained unchanged for a third straight month.
Top five Ford models by units sold in March (2013 sales):
1. Ford F-Series- 67,513 (168,843)
2. Ford Fusion- 30,284 (80,558)
3. Ford Escape- 28,934 (72,983)
4. Ford Focus- 24,929 (61,898)
5. Ford Explorer- 17,509 (48,649)
Top five Ford models (excluding police units) by year-over-year sales in March (units sold):
1. Ford Explorer- 32.5%- (17,509)
2. Ford Escape- 27.6% (28,934)
3. Ford Transit Connect- 22.9% (3,655)
4. Ford F-Series- 16.3% (67,513)
5. Ford Fusion- 6% (30,284)
Automotive analyst research firms Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book predict sales last month will total about 1.5 million new cars and trucks, marking the best month of sales since 2007.
Edmunds.com expects sales to total 1,478,208 million vehicles, which would mark the biggest single month since 1,555,945 new cars and trucks were sold in May 2007. KBB expects sales to come in at about 1.45 million vehicles sold, which would be the highest monthly sales total since August 2007.
Ford is the second of the Detroit automakers to release its March sales. Earlier this morning, Chrysler Group LLC reported U.S. vehicle sales of 171,606, a 5 percent increase from the same time a year ago and Chrysler’s 36th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.
Check back to MLive.com/auto later today for more information of February sales.
Email Michael Wayland: MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MikeWayland