Ford ’s dealers delivered 233,621 new vehicles to U.S. customers in December, down 13 percent compared with a year ago. Lower F-Series sales (down 21 percent compared with last December’s near-record month) and lower sales for the discontinued Taurus and Freestar minivan more than accounted for the decline, the company said.
Full year sales totaled 2.9 million, down 8 percent compared with full year 2005. Car sales were 5 percent higher than a year ago. It was the second year in a row of higher car sales and the first back-to-back increase since 1993-1994. Ford ’s new mid-size sedans were the major factors behind the increase as combined sales for the Ford Fusion , Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ totaled 211,469. Full year truck sales were down 14 percent.
Sales at subsidiary Jaguar were down 36.5 percent for the month and 32.0 percent for the year overall. Volvo ’s December sales fell 6.1 percent — in line with a 6.3 percent drop for the year. Land Rover sales 13 percent in December, despite a 3.5 percent increase for the year. Mercury and Lincoln saw sales rise 2.2 and 1.5 percent, respectively, during December. Overall sales for the brands fell 7.7 percent and 2.2 percent for 2006, however.
