Ford's May sales sank 16 percent overall. The number is the result of a 24 percent decline in truck and van sales with a whopping 44 percent drop in SUV sales. Fortunately, The Blue Oval Boyz had good showing on the car side. Fusion sales climbed 27 percent while the Focus ascended by 53 percent. Even though retail sales of cars were up 20 percent, when you factor in a drop in fleet sales (sales to rental companies down 30 percent), overall car sales were up only four percent. The big question, though, is if the F-150 is still the overall sales champ? Sales of the perennial best-seller were down 30.6 percent against last May and are down 18.7 percent year to date. Did it fall far enough for Toyota Camry to pull into the top spot? We'll let you know when all the sales numbers are in.
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A 20% bump in retail sales and a 30% drop in fleet sales means a large increase in profits. That’s a good move.
Bummer about the F-150, though. Friends don’t let friends buy a Camry.
Well, the Camry and Corolla both outsold it for May. The Focus outsold it at a retail level (although Ford targets commercial buyers with the truck, so it’s a bit of a poor comparison). I would assume the Civic outsold it as well.
However, we still have seven months in the year, and through the first five, the F-series is still the top. Ford is launching an employee pricing program on the F-150, 250 and 350 for June (and will probably extend it into July) to get their model sell-down going before the new F-150 launches. Then, with a new model that will create some buzz, we will see some sales stabilization in Q4. So, I don’t know if 2008 will be the year or if we’ll have to wait for 2009.
Discounts here in Toyota-land were really high on both vehicles as well – nearly Ford levels (which is saying something). It was really amazing. I’d also be curious about the rental car break-out for the vehicles. I’ve been stuck with the 2009 Corolla twice now in my last three rentals (an Altima the other time).
Toyota has a press release up. In part:
“Camry and Camry Hybrid posted combined sales of 51,291 in May.”
Toyota May Summary
I imagine that includes the Solara. Does that count?
Yup, the Camry jumped over both the Silverado and F-series to become the best selling vehicle in the USA last month.
Eeesh.
So, off topic sorta – but it looks like toyota sold 257k total and gm ‘delivered’ 272k, don’t think I’ve seen them that close before. Who thinks Toyota passes GM some month this year? I think if they’d had enough priuses on hand they might have in may.
I think the Civic has beat them all… 53,299.
The one month Camry finally beats the F, and it cant claim the top spot, even the Corolla beats it. This is a seismic shift in car buying. wow
The Civic, Corolla (which, lamely, includes Matrixes), Camry, and Accord all outsold the F-series and Silverado last month.
Egads, $4 gas or not, how could anyone buy a hideous Focus?? Would rather have a 15 year old Geo.
From the Wall St Journal. Fair Use Extract:
With a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline near $4, Ford sales analyst George Pipas said two weeks ago he believed consumers would continue to move away from pickup trucks and SUVs well into the future. The SUV will be relegated to more of a niche product and the pickup will become a purchase made by people who need them, such as construction workers, rather than those who want them but don’t need the functionality, Mr. Pipas said.
Uh oh.
Yep, that’s what I’m seeing right now.
I have 2 SUV’s that have just been sitting… with cobwebs and all. My economical vehicles are selling in droves. Just sold a 1994 Saturn SC2 coupe with 84k miles for $2500 this afternoon and had no fewer than six calls on it.
I think out of the last ten cars I’ve sold on the side, only one had a V6 engine. That’s it. On the auctioneering side I had a lane full of dealers practically vacate on me after the few Focii for Ford Motor Credit ran out. Everything now is Expedition, Expedition, F150, F150, etc. Only bottom dwellers and commercial buyers are bidding in the lane for the most part.
the pickup will become a purchase made by people who need them, such as construction workers, rather than those who want them but don’t need the functionality, Mr. Pipas said.
Uh oh.
Word. Just how many would that be, I wonder, especially in a collapsed housing market.
Oh-Boy! And the profit margins on those are what? A buck and a half?
I am waiting for Mulally to strike-up a rendition of “We’re in the Money” any minute now.
When was the last year that Ford made a full-year profit? (I think it was 1998) According to DetNews, GM has not made a full-year profit since 1994.
How..Why..Geeeez!
Ford continues to get my vote for the last man standing. They led the truck/SUV era with the F150 and Explorer and are of course taking huge hits as that market crumbles, but at least they have a decent stable of cars and a mostly rational branding strategy. That’s why they didn’t loose sales nearly as badly as GM did.
Considering the market realities, Ford is playing it’s hand as well as it can be played. Strong demand for small cars should mean they can be sold for full price. I’m surprised Ford still has $2,000 rebates on the Fusion and $1500 on the Focus.
GM, on the other hand, continues to be a cluster****.
John Horner :
Ford continues to get my vote for the last man standing.
Yeah, I agree. The numbers from GM and Chrysler make Ford look like a big winner last month.
If Ford can get attractive new cars with fuel efficient powertrains to market, they’ll do well. They appear to have gotten cost and reliability under control.
Ford has more competitive car offerings than it’s competitors. Ford doesn’t have to run the fastest of all…it just has to run faster than GM or Chrysler!
Slumping F-150 sales really do stink for Ford. The next model, while absolutely awesome, is significantly more expensive to build than the outgoing model.
Ford is now offering Employee Pricing on the F-series up to the F350. Dealer participation is optional, so not sure what kind of ads Ford will run on it…
Gotta unload the ’08s cuz the ’09s are coming next month!!!!
Here are the top 5 sellers on the numbers I’ve seen.
1. Civic-53.3k
2. Corolla-52.8k
3. Camry-51k
4. Accord-44k (autoblog missed that one)
5. F-150- 43K
Have to agree that the Ford numbers look great next to the other two.
Anyone know what the industry drop was?
Ford might not look to bad versus that.
Bunter
Marc summed it up: “This is a seismic shift in car buying.”
Or, for any academics out there, it’s a paradigm shift.
Ford has the best chance to survive if they get their heads out of their asses and put their (actually quite good) hybrid drivetrain in a CAR, before it’s too late.
M1EK :
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Ford has the best chance to survive if they get their heads out of their asses and put their (actually quite good) hybrid drivetrain in a CAR, before it’s too late.
Silly question: could they get the Escape’s hybrid system into a Fusion?
This is getting really stupid. Please be informed before you post on sites. Ford has announced the Fusion and Milan hybrids go into production later this year. Two cars with hybrids. It might even be in the press release being referenced by the above story!
Any questions?
@Bunter:
I believe the overall industry was down 11%. Ford probably lost .5% of marketshare or so – something they really need to stop at some point. But… still much better than GM and Chrysler.
I’m annoyed that the F-150 and its larger brethren are counted together. And the Matrix and the Corolla. Are the Solara and Camry counted together too? I’m fine with Civic + Civic Hybrid, and same with the Camry + Camry Hybrid.
It’s huge that the Camry has (probably) outsold the F-series. It’s equally huge that the Civic has outsold the Camry.
Toyota does not build Solaras anymore…reported Camry sales include the Camry and Camry Hybrid.
RobertSD,
Too little, too late, in all likelihood. They’ve been talking about the Fusion Hybrid for years now, while they actually built two different models of the Escape Hybrid.
Kixstart:
Toyota has a press release up. In part:
Tundra – down 31.5% – 12,144.
I eagerly await Frank’s full report, as I wasn’t able to find Nissan’s numbers broken out on the Titan.