Ford US projects 2nd quarter sales rise
April 30, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Ford US has today announced that it expects to see a modest improvement in sales in the second quarter of 2009, but is quick to add that it will not be scaling up production until such time as real demand actually presents itself.
According to Ford US’s senior economist Emily Kolinski-Morris, sales could recover to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of as much as 11.5 million units once government funds filter down to consumers in the form of credit through banks and if the Obama administration signs into law a scrappage bill.
In March, the SAAR was 9.9 million, but Ford sales analysis and reporting manager George Pipas says that figure was misleading because of a concentration of sales to daily rental fleets.
“People got way ahead of themselves last month like happy days are here again when the SAAR went to 9.9 million off of February’s 9.1. It was all daily rental,” said Mr Pipas. “It was all concentrated on a few manufacturers. Consumer demand was basically about the same as it was in February.”
For April, Ford will report a year-over-year decline but a gain in retail market share, its sixth in the past seven months. But one car will report a large year-over-year sales increase.
“Fusion is going to be jaw-dropping this month,” Mr Pipas continued. “It will be a record month, the highest retail market share ever for that product and the second-best sales month ever.”
Ford recently launched the heavily refreshed 2010 Fusion mid-sized sedan while at the same time discounting leftover 2009 models.
Mr Pipas said early demand for the Fusion hybrid is running at 35 per cent of total Fusion sales.
As for Ford’s production plans if the economy starts to recover, Mr Pipas said he believes Ford is taking a conservative approach and keeping inventories low. At the end of March, Ford had an 80-day supply of vehicles.
However, Ms Morris said there are some positive signs that could trigger a recovery in sales.
“State and local governments already are receiving (federal) funds or anticipating receiving funds, and we’ve seen some signs that government fleet purchases are already starting to firm up a little bit,” said Ms Morris. “And consumers are already getting higher take-home pay because tax credits were implemented in the form of lower withholding taxes in paycheques.”
According to Ms Morris it will still take time for consumers to return to showrooms.
“How quickly that translates into additional spending, obviously there are going to be some lags,” continued Ms Morris. “Having another $50 to $100 in your paycheque is not necessarily going to drive you to go out and buy another car. But it does help with the monthly cash flow and maybe making consumers feel a little more comfortable about their ability to manage through the crisis.”
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What is with the grille???
Crappy looking Ford grille is way over average! Seems Ford is still stuck in past with designs and if it aint hot it sells average – this is why Ford only sell a certain amount. It is improving and they are very slow to let go to past blunders with design and look of cars! Oh the pain!
Americans love it apparently, Ford’s 3 chrome bar grills are Ford US’s design language. It’d be good to get the Fusion hybrid in Oz to take on the Camry hybrid, its significantly more economical. I’m sure they could graph a Falcon/Mondeo-esque grill onto it.
The Ford Fusion to me looks a lot like the FG Falcon, but with a big chrome grille.
“What is with the grille??? ”
Yup, its been yankiefied! making it Super FUGLY!
Not sure where the Fusion fits into the One Ford plan, it appears to be Mondeo size. But the US doesn’t appear to get the Mondeo.
The Fusion hybrid just completed a record trip (2300K on a tank of fuel) managing less than 3lt/100K. So yes would be a serious contender against the Camry.
Ford have really weathered the storm, compared to the others.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2.....ngle-tank/
Firstly Fusion is US Version of Mondeo. US loves the chrome grille. Fusion is nothing like the FG except the Ford DNA lower front grille.
Did anyone else read yesterdays story of the hybrid Fusion in the hypermile challenge pulling out 1,445.7miles on a single tank (for the young ones 2,313.12km). Naughtyius Maximus, I guess when you can produce average performance like that out of such an average car then you will only ever be considered as average???? As for the looks, in the metal this has real pressence
Ford are talking up increased market sales in the Q2, but in addition to that Alan Mullaly the President has also said they expect to increase production by 25%.
Ford acted much earlier, both in their transformational ‘One Ford’ re-organisation and the dramatic reduction in production output to match ‘real’ demand.
Cash burn was halved last quarter, sales have steadied, sales/market share is increasing in both total and retail levels. They also have some great product coming to the US too. ie Europe’s new No.1 selling vehicle, the Fiesta.
Ford quality now matches or exceeds Toyota & Honda. They have more 5 star rated vehicles in the US than any other.
The sides on that Fusion look like the last model Mondeo.
Actually, Frontman, the Fusion is based on the Ford/Mazda CD3 platform and the Mondeo is based on the EUCD platform.
sorry was actually calling it Mondeo for market place not DNA
The Fusion looks very nice………..whats wrong with the grille? It has some character unlike some of the old boring designs from Toyota and other japs. So i hear its selling very very well……….well done Ford.
Apparently only the japenese brands can sell conservative/boring looking vehicles and get away with it.
The fusion looks nothing like any other brand and thats a good thing.
When your hybrid sales are taking 35% of the mix, you have a winner and the fusion hybrid is a better hybrid than any other in it’s direct class, all from – Ford, in the worst new car market in decades, who would have thought.
Over the next 3 years i feel Ford will be starting to gain momentum to seriously rival Toyota and VW for supremecy.
I still cant believe that Ford of all companies seem to have had more foresight than anyone else leading into this economic downturn.
Perhaps the Japs got into denial they they were too great to be affected, and hence it was on them before they knew it.
Perhaps GM and Chrysler also saw them selves heading for bad times, but just took a lazy approach assuming the government would fix them and just sat on their hands.
All the while Ford just accepted the future and started a “little red hen” style approach.
NM,
As already said, the grill is a yankie thing.
For as long as they like to play football with helments, they are gonna love these sort of styling cues (the grill)
But contrary to what you say, this yankie grill hasnt halted the sales. This yankie grill car is breaking sales records.
Dont be surprised if they thumb their nose at the Fiesta when it hits their shores. The toilet water spins the other way up their, just like their heads.
Apparently only the japenese brands can sell conservative/boring looking vehicles and get away with it.really?at least they are not selling the cars with 1960’s suspensions and oldest engine block on earth.only dinosaurs can get away with it.you bogans can continues with your meaningless war,but leave alone TOYOTA the world’s largest,richest,trusted and number one auto maker in the world.
Bogan ,you sound like a broken record…………get a new name,a new post and then get a life………….your boring us ricer boy with your ONE EYED OPINION!
Oh and you would think being a ricer lover you could spell Japanese hahaha……… your just showing your low intellect,again!
one eye is better than blindness.all bogans have big mouth,when they face the reality then getting personal.how low you can go like your dinosaurs?
i have better thing to do than stay here and making pointless arguments with the bogans.but just to remind you, you bogans can continues fighting for that meaningless war,but do not attack TOYOTA.
hahaha ,off to English class now ricer boy .
SOB – the Falcon and Commodore may be dinosaurs.. However they are still a car that the majority of people in Australia want to drive particularly those who are after a family sedan or wagon or ute.. Even more so when it comes to car enthusiasts
I mean you would have thought given that the TRD Aurion with its supposedly F1 inspired V6 would have meant that they would have 1000s of advanced orders if not a queue of people lining up wanting to buy the TRD – so many infact that there would be a waiting list similar to that of HSV and FPV… but unfortunately the engine on its own does not make the car.
Yes the engine in the Aurion is more refined but when it comes to handling braking comfort etc but when it coms to things such as ride handling braking and comfort [on Australias roads in regular day to day driving] the old Dinosaurs enihilate it.. then there’s the Looks…..
SOB,
Who brought Toyota into it???
Well even if people are blind, at least both eyes are seen out of equally.
If one is blind and purchases a holden or ford, that obviously means it is chosen on attributes rather than a badge.
The Fusion…hey! I’ve got a shaver that looks like that grille called Fusion.
US sales in April show 2 Toyota’s and 3 Honda’s in the top ten, Camry is number 2 just behind the F series trucks. The land that we get our V8’s from don’t think Toyota is that bad!
I think the commodore is first in sales but what follows it?
XR-2 Says:
April 30th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
US sales in April show 2 Toyota’s and 3 Honda’s in the top ten, Camry is number 2 just behind the F series trucks. The land that we get our V8’s from don’t think Toyota is that bad!
I think the commodore is first in sales but what follows it?
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DAYLIGHT !
probably a toyota, david
XR-2,
What are you talking about.
The trolls love this spot.
trolls?
More like Mazda3 and running away with it (not commodore)
The tides have changed
Ewwwwwwwwww…………..what an ugly car! There’s a difference from designing a car and a good looking car……….Ford!