Ford US 8% Sales Slump 2006

[csv8]

AILING US auto giant Ford Motor Co today said it had suffered an 8 per cent drop in 2006 sales to 2.9 million vehicles.

In December alone, the second-biggest US automaker's year-on-year sales plummeted 13 per cent to 233,621 units.

Over the year, sales of Ford's cars rose 5.4 per cent from 2005 to 1.095 million, but sales of its more profitable pickup trucks plummeted 14.3 to 1.824 million.

The company said it was the second year in a row of higher car sales and the first back-to-back increase since 1993-1994.

But overall, the sales performance in 2006 underlined the troubles facing Ford as it battles to turn around its loss-making operations in the face of a sales onslaught by Asian rivals.

Land-Rover was the Ford group's only brand to post higher sales in 2006, with a rise of 3.5 per cent.

The Mercury, Lincoln and Volvo badges all lost ground, while sales at the premium Jaguar marque dived 32 per cent in the year.

The Focus sedan/hatchback was Ford's best-selling car in 2006, shifting more than 177,000 units, just ahead of the aging Taurus.

The F-series remained Ford's most popular truck and best-selling vehicle overall, with sales last year standing at just over 796,000. But that lagged the 2005 figure by 11.7 per cent.

[T3ts50]

I would have thought Jaguar would have been up, since they released the new XK model (which is apparently sold out in Australia) which has been getting rave reviews.

How come there is no mention of Aston Martin?

[Dave_au]

AM sell a pretty small amount per year - less than 10,000 I would guess.

[Polyal]

Well I wonder why.....

http://www.fordvehicles.com/showroom/

There are a couple of exceptions, but in general its an ancient line up that looks like crap, would handle like crap, and its quality is crap.

I bet they are still scratching their heads to, must be hard while its up their backsides.

[MeestaNob!]

What was Ford US's official reason for not taking the new Euro (and Asia) Focus? Were they stoned?

It's just baffling, it really is.

[Green X]

Yeah agree about the Ford U.S Line up

Like they got

Mustang and GT in the sedans all the rest are Crap, none of which are any good if you have a family.

Explorer, Expedition and Escape in the Family 4WD range, Thou none of them are actually any good as a 4WD.

4WD Utes you Got, Sport Trac, Ranger and F150 all very similar cars.

+ The Ford Trucks which they will never drop.

And that’s rely it all the other stuff if fairly disappointing and even the ones mentioned could use some work.

from: http://www.fordboldmoves.com/FordRes...c-ae06e95afc4d

we are often asked why we don't see more of our European products on U.S. roads. We do look at all of the products in Ford Motor Company's product portfolio on a regular basis to identify those which best meet the needs of our target customer in the U.S. In some circumstances, consumer preferences across the oceans are different. Our American target customer may not find some European products appealing. Additionally, the different safety and emissions requirements between U.S. and Europe may require a significant redesign of the vehicle prior to importing.


All I can do is wave the BS flag. I recon the investment in tooling and supplier is whats stopping them. I mean they already have the Euro drivetrain installed on the LR

[Polyal]

I thought the focus they have now, the old one, is built in the US somewhere, thats why they are sticking with it; maybe...

[4.9 EF Futura]

Scary... how a company can sell 3 million vehicles and not make money....

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Scary... how a company can sell 3 million vehicles and not make money....

I guess thats because they are set up to build 6 million cars...Too much over head...

[Wally]

I wonder if Ford and GM have staff employed to join non associated forums? They might find out why the gravitation to asian cars. It's pretty basic marketing = find out what the innovators and early adopters like and the majority will follow.

Cars like the corolla are legendary. The mustang also has high brand recognition, but it's got so much less of a purchasing audience than the rolla. Even though there are probably only a few hundred or so fair dinkum skylines in the US, it has managed to enthrall the youth market and once again cemented a perception that Japanese is good stuff in yet another generation of potential buyers. Honda does great shakes there too. DSM played on the Jap pedigree from Mitsubishi and the connection with the EVO stable.