JANUARY USA SALES - FORD - U.S. Sales Up 15 Percent in January; Best U.S. January Since 2004

• Ford Motor Company U.S. sales for January increase 15 percent, for a total of 178,351 vehicles sold; retail sales performance for January is best since 2004 
• F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for the 38th straight year, posts best January sales performance since 2004; Transit Connect reports another record month, driving best January van sales since 2001 
• Escape delivers its best-ever January sales performance; Explorer sales best since 2005 
• Mustang has best January performance since 2007 
• Lincoln has best January sales results in five years 

Ford Motor Company posted a 15 percent sales increase in the U.S. in January, with sales of 178,351 vehicles. Retail sales of 128,666 vehicles marked a 13 percent increase, providing the best retail January results since 2004. Retail passenger car sales were up 6 percent, utilities saw a 10 percent increase, and trucks gained 23 percent. 

“Customer demand is strong for our newest vehicles, driving retail sales gains across our lineup in January,” said Erich Merkle, U.S. sales analyst. “Momentum is especially strong for our F-Series pickup, with the all-new F-150 the hottest product on our dealer lots in January.” 

F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for the 38th straight year, posted sales gains of 17 percent in January, with 54,370 trucks sold last month. This was F-Series’ best January sales volume since 2004 – an all-time annual record sales year for F-Series. Part of F-Series’ strength is the all-new F-150. It is the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever, with best-in-class payload, towing and gasoline fuel economy and recently named 2015 North American Truck of the Year. 

It is averaging just 12 days on dealer lots. High-end Platinum and King Ranch F-150 are turning even faster, averaging just 9 and 10 days on dealer lots, respectively. Transit Connect sales also increased 72 percent last month, for record January sales with 3,689 vehicles. Combined, Ford sales of Transit, E-Series, and Transit 

Escape sales of 20,054 vehicles increased 3 percent last month versus a year ago, for the utility’s best-ever January. Explorer sales of 14,995 vehicles were up 28 percent, marking its best January sales since 2005. Mustang sales more than doubled last month with sales of 8,694 vehicles. This represents a 124 percent increase versus last year and marks Mustang’s best January sales since 2007. 

Lincoln sales increased 11 percent last month versus January 2014, with 6,619 vehicles sold, providing Lincoln with its best January results in five years. MKC continues to build Lincoln momentum, along with Navigator, which realized a 144 percent sales increase for the month.

SMMT announces September figures, which are 5.6% up in last year and the best since 2004.

• 425,861 new cars registered in the key month of September, a rise of 5.6% and the biggest September since 2004.
• New ‘64’ numberplate boosts volumes, with September marking the 31^st consecutive month of growth in the new car market.
• Registrations for the year-to-date reach 1,958,196 – up 9.1% on January-September 2013.
• September and March – the months of the plate change – together account for a third of a year’s registrations.
• After March’s 18% surge, September’s more moderate growth indicates demand starting to level off.
• Average new car registered in September achieves 59mpg (combined cycle), and CO₂ emissions of 122.3 g/km.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, "September’s strong performance underlined the continuing robustness of the UK new car market, particularly in the context of last September’s bumper volumes.

"Demand for the new 64-plate has been boosted by intensifying confidence in the UK economy, with consumers attracted by a wide range of exciting, increasingly fuel-efficient, new cars. In the months since March – which saw an 18% jump in registrations – the growth has shown signs of levelling off as the market starts to find its natural running rate."

Growth levelling off: quarterly increases in new car registrations, Q1 2013 to date

About SMMT and the UK automotive industry

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is one of the largest and most influential trade associations in the UK. It supports the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad, promoting a united position to government, stakeholders and the media. 

The automotive industry is a vital part of the UK economy accounting for more than £64 billion turnover and £12 billion value added. With more than 160,000 people employed directly in manufacturing and in excess of770,000 across the wider automotive industry, it accounts for 10% of total UK export of goods and invests£1.9 billion each year in automotive R&D. More than 30 manufacturers build in excess of 70 models of vehicle in the UK supported by around 2,500 component providers and some of the world's most skilled engineers.