FORD GAINS RETAIL SHARE AS FUSION SETS SALES RECORD

Ford gains retail share – for the sixth time in last seven months

*Ford Fusion sets monthly sales record and grows strength in mid-size car segment

*Ford hybrids combine to eclipse year-ago sales; Kelley Blue Book names Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid to Top 10 Green Cars list

*Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales totaled 129,898

DEARBORN, Mich., May 1, 2009 – New, fuel-efficient products and quality on par with the best in the industry helped Ford increase retail market share in April – the sixth time in the last seven months that Ford’s share of the retail market was higher than a year ago.

In April, the Ford Fusion paced the share performance. Fusion sales totaled 18,321, a record for any month. April was the first full month of sales for the redesigned 2010 model and the new Fusion Hybrid version, and April is believed to be the first month that Fusion was among the top three-selling mid-size sedans. Recent independent studies rate Fusion and the Mercury Milan – the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedans in America – as having the best predicted reliability among all mid-size sedans.

“We continue to operate in a very challenging economic and competitive environment,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, Sales and Marketing. “Especially given this external environment, we’re very encouraged by the consumer response to our new mid-size sedans.”

“Sales of the 2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ and hybrid versions exceeded our plan and customers also are equipping our new products with levels of content and features that are higher than we expected,” he added. “This suggests consumers view our high-quality, fuel-efficient new products as offering outstanding value.”

The new Fusion Hybrid is one of four hybrid models offered by Ford. Hybrid models also are offered in the Mercury Milan mid-size sedan and the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner small utility vehicles. All Ford hybrid models are the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their class, and the Ford Escape and Ford Fusion recently were named to Kelley Blue Book’s list of Top 10 Green Cars. In April, combined sales of all hybrid models totaled 2,299, up 21 percent versus a year ago.

Other new Ford products contributed to the retail share performance, including the new F-150 pickup, America’s best-selling vehicle, and Ford Flex, the distinctively styled crossover utility that had its best sales month ever (3,190).

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Sales Chart PDF

It appears Ford outsold Toyota for the month, 134,401 vs. 126,540.

Edited May 1, 200916 yr by mustang84

MKs sales are disturbingly low.

Flex quite good! More than making up for the Taurus X.

FUsion is booming, but note, Milan is down.

Could be availability. I haven't seen a single Milan anywhere, new Fusions seem to be everywhere, the dealer seems to have a pretty good supply.

It probably helps that '09 Fusions had huge incentives to clear the way for the 2010s.

Good for Ford, they have been down the "$h!ter" longer than GM has been tho. I am glad, I just hope we can hear the same from GM, uhhh someday. My neighbor just got a new V6 SEL 2010 White Fusion on a side note, sharp looking car. My other neighbor just got a new Malibu 2LT with a 4 cylinder as well. Both made me happy they choose American.

Edited May 1, 200916 yr by gm4life

They need a Fusion and/or Milan coupe (to lend an even sportier air to the line) to lure orphaned Pontiac buyers and keep them buying domestic. You know corporate spying is still ongoing, they had to know what GM would do.

Anyway, good for Ford. The '10 Milans and Fusions look great!