Ford Motor Company Reports June 2008, First Half Sales

DEARBORN, Mich., July 1, 2008 -- In the first half of 2008, sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and crossovers to retail customers were higher than a year ago. Retail sales for cars increased 3 percent and crossovers also were up (less than 1 percent). Together, cars and crossovers accounted for 59 percent of Ford's first half retail sales compared with 49 percent in the first half 2007.

2009 Lincoln MKS

Highlights:
June:
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury June sales totaled 167,090, down 28 percent versus year ago.
- Ford Focus' sales to individual retail customers were 9 percent higher than a year ago.
- 2009 Ford Flex and 2009 Lincoln MKS debut.
First Half:
- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury first half sales totaled 1.1 million, down 14 percent.
- Cars and crossovers accounted for 59 percent of first half retail sales; retail sales for cars were up 3 percent versus a year ago and crossovers also were up (less than 1 percent).
- Retail sales fell for SUVs (down 40 percent) and trucks and vans (down 31 percent).

"In the first half, Ford outperformed the industry in both the car and crossover segments," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president, Marketing and Communications. "This performance is crucial to creating an exciting viable Ford delivering profitable growth for all."

Ford's new Focus paced the increase in car sales. In the first half, Focus retail sales increased 53 percent versus a year ago, and Focus was the top-selling domestic car to retail customers. In the recently released J.D. Power and Associates' 2008 APEAL study, the Focus improved 88 index points -- the largest improvement in the industry.

Mid-size cars also posted retail sales increases in the first half with Ford Fusion up 7 percent, Mercury Milan up 2 percent and Lincoln MKZ up 10 percent.

The Ford Edge paced crossovers with first half retail sales up 19 percent.

Gasoline prices increased a dollar (from $3 to $4 a gallon) during the first half and this accelerated the decline in SUV and truck sales. In the first half, retail sales for the company's SUVs declined 40 percent versus a year ago and retail sales for trucks and vans declined 31 percent.

First half fleet sales declined 11 percent (including a 20 percent decline in daily rental sales).

Overall, June sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles totaled 167,090, down 28 percent versus a year ago. First half sales totaled 1.1 million, down 14 percent.

"Consumer fundamentals and consumer confidence deteriorated as the first half unfolded," said Farley. "The economy enters the second half of the year with a notable absence of momentum and a high degree of uncertainty."

He added, "Clearly, the rapid rise in gasoline prices, and the resulting shift toward fuel efficient vehicles, has been challenging, but it also provides an opportunity. In addition to adjusting our capacity and production plans to produce more cars and crossovers, we are introducing several new vehicles with class-leading fuel economy."

In June, Ford introduced a new crossover, the Ford Flex, with best-in-class highway fuel economy of 24 miles per gallon and Lincoln introduced the MKS. In 2009, the MKS will be the first vehicle equipped with Ford's new EcoBoost engine technology.

The 2009 model Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner started production in June. Equipped with a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission, the Escape and Mariner deliver best-in-class fuel economy in the small utility segment with 28 highway miles per gallon. The Escape and Mariner Hybrid remains the most fuel-efficient utility vehicle on the planet, delivering 34 city mpg and improved highway rating of 31 mpg -- up from 30 mpg.

Later this year, production of the redesigned Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ will begin, including new Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid versions.

In addition, Ford has announced plans to bring the European Transit Connect to North America in 2009 -- the most fuel-efficient commercial van on the market.

                 FORD MOTOR COMPANY JUNE 2008 U.S. SALES
                 ---------------------------------------

                              June          %        Year-To-Date        %
                              ----                   ------------
                         2008     2007   Change    2008       2007    Change
                         ----     ----   ------    ----       ----    ------
  Sales By Brand
    Ford               145,715  204,303  -28.7    979,571  1,125,016  -12.9
    Lincoln              9,718   12,494  -22.2     56,894     73,333  -22.4
    Mercury             11,657   15,660  -25.6     72,595     95,192  -23.7
                        ------   ------            ------     ------
      Total Ford,
       Lincoln and
       Mercury         167,090  232,457  -28.1  1,109,060  1,293,541  -14.3
    Volvo                7,001    9,572  -26.9     46,181     53,808  -14.2
                         -----    -----            ------     ------
       Total Ford
        Motor Company  174,091  242,029  -28.1  1,155,241  1,347,349  -14.3

  Ford, Lincoln and
   Mercury Sales By
   Type
    Cars                65,109   74,096  -12.1    400,445    426,915   -6.2
    Crossover Utility
     Vehicles           33,906   41,262  -17.8    213,057    207,298    2.8
    Sport Utility
     Vehicles           12,664   27,946  -54.7     98,708    150,564  -34.4
    Trucks and Vans     55,411   89,153  -37.8    396,850    508,764  -22.0
                        ------   ------           -------    -------
      Total Trucks     101,981  158,361  -35.6    708,615    866,626  -18.2
                       -------  -------           -------    -------
        Total Vehicles 167,090  232,457  -28.1  1,109,060  1,293,541  -14.3

                     FORD BRAND JUNE 2008 U.S. SALES
                     -------------------------------

                               June          %       Year-To-Date       %
                               ----                  ------------
                          2008     2007   Change   2008      2007     Change
                          ----     ----   ------   ----      ----     ------

  Crown Victoria          3,929    5,575  -29.5   27,440     36,211   -24.2
  Taurus                  4,099    8,865  -53.8   31,916     36,270   -12.0
  Fusion                 14,726   12,435   18.4   87,923     78,695    11.7
  Focus                  17,950   19,000   -5.5  123,449     96,732    27.6
  Mustang                10,893   12,781  -14.8   55,053     77,341   -28.8
  GT                          0        0     NA        0        231  -100.0
                              -        -               -        ---
    Ford Cars            51,597   58,656  -12.0  325,781    325,480     0.1

  Flex                    1,379        0     NA    1,379          0      NA
  Edge                    9,993   12,470  -19.9   68,727     58,783    16.9
  Escape                 15,099   19,147  -21.1   92,065     92,205    -0.2
  Taurus X                2,217    2,457   -9.8   14,769     19,778   -25.3
                          -----    -----          ------     ------
    Ford Crossover
     Utility Vehicles    28,688   34,074  -15.8  176,940    170,766     3.6

  Expedition              3,605    8,972  -59.8   32,291     50,334   -35.8
  Explorer                6,819   14,204  -52.0   49,935     74,704   -33.2
                          -----   ------          ------     ------
    Ford Sport Utility
     Vehicles            10,424   23,176  -55.0   82,226    125,038   -34.2

  F-Series               38,789   65,156  -40.5  274,713    355,438   -22.7
  Ranger                  4,882    7,372  -33.8   41,303     42,970    -3.9
  Econoline/Club Wagon   10,706   14,194  -24.6   74,575     94,835   -21.4
  Freestar                    0        0     NA        0      2,390  -100.0
  Low Cab Forward           120      491  -75.6      554      1,627   -65.9
  Heavy Trucks              509    1,184  -57.0    3,479      6,472   -46.2
                            ---    -----           -----      -----
    Ford Trucks and
     Vans                55,006   88,397  -37.8  394,624    503,732   -21.7
                         ------   ------         -------    -------

    Ford Brand          145,715  204,303  -28.7  979,571  1,125,016   -12.9

                    LINCOLN BRAND JUNE 2008 U.S. SALES
                    ----------------------------------

                                    June         %     Year-To-Date     %
                                    ----               ------------
                                2008    2007  Change   2008    2007  Change
                                ----    ----  ------   ----    ----  ------

  MKS                             385       0     NA     385       0     NA
  MKZ                           2,622   3,123  -16.0  18,647  17,053    9.3
  Town Car                      2,863   3,170   -9.7   9,039  23,035  -60.8
  MKX                           2,243   3,400  -34.0  17,563  16,854    4.2
  Navigator                     1,200   2,045  -41.3   9,034  12,059  -25.1
  Mark LT                         405     756  -46.4   2,226   4,332  -48.6
                                  ---     ---          -----   -----

    Lincoln Brand               9,718  12,494  -22.2  56,894  73,333  -22.4

                    MERCURY BRAND JUNE 2008 U.S. SALES
                    ----------------------------------

                                   June         %     Year-To-Date     %
                                   ----               ------------
                               2008    2007  Change   2008    2007   Change
                               ----    ----  ------   ----    ----   ------

  Grand Marquis                2,548   3,936  -35.3  16,741  31,263   -46.5
  Sable                        2,121   2,447  -13.3   9,426  10,238    -7.9
  Milan                        2,973   2,764    7.6  20,426  19,846     2.9
  Mariner                      2,975   3,788  -21.5  18,554  19,678    -5.7
  Mountaineer                  1,040   2,725  -61.8   7,448  13,467   -44.7
  Monterey                         0       0     NA       0     700  -100.0
                                   -       -              -     ---

    Mercury Brand             11,657  15,660  -25.6  72,595  95,192   -23.7

                     VOLVO BRAND JUNE 2008 U.S. SALES
                     --------------------------------

                                     June        %     Year-To-Date     %
                                     ----              ------------
                                 2008   2007  Change   2008    2007  Change
                                 ----   ----  ------   ----    ----  ------

  S40                              560  1,528  -63.4   6,772  10,512  -35.6
  V50                              209    254  -17.7   1,031   1,517  -32.0
  S60                              732  1,937  -62.2   6,311   9,445  -33.2
  S80                            1,033  1,099   -6.0   6,912   6,162   12.2
  V70                              863    322  168.0   2,102   1,714   22.6
  XC70                             922  1,131  -18.5   5,634   6,200   -9.1
  XC90                           1,511  2,860  -47.2  11,465  15,762  -27.3
  C70                              724    441   64.2   3,604   2,496   44.4
  C30                              447      0     NA   2,350       0     NA
                                   ---      -          -----       -

    Volvo Brand                  7,001  9,572  -26.9  46,181  53,808  -14.2

Note: The sales data included in this release and the accompanying tables are based largely on data reported by dealers representing their sales to retail and fleet customers.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) , a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 228,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit ford.com .

Source: Ford Motor Company via /PRNewswire-FirstCall/

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