Ford Truck Sales up 8% in June, Taurus, Mustang & Cougar among top cars

OAKVILLE, Ont.- More Canadians purchased or leased Ford trucks last month than any other June this century. Record sales of 20,668 were up eight percent, propelling Ford of Canada to its sixth straight month of increased truck sales. In addition, a new January-to-June record of 103,806 truck deliveries -- up 12 percent versus 92,644 in 1998 - was established.

   Ford  Taurus

Strength in trucks was nearly matched by car sales as Ford Taurus and Mustang, Mercury Cougar and Grand Marquis, saw double-digit increases. The new Lincoln LS burst onto the luxury sports sedan market with 106 deliveries and over 1,000 accumulated orders; sales of Lincoln's flagship Town Car rose by 160 percent.

A planned reduction in fleet sales, however, saw June car sales of 11,316 fall by 393 units, or 3.4 percent, from last year's 11,709. Year-to-date car sales of 48,214 were off 14.3 percent against 56,280 in 1998.

Combined June car and truck sales of 31,984 represented a 3.7 percent improvement versus 30,851 last June. Year-to-date total sales of 152,020 were 2.1 percent better than 148,924 sales during the same period in 1998.

"Ford of Canada expects sales to remain strong for the balance of 1999, particularly as we prepare to launch new and exciting 2000 model-year brands such as Ford Focus, Excursion and the redesigned and re-engineered Ford Taurus," notes Bobbie Gaunt, president and chief executive officer, Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited.

June Sales Highlights by Model

• Ford Windstar sales of 7,074 were up 17.5%;
• Ford Explorer sales of 2,434 were up 56.4%;
• Ford Ranger sales of 1,106 were up 14%;
• Ford Mustang sales of 979 were up 82%;
• Mercury Grand Marquis sales of 530 were up 60.1%;
• Mercury Cougar sales of 485 were up 150%;
• Lincoln Town Car sales of 354 were up 160.3%