Ford establishes truck sales record;
Taurus is Canada's number one mid-size car

OAKVILLE, Ont., - Ford of Canada's best-ever April truck sales of 19,554 units contributed to a new company record for year-to-date truck deliveries. In addition, April produced Ford's strongest car sales since last June and propelled Ford Taurus to the front of the line as Canada's best-selling mid-size car.

"Truck sales are continuing on a record pace, aided by Ford F-Series and Explorer which notched record April sales," said John Radford, Ford of Canada's vice president, General Sales. "On the car side, the story for us is the strength of Taurus -- which has been outselling its mid-size competitors -- along with Ford Mustang and Mercury Cougar which have been a real hit with women and young Canadians."

April truck sales of 19,554 were up 4.7 percent compared to 18,680 deliveries in April, 1998. Car sales of 9,048 were down 4.2 percent versus 9,441. Combined April deliveries of 28,602 are up 1.7 percent against 28,121. Record year-to-date truck sales of 64,212 are up 16.6 percent versus 55,058; car sales of 27,445 are down 12.1 percent compared to 31,220. Combined sales of 91,657 are up 6.2 percent versus 86,278.

"Overall, we expect our car sales will continue to climb through spring and summer and our luxury lineup will get a boost in June when the new Lincoln LS goes on sale," added Radford.

Ford of Canada announced today the all-new Lincoln LS V-6 will be priced at $40,595 (manual transmission) and $41,095 (automatic) while the 252-horsepower Lincoln LS V-8 features a $46,995 price tag.