Ford Vehicle Sales Surge 35.5 Percent

Tuesday, August 2nd 2005, 12:00 pm

By: News On 6

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) _ Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday that its U.S. vehicle sales jumped 35.5 percent across its major brands as the automaker benefited from a decision to follow the lead of rival General Motors Corp. and offer its employee discount to all customers.

Together, the company's Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands sold 346,429 vehicles, up sharply from 265,451 a year ago. Ford has said it will continue the price discount this month for 2005 models and add in some 2006 models.

Ford-brand sales saw the greatest surge of the group, climbing 37.8 percent to 309,570 units. All figures are adjusted for a change in the number of selling days and exclude sales of heavy trucks.

Ford's best-selling vehicle, the F-Series truck, saw its sales jump 64.2 percent to 126,905 units.

The company said sport utility vehicles also posted strong results, along with the Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Ford Mustang and Ford Focus.

Mercury sales rose 27.4 percent to 25,238 vehicles and Lincoln sales increased 4.2 percent to 11,621 units.

So far this year, sales of the three brands are up 1.7 percent.