Ford Motor Company reported a 14% increase in May sales.
The company’s cars sales were up 9%, utilities up 15% and trucks up 18%. Retail sales increased 17%.
It was the company’s best “May retail sales results since 2005,” Ford said.
The surge in May sales is attributed to higher Fusion and Escape sales.
“Our fuel-efficient Fusion and Escape have set monthly sales records for four straight months. F-Series sales – fueled by construction growth and pent-up demand – reached their highest level in more than six years,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service.
Fusion reported its “best-ever” May sales of 29,553 vehicles. Most units were sold in the western and southeastern areas of the U.S.
The fuel-efficient Escape posted a 26% increase with 29,123 vehicles sold last month. This represents the company’s “best-ever sales month since being introduced 13 years ago.”
In May, 71,604 F-Series pickups were sold, representing a 31% increase compared to last year. The F-Series had its strongest May sales result since 2005, the company said.
In May, Lincoln MKZ sales increased 42% compared to 2012 sales. This represents the company’s “best-ever May sales.”
Ford’s third-quarter 2013 production plan
In addition, Ford said it plans to produce 740,000 vehicles in the third quarter of 2013. This represents 10% increase from the 673,000 vehicles built in the third quarter of 2012.
“The third-quarter plan includes the company’s recent announcement to add 40,000 vehicles from a reduced July summer shutdown and the addition of 200,000 units of annualized straight-time capacity starting in the fall of this year,” the company said.
The company’s second-quarter production of 800,000 vehicles is unchanged from previous guidance.
