Posted on 10/02/2007 9:58:30 AM PDT by decimon
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. sales plummeted 21 percent in September as the automaker saw a steep drop-off in car sales, according to results released Tuesday.
Ford's car sales dropped 39 percent compared with last September, while its truck sales were down 5 percent. The automaker said a 62 percent reduction in sales to rental car fleets partly was to blame. Ford has been trying to cut back on rental sales, which can hurt brand image and profits.
Other automakers also were expected to report lackluster sales for the month, as jittery consumers put off big-ticket purchases in reaction to the credit crunch, high gas prices and the troubled housing market. Wall Street analysts predicted overall sales would be down 4 percent for the month.
The Associated Press reports unadjusted figures, calculating the percentage change in the total number of vehicles sold in one month compared with the same month a year earlier. Some automakers report percentages adjusted for sales days. There were 25 sales days last month and 26 in September 2006.
Don’t worry. Ford renaming the Five Hundred to the Taurus will fix everything.
/sarcasm off
Cramer last night said Ford is a buy...
They make good trucks. They need to make better cars.
How does that work?
“They make good trucks. They need to make better cars.”
They make some decent models too..like the Fusion/Milan. They just don’t stand out amongst the Camry/Accord crowd.
I’ve rented one too many old Tauruses. No way I’d buy one.
Buy? The company is not projected to make a profit next year.
I've always driven Ford or Mercury ... but generally larger cars and trucks. So ... I was recently in the market for a compact car. I looked at Ford's lineup. Garbage. I bought a Toyota. Still like my truck, though ... I hope they don't ruin their truck lineup in the next few years.
Who wants to buy cars from an immoral company that panders to the death sexers?
I've read good things about the Taurus, Fusion and sister cars.
“So ... I was recently in the market for a compact car. I looked at Ford’s lineup. Garbage.”
Sad thing is, the Focus they sell in Europe has gotten rave reviews. The one we get here blows.
Fleet sales dilute the brand, and flood the market with low-price cars.
How does that work?
People drive the cars but can return them. ; )
Time to take Ford private. Helicopter Ben’s devaluation, er, lower interest rate policy can help that.
Well, at least the right-wing boycott of Ford because of their homosexual marketing and Ford Foundation support of abortion isn’t hurting their sales...
< /wink >
This is good news for conservatives who believe that Ford has overstepped its boundry for promoting values which are contrary to most Americans. Diversity for Ford means stifiling free speech for Christians and openly supporting organizations which proudly spew hate for people of faith. Ford elected to take sides in the culture war - Fords morals and values are not consistant with most of America.
Every few years when I travel to Europe, I am astounded by Ford’s offerings “over there.”
Rental cars are thought of as cheapo stuff. And the car rental companies tend to order the cheaper versions of cars and those cars become the impression that renters get of the brand.
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