(autoinsidernews) - Ford Motor announced that sales increased by 8 percent for October 2006, from the same month last year. October car sales were up 22 percent as sales for the company's new mid-size cars Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ were more than doubled from last year. Unfortunately for Ford, the recently discontinued Taurus was up 73 percent, which will hurt the automaker's numbers for next year.
Ford's truck sales were up 1 percent, led by gains for the new 2007-model Expedition (up 41 percent) and Navigator (up 44 percent), which now are on sale. Ford's F-Series pickup posted a sale gain of 3 percent for the month, reports Trend.
On a brand-by-brand basis, Ford Motor's sales were a mixed bag. Ford posted
a 10.2 percent increase, Mercury sales were off by 5.9 percent, Lincoln sales were up by 3.4 percent, Jaguar were off 22.3 percent, Volvo sales were down by 3.3 percent and Land Rover saw sales climb by 6.7 percent.
Ford Motor reported lower inventories at the end of October, with an estimated 622,000 units in inventories, which 107,000 units less than last year, and 30,000 units lower than at the end of September. Ford estimates three-quarters of the present inventory is new 2007 models.
We are very serious about aligning inventories with demand, said Al Giombetti, president, Ford and Lincoln Mercury sales and marketing. Our dealers did an outstanding job with the 2006 model sell-down program, and we took a painful but necessary action to reduce fourth-quarter production.