Ouch. Ford truck sales drop 39.5 percent in September
Something tells me that the more fuel-efficient Ford models can't get to America soon enough for Ford dealers. The news out today is that FoMoCo's U.S. sales dropped like a Mike Gravel-thrown rock - 34 percent - in September. Truck sales were down 39.5 percent last month (22.3 percent so far in 2008) and car sales fell 19 percent in September (6.3 percent this year). While part of the problem is that Ford's gas-hungry line-up just isn't selling when gas prices are still quite high, the overall economic situation in the U.S. means that a lot of customers can't get credit. According to AFP, Ford sales analyst George Pipas expects overall auto sales dropped 30 percent in September (GM's September sales were down 16 percent). Still, Ford is holding out hope that the new F-150 - due in November - will spark sales. At least they've got a high-mileage version coming.
UPDATE: Autoblog crunches the numbers and it turns out that Hummer is last month's biggest loser.
[Source: AFP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JP Morgan 6:31PM (10/01/2008)
Ha. Ha. Serves them right if they want to continue being stubborn and pumping out inefficient, gas hog trucks that most people simple do not need.
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Frylock350 10:15AM (10/02/2008)
Ignorance. People still need trucks. They're just buying GM trucks over Fords because they're more efficient.
greg 9:50PM (10/01/2008)
Yeah 40% is about the number of poseurs who are now out of the truck market.
Queue Chorus:
It's a hatchback world after all, it's a hatchback world after all..............
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Mike G 10:40PM (10/01/2008)
They need to stick a turbo four diesel or V6 diesel in one of their trucks. Instant 30% mileage bump. Such a no brainer.
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Phil L. 6:55AM (10/02/2008)
Mike G:
Sadly, the usual answer gets inserted here: Ford doesn't have any small diesels that meet US T2B5 emissions standards, and is finding it tough to come up with the funds to develop them.
jpvbs 9:19AM (10/02/2008)
Gas priced haven't helped, but in reality, Ford is introducing the new F150 this month. They stopped production of the F150 in July to convert the production facilities to for the new model. Many dealers haven't had F150s in stock, and the ones that do, don't have the most popular variations available.
Nissan sales are off 38% for Sept Toyota -33% for Sept, Honda -24%. Everyone is hurting.
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Marcio 4:18PM (10/03/2008)
Drop 39% and will keep dropping until someone in the industry begin to see the obvious - the era of gas guzzlers is over...
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