Soundbites: March 2012 Sales
Ford Motor Company posted its best March U.S. sales month since 2007 – with the Ford Fusion recording its best month ever, Ford Focus and Ford Edge achieving their best March ever and the F-Series showing the strongest March sales in five years. Here to break it down for us is Ford Sales Analyst, from the New York Auto Show, Erich Merkle.
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| Cut #1: |
"We had an increase in the month of March, which represented our best March sales in five years." :05 sec |
| According to Merkle , both the Fusion and the Focus were the two vehicles that lead the way in sales for the month of March. | |
| Cut #2: |
"So those two vehicles really helped lead the way as we move forward in particularly as customers are looking for fuel efficient vehicles." :10 sec. |
| While rising gas prices continue to drive strong customer demand for Ford’s fuel-efficient vehicles throughout this past month, F-Series truck sales held their own with a 9 percent increase versus last year at this time. Merkle pointed out F-Series had its best March sales performance in five-years and that fuel efficiency is not relegated to just small vehicles. | |
| Cut #3: |
"The pickup truck buyers and the utility buyers and passenger car buyers want better utility and our F-series with EcoBoost happens to be the most fuel efficient pickup truck offered in the market today." :12 sec. |
| Merkle says Ford’s drive to produce fuel efficient vehicles across the board is reflected in the March sales breakdown including the Ford Edge. | |
| Cut #4: |
"Vehicles like the Ford Edge had a record sales month as well. So it’s really been about Ford’s drive towards producing fuel efficient vehicles for their customers and taking a very holistic approach to fuel efficiency and bringing those benefits to customers in all vehicle segments." :23 sec |
| According to Merkle, Ford’s pipeline of new vehicles, be it the Focus or the F-150….the company is prepared for whatever customers want and need. | |
| Cut #5: |
"Whatever happens to the price of gasoline, one thing we know for sure is that it’s been very volatile and we expect it to continue to be volatile so we have to be prepared and always be able to provide the right product to the customer, when they’re looking for it." :17 sec. |
| Another encouraging sign for Ford is small car sales which are doing extremely well. Take for example the Ford Focus, which saw sales skyrocket 194 percent, at retail, in the state of California. | |
| Cut #6: |
"For the first quarter that gives Focus 135 percent gain in retail sales in the Golden State, so that’s very important to us, particularly if California is the largest passenger car market in the country." :16 sec. |
| Merkle says pent-up demand is still there for new vehicles, and they continue to see consumer confidence continue to grow, the labor market is improving, which should continue to provide solid industry numbers in the near future. |