Ford Motor Company U.S. sales totaled 180,175 vehicles in September, down 3 percent from a year ago. Retail sales of 137,297 vehicles increased 2 percent. Here to explain is Ford Sales Analyst, Erich Merkle.

“The downward pull on our sales, really all comes from daily rental, which we have consciously been pulling back throughout this year, as the pricing has gotten more aggressive in the daily rental space, so we have been pulling back on to sell more profitable vehicles through our dealership body.”

Ford’s overall sales continue to be tempered by managed F-Series volumes and planned reductions in 2014 daily rental volumes. But Fusion sales continue to be strong.

“This year California has been responsible for over 20% of Fusion’s growth, which is the number one mid-size car market in the country, followed by Texas, which is the second biggest mid-size car market in the country. Texas was responsible for 14% of our growth through this year.”

Another upside to sales this month includes the Lincoln luxury brand according to Merkle.

“Well Lincoln we had our best September sales since 2010, and at retail on Lincoln we had our best retail sales performance since 2008.”

Merkle went on to say that for the rest of this year the company will remain focused on where we’re selling our cars, that applies to both fleet business and the big transition the company is balancing with the introduction of the new 2015 F-150.

“We’re monitoring the market very carefully, and we’re managing our incentives and we’re looking to sell a number of trucks to manage our inventory so we don’t run out too quickly and we’re not left with too many. Because it’s a bit of a balancing act as we move through these transitions and the plants go down and the plants come back up and start producing the new 2015 F-150.”