(By Balaseshan) Automaker Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) reported a 7% increase in June U.S. sales, due to higher demand for fuel-efficient vehicles as well as strong demand for vehicles like Escape, Fusion, Explorer and F-Series.
Total vehicles for the month of June increased to 207,759 units from 194,114 units. Sales from Ford brand grew 7.2% to 200,215 vehicles, while Lincoln sales rose 2.5% to 7,544 vehicles.
Ford said strong demand for fuel-efficient vehicles continues, and its wide range of fuel-efficient products delivered again. Ford sales are increasing across the company's lineup – with cars up 0.3%, utilities jumped 24.8% and trucks up 1.2%.
Type-wise, Ford cars sales rose marginally 0.7% to 69,040 units, with Mustang and Fusion showing huge increase in sales despite a 95.5% drop in Crown Victoria sales and a 17.1% fall in Fiesta sales.
Fusion posted its best June sales ever – with sales up 17.4% to 24,433 vehicles. Focus was down marginally 0.9%. Mustang and Taurus increased 16.2% and 4.7%, respectively.
Utilities sales grew 25.4% to 59,885 units, with Explorer set an any-month record of 28% growth. Edge sales were up 6.2% in June versus a year ago. Flex sales climbed 34.5%, Explorer sales were up 35% from last year and Expedition sales grew 9.4%. Trucks sales increased 1.2% to 71,290 units.
The country's top-selling pickup vehicle for 30 years, the Ford F-Series posted a 10.9% increase, totaling 55,025 pickups in June. E-Series delivered a 13.9% growth with 12,101 vans sold. Transit Connect declined 10% to 2,693 vans.
F-Series remained America's number one selling vehicle in the first half of 2012. In the first half of this year, Fusion sales are up over last year's record first half by 4%, with 136,849 vehicles sold.
Lincoln brand sales increased 2.5% to 7,544 vehicles, due to higher demand for MKZ, MKX, and MKT brands offset huge decline in Town Car, MKS and Navigator vehicles.
F is trading up 3.30% at $9.70 on Tuesday. The stock has been trading between $9.05 and $14.22 for the past 52 weeks.