Ford sales drop 10.7%

Ford’s new vehicle sales dropped 10.7% in August from a year earlier as sales of smaller models such as the Focus, Fusion and Escape fell sharply from last August’s levels that were inflated by the Cash for Clunkers program.

Some of the Cash for Clunkers hangover was eased by consumers’ revived appetite for big, heavy SUVs as gas prices moderated or fell in recent weeks. Sales of the Expedition and Mercury Navigator large SUVs rose 57.5% and 29.5%, respectively.

Sales of Ford’s highest volume product, the F-Series pickup trucks also were up 4.5%.

Taurus sales improved 50.7% to 5,122 in August.

From a profitability standpoint, Ford benefited from a 9.4% increase in sales of its Lincoln luxury brand. Sales of the Ford and Mercury brands fell from a year ago by 10.7% and 22.5%, respectively.