Ford


NEWS

Contact:  George Pipas
          313-323-9216
          gpipas@ford.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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NEW PRODUCTS AND F-SERIES TRUCK BOOSTS
FORD'S MARCH SALES TO HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE MAY 2004

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o Ford Motor Company's March sales totaled 305,172 - best month since May 2004.
o Car sales equal to a year ago as new Ford Mustang, Ford Five Hundred and
  Mercury Montego reach new highs.
o Truck sales decline 3 percent as gains from Ford F-Series, Lincoln Mark LT and
  crossover sport utility vehicles are offset by lower sales of traditional
  sport utility vehicles and compact pickups.
o Overall, sales off 1.7 percent from a year ago.

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DEARBORN,  Mich., April 1 - U.S. customers  purchased or leased 305,172 cars and
trucks from Ford,  Mercury,  Lincoln,  Jaguar,  Land Rover and Volvo  dealers in
March - the  highest  monthly  total since May 2004.  Compared  with a year ago,
overall sales declined 1.7 percent.

Sales of passenger  cars  continued to increase at the retail  level.  Total car
sales  (including  fleet  deliveries)  were equal to a year ago,  but retail car
sales were up 6 percent,  including a 20 percent  increase  at Ford  Division as
consumer demand grew for the Ford Five Hundred sedan and Ford Mustang. Both cars
posted  their  highest  sales  since  introduction  late last year.  The Mercury
Montego sedan also achieved its best sales month since introduction.

"We're  making a concerted  effort to get back in the car  business,"  said Earl
Hesterberg,  Ford group  vice  president,  North  America  Marketing,  Sales and
Service. "The effort appears to be paying off."






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Sales of trucks  (pickups,  sport utility  vehicles and vans) declined 3 percent
from a year ago. On the positive  side,  Ford F-Series  sales were 80,527,  up 1
percent from a year ago, and the all-new  Lincoln Mark LT added 569 units to the
company's full-size truck results.

In addition,  consumer demand  continues to grow for the company's new small and
crossover sport utility  vehicles.  The Ford Escape set a new March sales record
(16,921),  including  the highest  monthly  sales to date for the Escape  Hybrid
(1,569).  The  Mercury  Mariner  also  posted its best month ever  (3,053).  The
company's  new mid-size  crossover  model,  the Ford  Freestyle,  also set a new
record for monthly sales (6,191).

"Higher gas prices seem to be  accelerating  the demand for small and  crossover
sport utility vehicles," said Hesterberg.  "Fortunately,  we're in a position to
offer consumers several choices in these categories and more are on the way."

In contrast,  sales of traditional  sport utility vehicles  generally  declined,
except at Land Rover where sales were up 8 percent due to the all-new LR3, Motor
Trend magazine's "Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year."

In addition, sales for the Ford Ranger, the company's compact pickup truck, were
off 40 percent.









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