November was supposed to be ugly for domestic car sales, but Ford (F) did fine.
Ford sales totaled 182,951, up 0.4 percent versus a year ago. The company had seen 12 straight months of sales declines.
Total sales of crossover utilities, including the redesigned Ford Escape, Ford Taurus X, and Mercury Mariner were 33,271, up 119 percent compared with a year ago. Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid models set November sales records.
Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan also contributed to the company’s November sales increase. Fusion sales were up 39 percent and Milan sales increased 43 percent.
In the first quarter of 2008, the company plans to produce 685,000 vehicles in North America. This is the initial forecast of first quarter production. In the first quarter of 2007, the company produced 740,000 vehicles. Fourth-quarter 2007 production is 645,000 units, unchanged from the previously announced plan.
Ford shares, which were trading down, moved up on the news.
Douglas A. McIntyre