November Auto Sales: Ford

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Ford Motor Co. said Monday its November U.S. auto sales rose slightly on higher truck demand.

Ford sold 182,247 light vehicles in November, up 0.6 percent from 181,111 in the same month of 2006.

But the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker's sales fell short of Toyota Motor Corp.'s total of 197,189, as the Japanese automaker continued its drive for the No. 2 U.S. sales spot.

Ford sales of light trucks rose 2.2 percent to 121,864 units from 119,259 in the year-ago month, boosted by higher demand for crossover models.

Sales of the Ford Escape rose 22.2 percent to 12,383, while Ford sold 12,594 of its new Edge and 3,360 of its new Lincoln MKX crossovers.

Meanwhile, sales of the Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle fell 18.8 percent to 8,609, and sales of the company's top-selling F-Series pickup trucks dropped 11.7 percent to 46,568.

Passenger-car sales fell 2.4 percent to 60,383 from 61,111 in the year-ago period. Sales of the Ford Mustang sports car dropped 28.1 percent to 7,352, while sales of the Ford Fusion rose 38.8 percent to 12,278 and sales of the Ford Focus rose 17.8 percent to 13,213.

Ford said its November figures include a 3 percent drop in retail sales and a 6 percent decline in sales to daily rental companies. Commercial fleet and government sales rose 25 percent, the automaker said.

So far this year, the No. 2 U.S. automaker's sales are down 12.1 percent to 2.4 million vehicles, from 2.7 million at the same time last year.

Adjusted for one additional selling day in the first 11 months of this year compared with last, Ford sales are down about 12.4 percent for the year to date.

The automaker also said Monday that it plans to produce 685,000 vehicles in North America during the first quarter of 2008, down from 740,000 in the first quarter of 2007.

Ford also maintained its fourth-quarter North American production forecast of 645,000 vehicles.

Ford shares fell 19 cents to $7.32 in afternoon trading.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.