Ford September Sales Jump 46%

Ford Motor Co. reported that its September sales increased 46% from last year.

September sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles totaled 160,873 units, up from 109, 939 in September 2009, according to the automaker. September 2009 was marked by a steep decline in vehicle sales due to the completion of the Cash for Clunkers program.

Through September, Ford reported that it had sold 1.44 million vehicles, a 21% increase over the previous year. The automaker noted that it is growing at more than double the overall industry rate.

"The key to our success in the U.S. market is the relentless cadence of new vehicle, powertrain and technology introductions," said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and service. "Every high-quality, fuel-efficient new vehicle provides Ford and its dealers with an opportunity to reach new customers and build a stronger foundation for future growth."

The September sales numbers were slightly higher than August, when Ford sold 157,503 vehicles.

Vehicles seeing the biggest year-over-year sales increases included the Focus, which was up 48%; the Fusion, which was up nearly 47%; and the Escape, which was up nearly 65%.

The F-Series pickup continued to be the automaker's best-selling vehicle by far, with 47,433 units sold in September.