Ford's
In January, U.S. sales fell more than 5%, as lower passenger car sales provided a drag, even as sales of F-Series trucks jumped 10% to over 60,000. For the F-Series, that's the fifth consecutive month of double-digit growth, "coinciding with the introduction of the all-new F-150."
As you'll recall, The Big Three -- Ford, General Motors
The rough start notwithstanding, reasons for optimism remain. Ford will introduce a redesigned Focus, several new vehicles, and a new edition of the Ford Mustang. The Mustang, in particular, with its throwback styling, has many drooling in anticipation. Interestingly, sales of the "old" Mustang were up 47% in January.
And throwback is all the rage. If you watched the Super Bowl -- a boon or bust for CBS and MTV parent Viacom
Yes, January was a rough start. But for all that, Ford's hopes for a good year are not dead. Its new cars and reintroductions may yet prove to be valuable brand builders for a company that recently fell behind Toyota (OTC: TOYOF) among the top car sellers in the U.S.
Rough start or bad omen? Give us your take on the Ford discussion board.
Jeff Hwang can be reached here.