• Ford F-Series sets new modern monthly industry sales record for a single nameplate by any manufacturer, selling 126,905 trucks in July 2005 – more than any vehicle since the Model T in the 1920s.
• In July alone, F-Series sales generated enough revenue to rank the nameplate within the annual Fortune 500 rankings
• New for 2006: F-150 lineup grows with 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150, along with a SuperCrew with 6-½ -foot cargo box. F-Series Super Duty rolls out new Amarillo package nationwide.

Ford F-Series, the industry’s undisputed truck leader, today adds yet another distinction to its long list of achievements: setting a new modern-day, any-month sales record for the industry with 126,905 trucks sold in July 2005.

This marks the most sales of any single nameplate in any month since the days of the Ford Model T. At that time, manufacturers reported production numbers, not monthly sales numbers, so a direct comparison with that era is not possible.

“F-Series now owns a piece of history that puts it in the same league as the legendary Model T,” said Ford Division President Darryl Hazel. “Over the past 57 years, no vehicle has been more important to the success of Ford than F-Series – and it just keeps getting stronger. It’s earned its place in the fabric of America, outselling every other vehicle for 23 years running. In July, F-Series sales alone generated enough revenue to place the nameplate within the annual Fortune 500 rankings.”

Home Depot Partnership Helps Ford, Consumers Seize the Summer

“Without a doubt, the overwhelming success of our Ford Family Plan and our innovative promotion with The Home Depot helped drive F-Series sales through the roof in July,” said Hazel.

Contractors and do-it-yourselfers visiting The Home Depot stores this summer saw a powerful tool on display to help them get the job done – a Ford F-Series. Ford’s nationwide promotion with The Home Depot, America’s largest home improvement centre, gave Ford trucks a prominent presence at more than 1,600 The Home Depot stores nationwide and generated more than 200 million customer impressions from store traffic alone. The campaign ran at The Home Depot locations as well as in more than 3,800 Ford dealerships in the United States. Retail customers who purchased or leased a new 2005 Ford Ranger, F-150 or F-Series Super Duty were eligible to select from five home improvement packages from The Home Depot valued at up to $870 (USD) at no extra charge.

The (northern) summer promotion also included a sweepstakes for a chance to win a Ford F-150 SuperCrew Lariat 4x4 or a $10,000 gift card from The Home Depot. The sweepstakes drew more than 223,000 entries and generated feedback from more than 60,000 consumers who have requested information on the Built Ford Tough truck lineup.

Reigning Champion

As the most successful vehicle in the history of automobiles, the Ford F-Series is in a league of its own at the top of the automotive game. It’s been the best-selling truck in America for 28 consecutive years, beating its own monthly record of 102,424 units sold in October 2001. Since its debut in 1948, Ford Motor Company has sold more than 28 million F-Series trucks around the world. F-Series annual sales volume tops what many companies achieve for their entire product lineup. Ford sells about one F-Series truck every 34 seconds in America. In July, that pace quickened considerably to one F-Series truck every 21 seconds.

“Ford is the perennial truck leader because our customers demand the best from us, and they know they’ll get it,” said Hazel. “You can only stay on top in this business by delivering continuous improvements. It’s what our customers expect. It’s a promise we will keep.”

New 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson^™ F-150

A new definition of custom cool hits the streets this fall as Ford rolls out the 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150. The pickup cuts a menacing profile, dressed in black, oozing chrome and sporting distinctive hot-rod inspired visual cues. Based on a SuperCab configuration with a 6-½-foot Styleside box, the Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 features 22-inch polished aluminium wheels, lots of leather and elegant high-gloss Piano Black surfaces. Its performance sport-handling suspension is tuned to deliver a more precise driving feel. Customers now also have a choice between 4x2 and all-wheel drive. Ford will build up to 10,000 of the 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 limited edition trucks for sale throughout North America.

Larger Box to Expand Appeal of Most Popular F-150 Super Crew

Ford also will make the 6-½-foot box available for the 2006 model year on the F-150 SuperCrew. The 6-½-foot box makes the SuperCrew more appealing to people who need more cargo capability, especially contractors and small business owners. F-150 also will be the first Ford product to offer SIRIUS satellite radio capability as a factory installed option. Other eagerly anticipated features include the addition of 20-inch wheels available on the 2006 F-150 FX4, Lariat and King Ranch models. In addition, F-150 customers nationwide will be able to select the new Chrome Package available on the XLT and Lariat.

Super Duty Keeps Raising the Bar Higher

America’s work truck, the F-Series Super Duty, adds even more appeal for 2006. The bold, distinctive Blazing Yellow pickup that made heads turn as a limited-edition offering in the Southwest, Denver and California markets for the 2005 model year is now available nationwide. The 2006 Amarillo Super Duty is available on diesel-powered F-250 and F-350 XLT SuperCab and Crew Cab pickups. Other new offerings for the Super Duty this year include a much-anticipated Chrome Package, as well as available 20-inch wheels as an option on the Lariat.

Ford sells about one F-Series truck every 34 seconds in the U.S.