Ford Sales Crash

Ford Motor Co. on Monday said U.S. sales declined in March, as demand waned for both the automaker’s cars and trucks. Ford shares fell 9 cents to $7.87 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Ford sold 291,146 autos during the month, down 4.6 percent from 305,172 a year ago. Car sales dropped 2.8 percent to 104,775 in March, while truck sales slid 5.6 percent to 186,371.

Sales of the company’s Crown Victoria sedans were down more than 28 percent, and sales of its Five Hundred Series fell more than 17 percent. Ford Focus sales declined 8.8 percent, and Mustang sales dropped 10.1 percent.

In the truck segment, Ford Explorer sales declined 31 percent. The Expedition, Excursion and Freestar vehicles also posted sharp declines. Sales of Ford’s F-Series grew, rising 4.5 percent to 84,168 units — marking the brand’s third consecutive month of gains. Ford said it was the third consecutive month that sales rose for the nation’s best-selling vehicle, despite growing competition from Asian imports. Ford U.S. sales analysis manager George Pipas said March is traditionally a big month for truck sales. (I helped.)

Ford reported vehicle sales were down 2.6 percent in the first quarter to 740,838.

Volvo Cars of North America — a Ford unit — said March sales fell 4.1 percent in the United States to 11,153 vehicles.

The Volvo S60 sports sedan, one the company’s more popular brands, saw sales drop 5 percent to 2,341 units. Only the new S40 model sedan and XC90 model sport utility vehicle posted gains for the month, rising 8.9 percent and 15.9 percent respectively, along with the XC70, which advanced 5.4 percent to 1,333 vehicles.

GM car sales dropped 22 percent compared with March 2005.

Sales at Toyota rose 7 percent for the month, led by a 15 percent increase in truck and sport utility vehicle sales.

Honda Motor Co. said its sales were up 4 percent for the month, largely on the strength of the hybrid Honda Insight, which saw sales climb 41 percent, and the Ridgeline pickup, which was up 38 percent.