Ford Motor : Sound Bites: December 2015 Sales

Ford Motor Company's total 2015 U.S. sales of 2,613,162 vehicles are the company's best annual sales results in nine years-up 5 percent. Ford brand sales of 2,511,935 vehicles make Ford America's best-selling brand for six straight years. Ford Sales Analyst Erich Merkle says F-Series had a lot to do with 2015 sales results.

'F-Series for the month of December: We sold over 85,000 vehicles; that's the first time any month that we sold over 85,000 vehicles in the last decade. Total sales for F-Series: We totaled just over 780,000 F-Series sales for the year of 2015,and that makes F-Series the best-selling pickup truck for 39 years straight and America'sbest-selling vehicle, car, SUV or pickup truck for 34 years straight.' :28 sec.

U.S. sales for the month of December were up 8 percent versus a year ago, but Merkle says it was not only F-Series sales-SUVs were a large contributor to these sales figures.

'Ford-brand SUVs were up 13 percent and we had our best December SUV performance since 2003, going back 12 years.' :10 sec.

Lower gas prices helped sales, but according to Merkle we have some demographic drivers in play that gave the SUVs a significant push in sales.

'Meaning that you've got Baby Boomers that are continuing to be in the SUV segment, but you also have their children who are getting older and starting to form families of their own, and have a great need for utility as they start to grow their families and have children.' :16 sec.

Trucks were not the only hot sellers at year-end-Ford Fusion also made an impact on sales in the month of December, according to Merkle.

'Fusion had a great month; so if we take a look at December, we had a record December for Fusion and it was up 10 percent.' :08 sec.

Luxury vehicles were not to be outdone, as Lincoln made its mark in December by posting more record sales.

'It was our best annual sales since 2008, and for the month of December it was our best sales results since 2006. What was really leading the way there was the all-new Lincoln MKX, which was up 77 percent-so a lot of new product right now for Lincoln, really driving the sales.' :21 sec.