Ford Motor Co. said Friday its US sales slid 14.9 percent in July compared with a year ago as sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and truck sales slumped amid high fuel prices.
The country's second-largest automaker predicted that ongoing tough conditions in the domestic auto market would only get worse.
“We expect the second half of 2008 will be more challenging than the first half as economic and credit conditions weaken,” said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president.
Ford said year-to-date sales totaled 1.265 million, down 14.4 percent from the same period a year ago.
It estimated industry-wide sales were down 11 percent in the first half of 2008.
Weak consumer confidence, rising unemployment and surging fuel prices have produced a sharp shift away from profitable gasoline-guzzling trucks and SUVs.
Ford said SUV sales skidded 54 percent compared with July 2007, while truck and van sales were 18 percent lower.
For cars, total sales of its domestic nameplates — Ford, Lincoln and Mercury — rose eight percent from a year ago.
Overall vehicle sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury were down 13 percent, while sales of the Volvo brand plunged 46.3 percent.
Ford this year sold its Jaguar and Land Rover nameplates to India-based Tata Motors.
