Ford Cites Slow Sales For Reduced Earnings

Slower sales pushed Ford Motor Co.’s second-quarter earnings down 8 percent, the company said Wednesday, predicting depressed profits through early 1996 due to the cost of introducing new vehicles.

The nation’s second-biggest automaker earned $1.57 billion, or $1.45 per share, in the three months ending June 30, compared with $1.71 billion, or $1.63 a share, a year earlier.

Ford’s vehicle sales volume fell 2 percent in the quarter, but total revenues rose 8 percent to $36.4 billion from $33.8 billion a year earlier.

For the first six months of 1995, Ford earned $3.12 billion, or $2.89 a share, up 19 percent from $2.61 billion, or $2.47 a share, one year earlier.

First-half revenues totaled $71.2 billion, up 11 percent from $64.2 billion the previous year.