Ford Reports Drop In September Sales

Ford Motor Co. recorded its first monthly sales decline of the year in September, contributing to an industrywide drop of 3.1 percent from September 1994 sales of cars and light trucks.

The No. 2 automaker’s U.S. deliveries of cars were down 16.4 percent while its truck sales were off 0.7 percent, combining for an overall drop of 8.9 percent. For the year to date, Ford sales are up 1.6 percent while the industry overall is down 1.8 percent from 1994 levels.

General Motors said earlier in the week its sales were up 0.4 percent, Chrysler’s were off 6.6 percent, Toyota was down 7.5 percent, Nissan was up 21.8 percent and Honda sales rose 0.6 percent.