Ford Offers Rebates On ‘96 Cars, Trucks

Ford Motor Co. tried Tuesday to jump-start sales of its Taurus and other models by offering buyers $600 rebates or low-interest loans on most of its 1996 cars and light trucks.

Some analysts said they expect the Ford’s move to spread through the industry.

The No. 2 automaker reported last week that its U.S. sales in December were down 9.2 percent from a year earlier. Sales of the Taurus, which has been the nation’s best-selling car for four years, were off about 32 percent for the month and more than 27 percent for the new model year.

“A lot of people, we believe, are still waiting for the next shoe to drop with respect to interest rates,” said Jack Clissold, executive vice president of Ford Credit. He said the rebates and cut-rate loans are expected to stimulate them to buy.