SOUTHFIELD, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. said US sales rose in July, the first monthly gain from a year earlier since 2007, as buyers took advantage of the government’s “cash-for-clunkers’’ incentives.
US industry sales probably ran at an annualized rate of more than 10 million units last month for the highest level of 2009, George Pipas, Ford’s sales analyst, said yesterday. July’s results are expected in an announcement today.
Ford’s increase was due chiefly to the clunkers program, which offers credits of as much $4,500 for trading in older, less fuel-efficient models and buying cars and light trucks that get better fuel economy, said Ken Czubay, the automaker’s US sales and marketing chief.
Ford sold 156,406 vehicles in July 2008. The company hadn’t posted a monthly sales increase over a year earlier since November 2007, Pipas said.
The Wall Street Journal reported Ford’s sales earlier.
