The Auto Writer

Ford’s May 2008 sales dropped like a rock, a reflection of gas prices pushing $4 per gallon and consumers shifting from big trucks and SUVs to economical small and midsize cars.

Since 1991, Ford’s popular F-Series has been the best selling vehicle month in and month out, but not last month. In May, surging demand for the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and two other models dropped the F Series to fifth place as buyers balked.

Ford, like Chrysler, GM, and Toyota finds itself with too many larger vehicles and not enough fuel efficient cars. Though Toyota had two of the four top selling cars for May, it can’t sell its beefy Tundra and Sequoia models, and Lexus sales were down by more than 20%.

Employee Pricing For The F-150

In a few months the 2009 F-Series will make its debut, the next generation of what was once a wildly popular truck. With this automotive segment now decimated and Ford needing to clear year end inventory early, the Blue Oval has come up with an employee pricing plan for the truck. Customers who want a truck now can get one for the price of what employees pay plus they can still take the incentives.

Specifically, Ford is saying this about their latest incentive program:

• Ford’s Employee Pricing Program beings June 3 and runs through June 30 on 2008 model year F-Series, including F-150, F-250 and F-350.

• The Ford Employee Pricing Program is designed to drive showroom traffic through the busy month of June, offering customers for a limited time the chance to purchase or lease an F-Series pickup for the same price as Ford employees.

Most F Series Models Included

Desperate times mean desperate measures and, despite high gas prices, customer demand for the pick up trucks is likely to increase this month. With contractors, electricians, plumbers, and other service people needing to update their fleets anyway, Ford has suddenly given potential buyers a reason to “buy now” instead of waiting until later.

Excluded models include the Harley Davidson and chassis editions for this promotion.

Photos and news information courtesy, copyright the Ford Motor Company.