XPost: alt.autos.ford, alt.autos.toyota, alt.trucks.ford   
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   Of course.  The new F-150 is butt ugly!!   
      
      
   "C. E. White"  wrote in message   
   news:vPCdnZhH3dKXDtjVnZ2dnUVZ_tvinZ2d@earthlink.com...   
   > Ford F series loses title as top-selling vehicle in May   
   >   
   > Richard Truett   
   > Automotive News   
   > June 3, 2008 - 2:17 pm ET   
   >   
   > The Ford F-150 pickup truck has been dethroned as America's favorite   
   > vehicle for the first time since 1991 -- by two Toyota sedans.   
   >   
   > According to preliminary sales figures released by automakers, Ford Motor   
   > Co. sold 42,973 F-series trucks in May, while Toyota Motor Corp. sold   
   > 52,826 Corollas and 51,291 Camrys.   
   >   
   > The last time a car outsold the F series was October 1991.   
   >   
   > Jim Farley, Ford group vice president for marketing and communications,   
   > said the F series' loss to Toyota's cars was a "significant development."   
   >   
   > "But it's not surprising, given the fuel price," Farley said. "That's just   
   > a sign of the times. I think May has been a watershed month."   
   >   
   > Toyota said Corolla sales rose 12.4 percent in May, but were down 9.5   
   > percent for the first five months compared with the same period a year   
   > ago. Camry sales have been flat.   
   >   
   > A structural shift   
   >   
   > "The all-new Corolla really found its stride this month," Toyota Motor   
   > Sales President Jim Lentz said in a statement. "Launched amid soaring fuel   
   > prices and economic uncertainty, Corolla strikes a sweet spot for buyers   
   > seeking refinement in addition to fuel efficiency and affordability."   
   >   
   > Ford CEO Alan Mulally said the fact that cars are outselling trucks is   
   > further evidence that the industry is undergoing a change in consumer   
   > preference.   
   >   
   > "We really believe we are seeing a structural shift with the fuel prices   
   > going through the $3.40-to-$3.60" range. It's interesting that a lot of   
   > others are saying the same thing now," Mulally told reporters Monday, June   
   > 2, at a dinner in Washington.   
   >   
   > "So I think we're seeing a structural shift where, with the prices being   
   > high in the United States, we're seeing exactly what happened in Europe a   
   > number of years ago, where the customers are going to make economic   
   > decisions, and they're going to move toward smaller and medium-sized   
   > vehicles."   
   >   
   > Amy Wilson and Andrew Grossman contributed to this report.   
   >   
      
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