Ford February sales plunge more than 48 percent

Ford Motor Co. reported February light vehicle sales of 99,050 units, a decline of 48.35 percent compared to February 2008. Domestic brand (Ford, Lincoln and Mercury) sales were down 48.07 percent at 95,694 cars and light trucks. These figures exclude Low Cab-Forward and Heavy trucks.

The drop in sales exceeded predictions of industry analysts who had expected a decline of about 40 percent and left Ford below the 100,000 mark for the first time in recent memory.

At the end of February, inventories totaled 405,000 units, down 32 percent from last year at this time.