Posted: 12:26 p.m. Aug. 3, 2010

FORD Mustang sales up 12%
By Jewel Gopwani
Free Press Business Writer

Ford Motor reported a 3.1% increase in sales in July.

The company sold 170,411 vehicles last month, up 3.1% compared with July of 2009 when the government’s cash-for-clunker’s rebate plan began.

Sales were helped by the Ford Fiesta, which is in its second month of sales.

Ford's gain takes into account a 33% drop in sales for Volvo, which the company officially sold on Monday.

Without counting Volvo, Ford's sales are up 4.6% compared with July of last year.

Sales of the Mustang are up 12% and sales of the redesigned Taurus more than doubled.

“Ford and its dealers continue to offer customers the strongest value proposition in the industry – class-leading fuel economy, quality and growing resale values,â€