Lincoln: No sales growth expected in May

After posting solid gains during the month of April, Ford warned on Friday that sales of its luxury Lincoln division will be “flat to slightly down” this month.

Jim Farley, Ford’s executive vice president of global marketing, sales, service and Lincoln, told The Detroit News that May should be another banner month for the company's redesigned MKZ sedan – with about 3,300 sales predicted – but cautioned that those gains would be off-set by weaker demand for the automaker's MKS flagship sedan.

“This month we are seeing a normal picture of demand,” Farley said.

Farley said that about half of MKZ buyers are opting for the car's optional hybrid drivertrain. The MKZ Hybrid carries the same $36,800 base price as the gas-only MKZ.

Last month Lincoln sold a record-setting 4,014 MKZ sedans, helping the luxury division to a 21 percent gain to 7,615 deliveries.