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Ford said cars and crossovers made up 59 percent of its sales in the first half of the year and retail sales for cars was up 3 percent compared with the first half of 2007.

"Ford outperformed the industry in both the car and crossover segments", Jim Farley, Ford's vice president of Marketing and Communications, said in a statement.

Ford's Focus set the pace with a 53 percent increase compared with a year ago, the statement said.

SUV sales plummeted 40 percent and truck and van sales 31 percent in the first half as consumers reacted to a $1 per gallon price jump at gas pumps since the first of the year, Ford said.

"Consumer fundamentals and consumer confidence deteriorated as the first half unfolded", Farley said.

Total sales of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles was 167,090 in June and 1.1 million for the first half of the year, Ford said.

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