Ford Launches New Round of Incentives for F-Series Pickup

With its recent announcement that it'll scale back full-size truck production, Ford seems intent to manage supplies of its F-series pickups in a waning market. But what happens to the trucks that already lie on dealer lots? Through June 30th, Ford will sell virtually any 2008 F-150, F-250, or F-350 pickup at an employee's discount price.

Dealers will soon be affixing additional window stickers that reflect the new pricing scheme. Although Ford hasn't released details of how much a discount this amounts to, expect to see something close to Ford A- or Z-plan pricing, moving the sticker price to below the dealer's invoice price.

Models not included in the incentives are any commercial chassis-cab models, the new F-150 Harley Davidson edition, and the massive new F-450 Super Duty.

Although the incentives are a way to move excess '08 inventory before the all-new 2009 F-150 reaches showrooms, they're also Ford's hope to get the F-series to sell - period.

After a 17-year run of being the best-selling vehicle in the United States, the F-150 slid to fifth place in May of 2008, with only 42,973 units moving off dealers' lots. Honda's Civic stole the first-place position, with 53,299 sales.

Looking at the year-to-date sales data, the F-150 is still in first place. However, if fuel costs continue to rise and consumers keep shifting to smaller vehicles, the record may not last through the end of the year.