DEARBORN, Mich. – Higher sales for every brand and in every product category propelled Ford to a 24 percent sales increase in January versus a year ago.

Ford cars were up 43 percent, crossovers were up 20 percent, sport utilities were up 8 percent, and trucks and vans were up 14 percent. Among brands, Ford sales were up 26 percent, Lincoln sales were up 16 percent and Mercury sales were up 6 percent.

“Ford’s focus on building products consumers want to buy and love to drive will continue,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. marketing sales and service. “In 2010, we will give Ford customers even more reasons to Drive One.”

Ford estimates its January U.S. total market share was approximately 16 percent – about 2 percentage points higher than in January 2009. Last year, Ford posted its first full-year U.S. market share increase since 1995.

Plus, every consumer metric about the Ford brand – including favorable opinion, consideration, shopping and intention to buy – ended the year at record levels. Last year, favorable opinion improved 27 percent and intention to buy Ford increased 30 percent.

“People increasingly are discovering that the Ford difference is the strength of our products, particularly our leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart technologies and value,” said Czubay.

Among full-line manufacturers, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles recorded the largest gain in resale values from the 2009 to 2010 model year, with projected resale value of Ford vehicles increasing by more than $1,300 per vehicle.

“Resale value is a key indicator of brand health and an important contributor to the total value equation,” said Czubay. “Fleet managers monitor vehicle operating costs very carefully. They are giving Ford more consideration because of our improving resale values.”

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The news comes after the automaker posted a full-year net profit for 2009 last Thursday, the first time since 2005. The automaker earned $2.7 billion in 2009, with officials attributing the full-year profit to cost-cutting, gains from debt reduction and strong performance on the part of its financing arm.

The automaker reported a fourth-quarter profit of $868 million, compared to a loss of $6 billion in the year-ago quarter. Revenue also rose from $29 billion for the same quarter last year to $35.4 billion.

Ford also reported fourth-quarter pre-tax operating profits of $707 million, a $2.6 billion improvement. The company also reduced structural costs by $500 million compared to the year-ago quarter, bringing total 2009 reductions to $5.1 billion, which exceeded its $4 billion target.

Ford also achieved a positive cash flow of $3.1 billion for the fourth quarter. And with positive cash flow in the second half of 2009, the company’s total cash outflow was $300 million, a $19.2 billion improvement over 2008. The automaker also ended the year with a total automotive debt of $34.3 billion, up from $26.9 billion at the end of the third quarter.

Ford’s financing arm, Ford Motor Credit, reported net income of $440 million, an improvement of $668 million from a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis, Ford Credit earned $696 million during the quarter, compared with a loss of $372 million in the previous year. Company officials attributed the improvement in pre-tax earnings to lower depreciation expense for leased vehicles due to higher auction values, and a lower provision for credit losses, offset partially by lower volume.

For all of 2009, the Ford’s financing arm reported a net income of $1.3 billion, an improvement of $2.8 billion from a net loss of $1.5 billion a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis, the company earned $2 billion, compared with a loss of $2.6 billion in the previous year.

Officials with Ford and Ford Motor Credit said they expect to be profitable in 2010, with Ford officials predicting positive automotive operating-related cash flow.

"While we still face significant business environment challenges ahead, 2009 was a pivotal year for Ford and the strongest proof yet that our One Ford plan is working and that we are forging a path toward profitable growth by working together as one team, leveraging our global scale," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "In every part of the world, we are providing customers with great products, building a stronger business and contributing to a better world. Our progress has helped us gain market share in most of our major markets."