• The Detroit News, Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:15 PM

Ford bean counters see September as a strong month for U.S. auto sales, with higher sales of profitable full-size pickups.

Bob Shanks, controller for Ford Motor Co., told investors Wednesday at the Citi Global Industrials Conference that seasonally adjusted sales for September, to be released Oct. 3, are projected to be close to 13 million, which would be higher than the 12.1 million in August.

He adds that he does not think the Japanese automakers will pile on incentives and disrupt the marketplace when their inventories are full again. Ford is aiming to get back to investment-grade status, possibly this year.

Last week, Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said if Ford's cash continues to grow, the automaker would look at "further shareholder actions."

Ford is still negotiating a new labor contract to replace the four-year contract that expired Sept. 14. Ford and the UAW extended it indefinitely, but it can be revoked by either side with three days' notice.

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