The company said its first-quarter profit rose more than expected.

First-quarter profits were just $5 million ahead of last year's pace.

It was the highest first-quarter profit ever for the company.

Late on Thursday, it reported first-quarter profits that were less than expected.

The first-quarter profit for the unit dropped 25 percent, to $162 million.

The company gave no further guidance on a first-quarter profit or loss.

A year ago, Ford reported a first-quarter profit of $572 million, or $1.02 a share.

The first-quarter profits were well below the $1.20 a share some of the analysts expected.

The first-quarter profits were down 37.2 percent from 64.7 million, or 85 cents a share, a year earlier.

He said the drop could have an effect on first-quarter profits but that it would not be "anything major."