All these versions continued version 3.0's impressive sales pace.

Auto production plunged 8 percent, to 5 million units at an annual rate, well below the recent sales pace.

The industry beat most forecasts with a 7 percent rise in May, and an annual sales pace of 15.9 million vehicles.

"I think the current sales pace reflects a hesitancy on the part of consumers as they adjust to the new tax law," she said.

And financial analysts are beginning to worry about the sales pace of some of Ford's new products.

He attributed the project's quick sales pace to its prices and location.

The period's annual sales pace of 6.5 million was about the same as the industry's third-quarter production plans.

"We expect to see a pickup in the current sales pace as summer arrives."

But economists said the sales pace should improve somewhat in coming months as mortgage interest rates drop to the mid-9 percent range.

Most analysts were unperturbed by the swing in the sales pace.