Ford Motor Co's quarterly profit beat Wall Street expectations helped by higher prices and improved sales in North America.

In North America, Ford's pre-tax profit rose 0.5 percent to $1.91 billion.

North America was the only global region where the company's profit improved. In Europe, where Ford's performance has been lagging in recent quarters, its pre-tax profit was trimmed nearly in half to $176 million.

Ford shares rose 2.3 percent in early trading on Tuesday at $13.47 per share.

The company did not alter its North American production outlook or its 2011 U.S. auto sales forecast.

Excluding one-time items, Ford's quarterly profit fell to 65 cents per share from 68 cents a year ago.

Analysts, on average, had expected earnings of 60 cents per share excluding one-time items, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Revenue rose 13 percent to $35.5 billion.

Net income fell to $2.4 billion in the quarter, or 59 cents per share, from $2.6 billion, or 61 cents per share.

Ford has posted eight straight quarterly net profits after recording net losses totaling $30 billion from 2006 through 2008 when it cut jobs, sold unprofitable brands and reshaped a lineup laden with large SUVs and pickup trucks.

(Additional reporting by Ben Klayman; Editing by Derek Caney)

Ford Motor Company