Ford Truck Sales Dominate While Cars Continue to Slide

If you doubt Ford’s decision to cut most of its car lineup, look no further than the latest sales data as confirmation of that decision.

The entire automotive world was shocked when Ford dropped the bombshell that they would cease car production, sans the Mustang and Focus Active. But if you’ve been paying attention to sales numbers over the last couple of years, it’s pretty clear that this is an easy decision. With April in the rear view mirror, we’ve got an even clearer picture of the changing automotive landscape. And once again, Ford truck sales are reaching new heights. Meanwhile, passenger cars continue to drag the automaker down like a proverbial anchor.

First, the good. The F-Series posted its best April sales in a whopping 18 years. It’s the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year gains for the venerable Ford truck lineup. Even better, highly profitable top trim levels continue to grow in popularity, now representing an incredible 49 percent of sales. Overall F-Series transaction pricing rose $900 last month, reaching $36,300 per vehicle. Which also happens to be $4,000 higher than the industry average.

SUV sales are every bit as hot. Expeditions are flying off dealer lots in an average of 17 days as the all-new ‘ute posted a healthy 25.8% increase in sales. The Lincoln Navigator continues to blow away all expectations, posting an amazing 135% sales increase in April. And even the little EcoSport enjoyed a strong month, posting its best monthly sales to date.

Given this overly positive information, you might think that Ford achieved an overall increase in sales in April, right? Well, no. Passenger car sales continue to bleed momentum, losing an even 15% over last year. Dealer lots hold a whopping 99 day supply as inventory continues to grow. All of which means two things. For starters, you can’t really blame Ford for having the foresight to cut its losses. And secondly, if you’re in the market for a Ford car, expect to see some pretty amazing deals in the near future!

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.