Ford's Overall Sales Climb While EV Numbers Drop

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Ford has invested billions in its electrification efforts, but the automaker might not see a return on that money for quite some time. Though it reported a significant jump in sales in the second quarter of this year, the company’s EV sales have fallen slightly.


Ford reported second-quarter sales growth of 9.9 percent from a year before and noted that year-to-date sales were up 10 percent. At the same time, Ford’s EV sales declined by 2.8 percent, driven by a more than 21 percent decline in Mustang Mach-E sales and a 3.8 percent drop in E-Transit numbers.


If EVs aren’t driving Ford sales, what is? If you guessed trucks, you’d be right. The Blue Oval’s truck sales jumped 34 percent in the second quarter and almost 25 percent from the first quarter of the year. Ford moved 246,155 trucks in the second quarter, outselling all of its rivals and helping it retain the title of the best-selling truck maker in the United States.


Though Ford truck sales jumped 26.2 percent, the company’s SUVs also saw double-digit increases. The automaker said that the supply of the Mustang Mach-E is improving and noted that F-150 Lightning inventory is on the rebound following a battery fire issue that temporarily halted production.


Ford’s sales report isn’t that surprising, given the state of EV infrastructure in this country and the additional costs of buying electric. The F-150 Lightning is an impressive electric truck, but it’s significantly more expensive than a comparable gas-powered F-150, making it a tough sell in many parts of the country. General Motors is in a similar boat, though it also reported a strong sales gain of 19 percent during the same time. 


[Image: Ford]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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4 of 27 comments
  • Carlson Fan Carlson Fan on Jul 10, 2023

    "The F-150 Lightning is an impressive electric truck,"


    Really? Explain that one. There isn't one thing in that whole truck that I find innovative which explains the dismal performance. They basically took and F150 chassis and stuck some electric motors and a big heavy battery on it. Have you looked at the pictures of what's underneath some of the pretty plastic covers. Looks like a hot mess of engineering to me. The word "ugly" comes to mind.


    They will never sell these over-priced under performing road disasters in any numbers. Start over with a clean slate and build an EV PU aimed at the WT market. With current battery tech,. & charging infrastructure that is the only market worth pursuing right now.

    • VoGhost VoGhost on Jul 11, 2023

      Ford is doing exactly that. The Lightening is just a stopgap until they've finished engineering the new model.


  • Doug brockman Doug brockman on Jul 10, 2023

    I have no clue

    but if its EV like Tesla reflect that stacked against the sales of cumulative ICE vehicles its a meaningless drop in the bucket

    • VoGhost VoGhost on Jul 11, 2023

      The past is in the past. Today, the best selling vehicle in the world is the Tesla Model Y. America is back, baby!


  • Pig_Iron Speaking of Ford, it's 4.30. Happy Super Marauder Day everyone. 🙂
  • THX1136 Neither. For that money I'd refurb the house I already own to fix issues a fixed income cannot which would increase it's value. With the balance I'd be able to cover my wife's excess medical expenses, my mom's care facility expenses and coast for a short while.
  • TheEndlessEnigma A start-up, no doubt. Sucker venture capital for 5-10 years, pay myself a substantial salary and bonuses, never turn a profit, never construct a sustainable business plan, watch the company fail, walk away without any liability, rinse-repeat.
  • 3SpeedAutomatic At the time, a necessary evil. Development costs were minimal since the FOX body was ready amortized. The green house was the same, just change the front and rear end clips. Biggest news was TBI fuel injection (across the Ford range) and intro of V6 (cylinder head teething issues). Also, allowed Ford to test the waters for an aero look which was handed off to the T-Bird with success. SUVs were just coming on to the scene, so many a LTD wagon was the family hauler and the salesman's means of contacting customers. IIRC, the LTD's model year was purposely extended thru '86 just in case the Tarsus was a flop. Consider the LTD as a sacrifice fly so that the Tarsus could make the home run. 🚗🚗🚗
  • Ty I have truly loved each Olds, Buick, and Cadillac I've owned. Well, except for that stupid 1990 STS with a bad brake booster I was too poor to repair. I digress... My love is primarily for the 1895-90 98, Electra/Park, 1986-91 & 92-late 90s 88 (better with the word Delta before it), LeSabre, Bonneville, 1989-93 , 97-99 DeVille. But I have true respect for the Calais/ Skylark (& Somerset)/ Grand Am from that era. They were the work horses. I would buy a brand new Olds if they hadn't executed the brand in 2004.
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