F-Series, Ranger Combine to Lift Ford to Best Q1 Truck Sales in 15 Years
Photo: Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company saw its sales decline 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2019 with 590,249 vehicles delivered in the United States. The decrease from 2018 could be reasonably expected given the continued shift away from cars — which were down 23.7 percent at 98,265 sold — but Ford F-Series remained implacable in its leadership at 94,585 trucks. Not only did the F-150 and Super Duty outsell its competitors by a combined 15,939 trucks, but it pulled in an average transaction price of $47,454 per vehicle.
The much-anticipated Ford Ranger boasted an impressive Q1 result of its own with 9,421 trucks delivered despite inventory being less than full capacity. Pairing with increases from the Transit, Transit Connect, and heavy trucks, Ford trucks returned their best first quarter in 15 years at 278,898 vehicles total — up 4.1 percent year-over-year.
Ford Innovation: New Ford Co-Pilot360 makes driver-assistive features standard for new vehicles
“First-quarter 2019 sales were solid for Ford. Our winning portfolio continues to deliver,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford VP of U.S. Marketing, Sales, and Service. “F-Series expanded our leadership position while others slugged it out for second place. We have a close connection with our customers, allowing us to deliver what they need in their trucks.”
Ford-brand SUV sales were also particularly strong, increasing 3.5 percent even before the arrival of the 2020 Ford Explorer and 2020 Ford Escape. The Ford Expedition, which will benefit from a boost in production capacity in July, managed a 61.9 percent year-over-year increase with 21,773 units sold. The Ford EcoSport, which may very well be replaced by the Ford Puma down the line, also posted impressive growth at 12,879 SUVs sold — up 111.3 percent from Q1 2018.
Coming Soon from Ford: 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will get 700+ horsepower
Ford-brand car sales fell 24.1 percent at 92,623 vehicles, though the Fiesta — which was extended for 2019—continues to sell well with a 29.6 percent increase and 15,943 cars moved.
Ford finished 2018 as America’s best-selling brand for a ninth consecutive year.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.