On the Dash:
- Ford’s EV sales slowdown continues, with Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning posting steep year-over-year declines.
- Hybrid sales also fell, signaling broader softness beyond battery-electric vehicles.
- Explorer, Maverick and Bronco remain bright spots as consumers hold onto vehicles longer.
Ford reported a 13.6% decline in U.S. sales during May, delivering 190,828 vehicles compared with 220,959 units a year earlier. Through the first five months of 2026, Ford’s U.S. sales are down 11.2% to 826,810 vehicles, compared with 930,925 during the same period last year.
EV sales continued to slide in May, as Ford moved 3,769 units, down 43.9% year over year. Mustang Mach-E sales fell 44% to 2,647 units, and F-150 Lightning declined 45% to 1,046 units.
Hybrid sales followed a similar pattern, dropping 15.7% year over year to 19,143 vehicles in May, pointing to broader weakness across electrified segments despite continued industry investment in alternative powertrains.
Trucks and SUVs
Truck sales, which remain the backbone of Ford’s U.S. business, fell 8.4% to 111,119 units. F-Series dropped 12.6% to 68,129 units and Ranger declined 23.3% to 4,849 units. Ford Heavy Trucks, however, bucked the trend, climbing 6.4% to 1,183 units.
SUV sales also declined, falling 20.9% to 74,789 units. The Ford Escape dropped 80.3% to 3,427 units, and the Expedition fell 24.4% to 8,537 units. Bronco Sport slipped 8.3% to 13,272 units.
Meanwhile, several nameplates gained ground despite the broader pullback. The Explorer rose 8.8% to 22,316 units, Maverick climbed 10% to 17,055 units and Bronco increased 5.2% to 15,389 units. Transit also grew 4.4% to 15,859 units, reflecting continued strength in commercial vehicle demand. Total car sales edged up 1.8% to 4,920 units, driven entirely by Mustang.
Lincoln sales
Similarly, Lincoln sales fell 20.5% to 9,201 units in May, with the Corsair posting the steepest drop, declining 65.7% to 851 units. Additionally, the Nautilus decreased 7.6% to 3,232 units, the Navigator fell 10.8% to 2,536 units and the Aviator declined 6.1% to 2,582 units.
Overall, Ford’s May results reflect mounting pressure as consumers pull back on big-ticket purchases amid ongoing affordability concerns. The Explorer, Maverick, Bronco and Transit continue to hold up, but declining EV demand and weakness across key high-volume segments present real headwinds heading into the second half of 2026.
