Ford sales rose 2% from in August thanks to a strong electric vehicle lineup, which helped counteract stagnating demand for new cars.
The automaker sold a total of 161,300 units in the U.S. throughout the month, representing a decline of roughly 7% from July. While sales of the automaker’s ICE lineup were virtually identical to last year’s, considerable gains in hybrid and electric vehicle sales ultimately helped the brand score a minor victory over August 2022. Ford sales of EVs increased 17.7% year-over-year to 6,940, up 10.5% from the previous month. Hybrid sales rose even more, hitting 10,945 units by the end of the month, an increase of 32% from last year but a slight 4.8% decline from July. Although electrified vehicles serve a small niche of car buyers, the segment has seen steady growth throughout 2023, even as ICE sales fluctuate beneath a variety of factors.
Ford’s electric vehicle lineup achieved another victory in August. Sales of the Mustang Mach-E rose significantly from previous months, growing 61% from 2022 thanks to the arrival of new supply. The manufacturer had struggled to meet demand for the model throughout most of the year as it looked to retool its Mach-E facility in Mexico. After selling 5,033 units in August alone, the vehicle is now the second-best-selling electric SUV in the U.S., behind Tesla’s Model Y. While Tesla has little to worry about given that the Model Y is projected to be the year’s overall best-selling vehicle, the achievement is an encouraging sign for the blue oval brand as it looks to outmaneuver its legacy competitors. August’s Ford sales also indicate that the EV segment may be more sheltered from trends affecting ICE vehicles, as demand for battery-powered cars shows signs of advancing even as overall sales cool due to high prices and the end of the busy summer season.
