Dearborn automaker Ford Motor Co. today announced the company’s sales for May, reporting sales of 241,126 vehicles and a 2.2 percent overall increase from the same time last year. Sales were led by the F-Series, which accounted for 76,027 pickups sold, a 12.8 percent increase and the line’s best May sales in 13 years.
Ford brand SUVs also totaled 74,910 vehicles, with another record-setting May coming from 21 percent growth in Explorer sales, and double digit increases for the Expedition and Edge. The 2018 Explorer will be available in dealerships this fall.
“May marked a standout month for Ford brand SUVs, with a May record 74,910 SUVs sold,” says Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service. “Plus, we continued to see strong F-Series performance, with sales and share rising this year, along with average transaction pricing. In May, overall F-Series sales were up double digits and transaction prices grew $3,300 per truck.”
Lincoln retail sales also reported a 9.7 percent in May, marking the brand’s 16th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.
Detroit automaker General Motors Co. also announced their May sales today, reporting a 19 percent gain across the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac crossover brands. The company’s commercial sales increased 14 percent, and government sales were up 21 percent, though daily U.S. rental sales decreased 36 percent.
GM’s May total sales were 237,364 vehicles, a 1 percent decrease from May 2016. On a brand level, Buick’s U.S. retail sales increased 12 percent, while retail sales at Cadillac increased 10 percent, and Chevrolet’s decreased less than 1 percent.
The company’s crossover sales gains were attributed to the following brands:
- Chevrolet Equinox — up 17 percent
- Chevrolet Trax — up 18 percent
- Chevrolet Traverse – up 2 percent
- Buick Encore — up 12 percent
- Buick Envision — 3,256 deliveries in May, up from last year’s launch
- GMC Acadia — up 33 percent
“As we see the industry shift to more crossovers, we are extremely well positioned to take full advantage of this dynamic,” says Kurt McNeil, GM U.S. vice president of sales operations. “We expect these launches will enable us to continue gaining retail share as we introduce more all-new compact and midsize crossovers than anyone else, including the all-new GMC Terrain, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, and the Regal TourX.”
Chevrolet dealers have begun selling the all-new Equinox with a highly efficient 1.5L engine. Additional powertrain offerings on the all-new Equinox will be available starting this summer. The all-new 2018 Traverse midsize crossover will arrive in Chevrolet dealerships this summer as well. GMC dealers will also begin delivering the all-new Terrain compact crossover in late summer, and Buick dealers will roll out the new Enclave midsize crossover in the fall.
Auburn Hills automaker FCA US today announced an 18 percent sales increase for its Ram Truck brand, and reported pickup sales increased 16 percent compared to May 2016. Dodge brand sales also increased 8 percent, with five Dodge vehicles posting year-over-year sales gains.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee also reported a 14 percent sales increase compared to May 2016, with Jeep Wrangler sales increasing 2 percent. Jeep brand sales were down 15 percent as the brand continues its planned reduction of fleet sales to the daily rental segment. Through last month, FCA US has reduced its Jeep fleet sales by 60 percent, compared with fleet sales last year.
The Chrysler Pacifica also had its best sales month since its launch last year, with a 325 percent sales increase reported in May. Fiat’s 124 Spider also reported a 21 percent sales jump compared to April, the vehicle’s best month since its launch in July 2016.
