Ford Motor Co. today announced sales totals of 210,771 for November, a 6.7 percent gain over 2016. Retail performance also increased 1.3 percent compared to a year ago, with sales of 156,064 vehicles, and transit vehicle sales totaled 10,852 units, with vans, transit connect, and E-Series posting their best November results since 1984.
“Strong customer demand … drove F-Series sales past the 70,000 mark last month, a November number achieved just three other times in history,” says Mark LaNeve, Ford’s vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service. “In addition, Ford brand SUVs continued their outstanding performance with sales up 13 percent for their best November since 2000.”
Specifically, the F-Series saw its best November since 2001, with 72,769 pickups sold for a gain of .9 percent. Strong demand for both high series Super Duty and the new 2018 F-150 pushed the average transaction pricing to $47,100 per truck, a $3,800 increase from 2016. Ford SUV (Explorer, Edge, and Expedition) sales also continued to increase, posting 13.4 percent gains while retail advanced 11.6 percent throughout the month.
Ford Focus sales also increased 44.9 percent for the fifth consecutive month of gains with 13,226 cars sold and Lincoln MKX sales increased 6.9 percent in November. The Navigator also recorded its first sales for the month.
General Motors Co. made 245,387 deliveries across the U.S. in November, with year-over-year increases reported in Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC crossovers to individual retail customers. Overall retail sales were “essentially equal to last November,” with commercial and government deliveries up a combined 7 percent, credited with a 30 percent increase in full-size pickup sales and the popularity of the Chevrolet Tahoe police pursuit vehicle.
Specifically, Chevrolet crossover sales increased 16 percent, driven by a 59 percent increase for the Traverse, which had its best November retail and total sales ever. The Bolt EV also had its best month yet. Overall, retail sales for Chevrolet increased 2 percent year over year, the brand’s best November performance since 2004.
Across the brand, Colorado deliveries increased 18 percent for the best November on record, Tahoe and Suburban sales saw a combined 12 percent increase, and passenger cars including the Corvette, SS, Impala, Sonic, and Spark all reporting a combined 1 percent sales increase.
“More vehicles are sold in December than any other month and we are very well positioned because we have momentum in so many segments, but especially in crossovers,” says Kurt McNeil, GM’s U.S. vice president of sales operations. “When we close the books on 2017, GM will show very healthy inventory levels, significantly lower daily rental sales for the third year in row, and the best year in our history for crossover deliveries by far.”
Additionally, sales for the Cadillac XT5 increased 11 percent, Buick crossovers increased 11 percent after Enclave deliveries more than doubled, and Envision deliveries saw a 2 percent uptick. GMC crossovers also saw an 11 percent increase, driven by 4 percent gains for the Acadia and 20 percent increase for the Terrain.
Auburn Hills-based FCA US also reported retail sales of 129,539 units, a 2 percent increase compared to Nov. 2016 and representative of 84 percent of total sales.
A 25 percent year-over-year decline in fleet sales was also reported in line with the company’s decision to reduce sales to the daily rental segment. The largest reduction in sales came from the Jeep brand which reduced fleet sales by 75 percent compared to Nov. 2016. Fleet sales represented 16 percent of the company’s total sales.
In contrast, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan and Jeep Compass each posted record sales in November, with 51 and 34 percent sales increases respectively. The Jeep Grand Cherokee also recorded its best November since 2003 and other FCA US vehicles posting year-over-year gains include: the Chrysler 300, Fiat 500L, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Durango, and Ram ProMaster City.
Overall, Chrysler brand sales increased 14 percent in November and both the Pacifica and Chrysler 300 posted sales gains. The Dodge Grand Caravan and Durango SUV also posted 28 and 9 percent sales increases respectively and the Dodge brand has begun shipping the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, which is expected to fuel December sales.
The Ram Truck Brand’s sales were highlighted by 21 percent increases for the ProMaster City and overall sales increases of 3 percent year-over-year.
