Ford Motor Co. and FCA US LLC both reported single digit sales increases in April compared to the same month last year, due to an uptick in sales of SUVs and pickup trucks, while General Motors Co. posted a 4 percent decrease in sales.
“We saw strong consumer demand in April, especially for pickups,” says Mark LaNeve, vice president of U.S. marketing, sales, and service at Ford. He says the automaker had a 4 percent increase in sales in April (231,316 units). “F-Series has moved past the quarter million sales mark year to date — the strongest start for F-Series in a decade, while Ford brand SUVs are having their best year ever.”
LaNeve says Explorer sales increased 22 percent in April compared to a year ago, which drove Ford SUV sales to its best April in the history of the company. F-150 sales increased 13 percent in April when compared year over year, its best April performance in 11 years.
Lincoln sales increased 20 percent in April compared to April 2015, with the MKX posting a 94 percent gain last month.
FCA reported a 6 percent increase in sales in April (189,027 units) when compared to the same month last year, marking the automaker’s best April sales in 11 years.
“Consumer preference for SUVs and pickup trucks continued unabated in April and helped to propel us to our strongest April sales in 11 years,” says Reid Bigland, senior vice president of sales at FCA — North America. “Both our Jeep and Ram Truck brands recorded strong year-over-year sales gains last month.”
Bigland says seven FCA US vehicles set records in the month of April, including the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass, each posting their best monthly sales ever. Additionally, the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Patriot, Ram pickup truck, Ram ProMaster, and Ram ProMaster City each recorded their best April sales ever.
Jeep brand sales increased 17 percent in April when compared year over year, the brand’s best April ever. Ram Truck brand sales also increased, up 12 percent in April compared to April 2015, while Dodge sales decreased 3 percent, Chrysler sales decreased 18 percent, and Fiat sales dropped 19 percent.
GM reported a 4 percent decrease in sales in April (259,557 units) compared to last year.
“GM’s retail growth over the last 12 months has outpaced the industry by a wide margin because our redesigned large pickups and SUVs are hits, we made smart investments in new segments like small crossovers and mid-size pickups, and our momentum in the car business is accelerating with each new model introduction,” says Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president of sales operations at GM. “GM bucked the industry trend with flat year-over incentives, we are managing with lean inventories and our commercial and government fleet business is growing.”
Chevrolet reported car sales were up 4 percent, with the Camaro up 13 percent, the Malibu up 45 percent, and the Volt up 139 percent. Chevy truck sales were up 19 percent, with the Colorado up 55 percent, the Silverado up 14 percent, the Suburban up 16 percent, and the Tahoe up 8 percent. Overall, Chevy sales decreased by 2 percent in April compared to the same month last year.
GMC sales remained relatively flat in April compared year over year, while Buick sales decreased 3 percent and Cadillac sales dropped 29 percent.
