Ford Q1 Sales Drop 9.2% as Entry-Level Models Rise but EVs Plunge

Ford Motor Company recently released its sales figures for the first quarter of 2026, reporting an overall 9.2% year-over-year decline in vehicle sales. While many models saw lower sales, several stood out with strong performances—Mustang, Explorer, and Expedition all posted significant gains, and multiple entry-level trims also attracted strong consumer interest. Data shows that sales of the base-trim Ranger XL surged 45.5% year-over-year, with a starting price of $35,245; the entry-level Bronco Sport saw a 10.3% increase; and combined sales of three entry-level models—including the base Maverick—rose by 8.4%. Notably, Ford also achieved solid results in the premium segment: Ranger Raptor sales jumped 36.1%, while Explorer and Expedition grew by 29.7% and 30.2%, respectively. The Mustang delivered an especially standout performance. After a sharp 31.6% sales drop at the beginning of 2025, the model gradually rebounded in the second half of last year and carried that momentum into 2026. In the first three months of this year, Mustang sales soared 50.1% year-over-year, totaling 14,074 units—the highest-selling Mustang variant in Ford’s current lineup and far surpassing the all-electric Mustang Mach-E. However, Ford’s electric vehicle (EV) business continues to face pressure. Mustang Mach-E sales plummeted 60.4% year-over-year, with only 4,600 units sold, while F-150 Lightning deliveries dropped even more sharply, down 71.3%. Ford has already announced plans to replace the current F-150 Lightning with a new range-extended electric version. Ford’s best-selling vehicle line, the F-Series pickups, also experienced a decline, falling 16.0% year-over-year to 159,901 units in the first quarter—down from 177,796 units during the same period last year. Nevertheless, the F-Series remains America’s top-selling pickup truck, ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500. Ford noted that a fire at a supplier’s factory late last year disrupted production to some extent. Additionally, sales of the Maverick—the brand’s most affordable model—fell 10.9% to 33,861 units, while overall Bronco sales declined 4.3% to 31,197 units. Analysts note that despite robust performances from models like the Mustang, Explorer, and Expedition, the overall sales decline reflects broader pressures facing the auto industry, including tariffs and other external factors, suggesting the market may be entering a period of cyclical slowdown.