Customers scaled back on F-150 Lightning purchases, prompting Ford to reduce production
Ford has high expectations for its next generation of electric vehicles, but current models are still facing challenges. This was underscored by an 8.3% drop in EV sales compared to October last year.
The biggest setback came from the F-150 Lightning, with sales plummeting by 49.8%. Given this sharp decline, it’s unsurprising that Ford recently announced plans for a temporary production pause later this month, extending into early next year.
While buyers stepped away from the electric F-150, they gravitated toward the Mustang Mach-E, with sales climbing 21.3% to 3,313 units. This upward trend might continue as Ford recently announced a starting price of $36,495 for the 2025 model—$3,500 less than the previous version.
Meanwhile, E-Transit sales surged by 181.1%, but before celebrating, it’s worth noting that only 1,088 units were sold. A triple-digit percentage increase is less impressive when starting from a relatively small baseline.
While Ford doesn’t detail hybrid sales by model, the automaker reported a 38.5% increase in hybrid sales for October, surpassing conventional model sales, which rose 14.1% to 148,268 units.
It’s unclear which specific hybrid models led the surge, but Ford previously credited strong truck sales for boosting performance. During its third-quarter earnings report, the company noted it “commanded 77% of the U.S. hybrid truck market during the quarter, with hybrid truck sales up 42%.”
Outside of hybrids, Bronco sales jumped 104.7%, with the Bronco Sport up 13% for the month. Mustang sales, however, dropped 37% and are down 1% year-to-date.
At Lincoln, demand remains strong for the refreshed Aviator and redesigned Nautilus. The brand may get an additional boost with the 2025 Navigator, slated to arrive next spring.
