- November saw a strong 14.3% sales boost, with hybrids and EVs driving growth.
- Year-to-date sales rose 4.6%, reflecting stable demand across all powertrain options.
- Lincoln’s Nautilus surged 103.2% in November, cementing its position as a bestseller.
The auto industry is full of surprises, and Ford’s November sales figures are no exception. With a combined 14.3% bump in sales for Ford and Lincoln over the same month last year, totaling 166,373 units, it might seem like Ford is riding high. Even the year-to-date numbers look good, up 4.6% with 1,887,301 vehicles sold so far compared to 1,803,569 in the same period of 2023. But as always, the devil is in the details, especially when you dig into the individual model performances. Here’s the breakdown.
EVs And Hybrids Show Biggest Growth, But ICE Rules
The Blue Oval’s EV game, while still finding its footing, saw a solid boost in November. The company delivered 10,821 electric vehicles, marking a 20.8% jump compared to last year. Year-to-date, EV sales are up a healthier 35.7%. On the hybrid front, the picture looks even brighter. Combined hybrid sales rose 18.5% in November to 14,351 units, with year-to-date numbers surging 42%.
More: Hyundai Sonata Defies Sedan Decline Recording A 200% Increase In November
Meanwhile, internal combustion engine (ICE) sales remain the bedrock of Ford’s portfolio, holding steady with a 14.3% increase in November. They still dominate the mix, claiming a commanding 84% of total sales last month and 86% year-to-date, though their overall growth is far more modest at just 0.6% over the year so far.
Ford Brand: Highlights and Headaches
Ford’s core brand saw a 12.8% sales increase in November, with 157,094 vehicles delivered. On the surface, that sounds like good news. However, peeling back the layers reveals a tale of winners and losers.
The Mustang Mach-E, for instance, had a stellar month, with sales jumping 38.3% to 5,938 units, likely fueled by year-end incentives and the rumored expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. But the same can’t be said for the F-150 Lightning, which continued its downward spiral with a 17.1% drop in sales to 3,643 units. This follows an alarming 50% decline the previous month, prompting Ford to announce a production halt for the model until 2025.
More: New EV Sales Up 7%, Used EVs 64% Up Over Last Year
And then there’s the Mustang, the last remaining muscle car nameplate, at least until the Dodge Charger goes on sale, though some might argue it no longer fits the description, given the absence of a V8. Sales of the ICE pony car plummeted 45.1% in November to just 2,355 units, despite virtually no competition left in the segment after the Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro exited stage left. Year-to-date, the Mustang is down 5.4% with 41,528 units sold. Maybe jacking up prices wasn’t the smartest idea after all?
Bonus point; last November, the Mustang Mach-E and the ICE Mustang were neck and neck in sales (4,294 vs. 4,293, respectively). This November, however, the electric Mach-E outsold its gas-powered namesake by more than 2.5-to-1.
Lincoln Brand: The Quiet Comeback
If Ford’s mainstream models are a mixed bag, Lincoln is quietly turning heads with its comeback story. While the brand’s 98,158 sales year-to-date will not set the world on fire, it represents a solid 28.4% rise over last year. November was even more impressive, with sales up 48.7% to 9,279 units. Every Lincoln model posted gains, with the Nautilus leading the charge with a 103.2% increase, followed by the Aviator at 85.7%.
More: Lincoln’s Best-Selling Vehicle Could Be Banned In America
The Nautilus, in particular, is shaping up to be Lincoln’s MVP for the year, with 32,477 deliveries through November, up 48.6% compared to last year. It seems Lincoln’s strategy is finally paying off, even if it’s flying under the radar for now.
