Ford F-series snaps 16-month positive streak

Through the first nine months of the year, Ford Motor’s sales are down 2.4 percent from 2017. Photo credit: DAVID PHILLIPS

Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. light-vehicle sales sank 11 percent to 196,496 in September. The automaker cited a tough year-over-year comparison because of strong demand a year ago in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and also said sales slowed last month due to Hurricane Florence.

The decline dropped Ford behind FCA US, whose sales jumped 15 percent to 199,819, for the first time since November 2015.

Mark LaNeve, Ford’s head of U.S. marketing, sales and service, summed up the month as a tale of two hurricanes. In the Houston market, which was hit by Harvey in late August 2017, he said Ford’s sales dropped 44 percent, or about 8,000 vehicles, last month from September 2017.

Nationwide, sales were down in all vehicle categories in September, led a by 26 percent decline for cars. Sales of pickups and vans fell 10 percent, while utility vehicles dipped 2.7 percent. Ford Motor’s retail sales dropped 13 percent, while fleet sales fell 6.7 percent, mostly due to planned reduction on rental deliveries and timing of government orders, LaNeve said.

U.S. sales of the F-series pickup dropped 8.8 percent to 75,092, ending a string of 16 months of consecutive year-over-year gains. Average transaction prices for the F series, however, were at record levels of $46,600, up $1,000 from a year ago.

U.S. sales of the F-series pickup dropped 8.8 percent to 75,092 in September, ending a string of 16 months of consecutive year-over-year gains. Average transaction prices for the F series, however, were at record levels of $46,600, up $1,000 from a year ago. Photo credit: DAVID PHILLIPS

Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand sales slipped 7.2 percent, with all nameplates posting declines except the Navigator, which was up 77 percent.

Through the first nine months of the year, Ford Motor’s sales are down 2.4 percent from 2017.

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