Ford reported a 16% rise in U.S. sales for May, driven by strong demand for its SUVs and trucks. However, the automaker’s electric vehicle (EV) sales fell short of expectations, slipping 25% year-over-year to 6,723 units, despite ongoing incentives such as employee pricing and added perks.
Total U.S. sales reached nearly 221,000 units last month, up from around 190,000 in May 2024. SUV sales rose 25% while trucks climbed 11%, underpinning the broader gains. But the EV segment continued to underperform, extending a trend of double-digit monthly declines.
The Mustang Mach-E was the lone bright spot among Ford’s electric offerings, with 4,724 units sold in May—an 11% year-over-year increase. In contrast, the F-150 Lightning, which briefly held the title of America’s best-selling electric pickup earlier this year, saw May sales tumble 42% to 1,902 units. The E-Transit van recorded just 97 deliveries, a sharp drop of 97% compared to nearly 1,500 units a year earlier.
Ford attributed part of the recent decline to inventory constraints tied to model year changeovers. “Lower EV inventory impacted our sales performance,” a company spokesperson said. April had already seen a nearly 40% drop in electric vehicle deliveries.
CEO Jim Farley highlighted the success of the “From America, For America” campaign, which offers employee pricing to all customers. The program helped move over 150,000 vehicles and has since been extended through July 4. However, pricing pressures persist. Ford plans to increase prices on vehicles built in Mexico—including the Mustang Mach-E—imported after May 2, citing standard mid-year adjustments and new tariffs.
To bolster its EV appeal, Ford is also continuing its “Power Promise” initiative, which offers customers who lease or purchase a new electric model a complimentary Level 2 home charger, 24/7 live support, mobile charging options, and a battery warranty.