Ford Motor Company: Understanding the history and legacy of automakers
From groundbreaking assembly line innovations to iconic cars like the Model T, Mustang and F-150, we explore the rich history of the Ford Motor Company.
- Ford reported that US sales rose 16% in April to sell 208,675 vehicles.
- Ford said sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids, rose 8.4% that month to 28,190.
- The company provided employee pricing to all customers and accelerated sales.
Ford Motor Co. reported record sales month in April. The company has seen an up 16% increase in U.S. sales as it offered employee pricing to all customers as uncertainty looms about President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and the prospect of immediately raising vehicle prices.
On May 1, Ford reported that it sold 208,675 new vehicles in April, compared to 179,588 sales in April 2024. Sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids, rose 8.4% to 8.4%, but sales of the full power F-150 Lightning, Mach-E and E-Transit trucks have been dropped. Ford’s total US sales in 2025 ranged from 3.2% to 709,966 vehicles sold.
Ford’s true sales glory was in the trucks, accounting for almost half of the company’s total sales. Ford said it sold a total of 116,955 trucks and sold 19% jumps from a year ago before April. Ford reported that total sales of the F-Series pickup were sold with a 13% increase. Splitting down the retail sales of the F-Series, pickup sales rose 17% in April. A Ford spokesman said the company only provides total sales figures, not retail sales.
Maverick’s pickup reached sales records, up 67% from April 2024 with 20,183 Mavericks in April.
CEO Jim Farley suggested that April sales would be strong following March profits, although employee pricing Ford, launched on April 3, was extended to extend until July 4, but could be that consumers would want to go ahead of the price hike expected to begin tariffs.
“We’ve seen double-digit sales increase since March and April, and we’ve implemented this employee pricing,” Farley told CNN host Erin Burnett on April 30.
GM says its sales have also risen
Meanwhile, General Motors said April was strong despite low incentives and tight stocks. Automakers typically don’t report monthly sales, but GM spokesman Jim Cain told the Detroit Free Press that GM’s US sales have increased by 20% to deliver 267,051 vehicles, led by strong sales of pickups. Cain said GM sold 82,537 full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups in April.
Ford saw sales drop on all-electric vehicles. Sales of the F-150 Lightning plunged 1,740 sales from 17% sold in April. Lightning sales fell 9% this year to 8,927. Sales of e-transit also increased by 81% in April. Since the beginning of the year, e-transit sales have remained flat at 3,948 sales.
A Ford spokesman said in a statement that Deep had lower inventory during the 2025 lightning and MACH-E model year switch, as well as lower inventory during the switch, with sales of both vehicles falling in April. MACH-E sales fell 40% in April to 2,927. Sales since the start of the year have been almost flat at 14,534.
Deep said in April that MACH-E and F-150 lightning bolts were operating nationwide with 9 and 19 days of supply, respectively. The industry believes that supply for 60 days is normal.
“With the ’25 (model year) vehicle hit the dealer lot as we progress through April, we are well suited to the powerful May sales month of both electric vehicles,” Deep said in a statement.
Ford’s total SUV sales increased by 10% that month. Sales of the Bronco Sports, built in Mexico, increased by 55% to 11,886. The large Bronco, built in Michigan, sold 14,400 units and earned 73%. Another volume seller was an explorer. Ford reported sales of Explorer from 9% to 20,989.
Ford brand sales rose 15% that month to sell 197,060 vehicles. Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln saw sales increase by 40% in April, reaching 11,615 total vehicles sold, with mid-sized SUV sales: Nautilus and Aviator.
Farley told CNN that sales will remain optimistic over the next year despite uncertainty about tariffs.
“Maybe we’re in the first or second innings of nine games, but so far, the revenue has been pretty strong,” Farley said. “When you report your revenue next week, you’ll see it as a trend.”
Jamie L. Larrow is a senior Autos writer covering Ford Motor Company for the Detroit Free Press. Please contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jarouan. Sign up for our car newsletter. Become a subscriber.