ICE data shows Ford electric vehicle sales soar 21%, but F-150 Lightning sales drop 17%

While the electric Mustang Mach-E’s sales are up an impressive 38%, its ICE sibling is underperforming even without competition from Dodge or Chevrolet

The auto industry is full of surprises, and Ford’s November sales numbers are no exception. Ford and Lincoln’s combined sales increased 14.3% in the same month last year, totaling 166,373 vehicles, and Ford appears to be riding high. Even the year-to-date numbers look good, with sales to date up 4.6% to 1,887,301 vehicles compared with 1,803,569 vehicles for the same period in 2023. But as always, the devil is in the details, especially when you dig into the capabilities of individual models. Let’s break it down.

Electric and hybrid vehicles grow fastest, but ICE rules

The Blue Oval’s EV play posted strong growth in November, although it remains on a solid footing. The company delivered 10,821 electric vehicles, an increase of 20.8% from last year. So far this year, electric vehicle sales are up 35.7%. On the hybrid front, things look even brighter. Hybrid vehicle sales totaled 18.5% in November to 14,351 units, with year-to-date sales soaring 42%.

More: Hyundai Sonata sales jump 200% in November, reversing sedan decline

Meanwhile, internal combustion engine (ICE) sales, which remain a cornerstone of Ford’s product portfolio, were steady in November, growing 14.3%. They still dominate the mix, accounting for 84% of total sales last month and 86% year-to-date, although their overall growth has been much more modest, at just 0.6% year-to-date.

Ford Brand: Highlights and Headaches

Sales of Ford’s core brand increased 12.8% in November, with deliveries of 157,094 vehicles. On the surface, this sounds like good news. Peeling back the layers, however, reveals a story of winners and losers.

The Mustang Mach-E, for example, had a strong month, with sales jumping 38.3% to 5,938 units, likely driven by year-end incentives and the rumored expiration of the $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit. That’s not the case for the F-150 Lightning, which continues its downward spiral, with sales down 17.1% to 3,643 units. The previous month, production of the model had dropped by a shocking 50%, prompting Ford to announce that the model would be produced until 2025.

More information: New EV sales up 7% over last year, used EV sales up 64%

Then there’s the Mustang, which was the last of the muscle car nameplates, at least until the Dodge Charger came on the market, although some might argue it no longer fits the description since there’s no V8 engine. Sales of the ICE pony car plunged 45.1% to 2,355 units in November, despite little competition in the segment after the exits of the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. Year to date, Mustang sales are down 5.4%, with 41,528 units sold. Maybe raising prices isn’t the smartest idea after all?

Bonus points; last November, sales of the Mustang Mach-E and ICE Mustang were neck and neck (4,294 and 4,293 units, respectively). However, this November, the electric Mach-E outsold its gas-powered namesake 2.5 to 1.

Lincoln Brand: Quietly Making a Comeback

If Ford’s mainstream models are a mixed bag, Lincoln has quietly attracted attention with its comeback story. While the brand’s year-to-date sales of 98,158 units won’t get the world excited, it’s up 28.4% from last year. Sales in November were even more impressive, with sales up 48.7% to 9,279 units. Every Lincoln model saw growth, led by the Nautilus with a 103.2% increase, followed by the Aviator with an 85.7% increase.

More: Lincoln’s best-selling car could be banned in U.S.

Especially Nautilus, which is expected to become Lincoln’s annual MVP, with deliveries of 32,477 units as of November, an increase of 48.6% over last year. Lincoln’s strategy finally seems to be paying off, although it’s not getting much attention just yet.