Summer held a strong ending for Ford, as the company managed to push through August with an array of impressive sales. This comes during a time when many automotive manufacturers are trying to navigate a rather rough market. Ford, especially in the month of August, has managed to not only survive, but thrive, in this market.
There are many factors that play into the highs and lows of the automotive market; chief among them are the economy and changing consumer interest. Increasingly, shoppers are looking for two attributes in their vehicle purchases; size and versatility. These options are commonly found in trucks and SUVs.
These two segments are where Ford experienced stellar sales in August. According to the company’s release, trucks and SUVs had an increase in sales of 5.7% and 20.1% respectively over their numbers from last year. Conversely, car sales dropped by over 21%, but the company still maintained an overall sale growth of 4.1% over last year.
These percentages indicate a clear shift away from cars towards larger, more spacious, versatile vehicles. Together, the Ford F-series and vans had their best sales since 2005. Summer has ended on a high note for Ford, with customer interest in SUVs and trucks driving the numbers. In a difficult market, Ford’s emphasis on larger, multi-purpose vehicles has positive results.