Ford’s vehicles, commercial and EVs drove a first-quarter sales increase of 10.7%, making the Blue Oval America’s best-selling brand.
Sales surged across Ford’s areas of strength, including trucks (up 19.6%); three-row SUVs (up 47.6%); Bronco brand (up 18.3%); Ford Pro Transit van (up 86%); Mustang (up 5.2%) and electric vehicles (up 41%).
Ford’s overall vehicle sales---Ford Blue, Ford Pro, Model e and Lincoln---totaled 475,906, up 10.1% with estimated share up over a year ago.
Ford’s EV sales grew 41% in the first quarter on sales of 10,866 electric vehicles. F-150 Lightning sales totaled 4,291 pickups with production capacity actions on track to hit an annual production run rate of 150,000 this year. Sales by Ford Pro of the E-Transit, America’s best-selling electric van last year, climbed 62.7%. Reflecting downtime at the plant for changes to increase production, Mustang Mach-E sales were down.
Ford is America’s No. 1 selling truck manufacturer, with 254,023 trucks and vans sold in the first quarter, outselling GM’s trucks and vans by approximately 27,000 vehicles. Sales of Ford’s overall trucks, including pickups and vans, were up 19.6% on the strength of F-Series pickups (up 21.1%) and Ford Pro’s Transit van (up 86%).
To support this momentum, Ford’s Kansas City Assembly Plant will add a third crew in April to increase production for Ford Pro of the best-selling Transit and E-Transit vans. Ford also is increasing production at manufacturing plants across North America to meet strong customer demand for vehicles including Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, Bronco Sport and Maverick.
Ford Explorer was the best-selling three-row midsize SUV in America, and the red-hot Bronco brand saw sales growth of 18.3%, including a 37.6% rise for Bronco. Additionally, Expedition sales surged.
Subaru
Subaru of America, Inc. reported 53,213 vehicle sales for March, a 22.8% increase compared with March 2022 (43,322). SOA also reported year-to-date sales of 143,376, an 8.3% increase compared to Q1 2022. March marked the eighth consecutive month of month-over-month sales increases for the automaker.
In March, Crosstrek was the top performer by volume and achieved its best March ever with 14,040 vehicle sales. WRX sales for March increased 1,373 percent over the same month in 2022, while Impreza posted a 63.3% increase. Forester sales for March increased 56.2%, and Ascent sales increased 43.2% compared to March 2022. In addition, 513 of the all-electric Solterra SUV were delivered in March.
Toyota
Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) reported March U.S. sales of 176,456 vehicles, down 9.1% on a volume and daily selling rate (DSR) basis versus March 2022. Sales of electrified vehicles for the month represented 27.5% of total sales volume.
For the first quarter, TMNA reported sales of 469,558 vehicles, down 8.8% on a volume and DSR basis versus March 2022. Sales of electrified vehicles for the first quarter totaled 118,836, representing 25.3% of total sales volume.
Toyota division posted March sales of 150,099 vehicles, down 12% on a volume and DSR basis. For the quarter, Toyota division reported sales of 401,306 vehicles, down 10.9% on a volume and DSR basis.
Lexus division posted March sales of 26,357 vehicles, up 12.1% on a volume and DSR basis. For the quarter, Lexus division reported sales of 68,252 vehicles, up 6% on a volume and DSR basis.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) reported first quarter 2023 sales, with the brand's all-new 2023 Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) setting all-time monthly and quarterly sales records for the nameplate, up more than 104% and 122% over the same month and quarter, respectively, of the previous year.
MMNA's overall Q1 sales totaled 20,938, down about 20% as demand continued to outstrip supply. Outlander PHEV's gasoline-powered sibling continues to be the brand's best-selling model, as it has been since the launch of this generation vehicle. Backing up Outlander in volume was its smaller sibling, Outlander Sport, showing an increase across the quarter of more than 24% year-over-year versus Q1 2022. Overall sales for the quarter were only constrained by a shortage of new vehicle inventory.
Mazda
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) reported total March sales of 34,778 vehicles, an increase of 5.3% compared to March 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 88,384 vehicles, an increase of 7.4% compared to the same time last year. With 27 selling days in March, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 5.3% on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.
CPO sales totaled 5,309 vehicles in March, an increase of 20% compared to March 2022.
Hyundai
Hyundai Motor America reported total March sales of 75,404 units, a 27% increase compared with March 2022 and the best March in Hyundai history. This was the fifth consecutive month with a total monthly sales record, led by Venue (+74%), Elantra HEV (+37%), Tucson HEV (+52%), and Kona N (+5%).
March was an all-time best-ever retail and total sales record for Santa Cruz (+30%) and Santa Fe HEV (+123%). Hyundai fleet sales were 9.4% of total volume for the month.
In the first quarter, Hyundai total sales were 184,449 units, a Q1 total sales record and an increase of 16% year-over-year. Q1 retail sales were 169,491 a 6% increase compared with Q1 2022. Hyundai also set new Q1 total and retail sales records for Venue, Elantra N, Santa Fe HEV, Tucson, Tucson HEV, Santa Cruz and Kona EV.
Kia
Building on 2022's best-ever market share achievement, Kia America opened 2023 with a record first quarter of 184,136 units, a 15% increase over the previous high set in 2021.
Kia's March total of 71,294 marked the second-highest monthly performance in company history and was the eighth consecutive month of record-breaking sales. March sales were up 19.8% over the same period last year and up 7% over the previous March record.
In addition, four Kia models---Carnival up 81%, Sportage up 37%, Telluride up 23%, Forte up 14%---achieved best-ever March totals while the brand's electrified models increased 10% over the same period last year.
Source: Ford, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Kia
