Ford’s gas Mustang outsold the Mach-E in May, gaining a slim lead for the year. This shifts the trend from Q1 when the EV led significantly. Hybrids also surged.
Ford’s electric vehicle sales were mixed in May, sources said. On one hand, sales of its already popular electric Transit van fell off completely, and the F-150 Lightning also saw a drop, though not as devastating as the Transit. On the other hand, sales of the Ford Mustang Mach-E saw an increase both month and year.
In particular, sales of the E-Transit van fell sharply. Its sales fell 93.3 percent from May last year. Ford sold just 97 E-Transit units in May, compared to 1,451 units sold last year. This is a huge decrease from last year and is unusual, as sales of this van were steady in the first four months of the year. One possible reason is that more than 9,000 electric vans were ordered under a contract announced in January 2024 with the USPS, which were to be delivered by the end of 2024, but were delayed.
Sales of the Ford F-150 Lightning also declined. However, despite the drop in sales, Ford is likely to remain at the top of the EV pickup segment. Ford’s 10,829 sales for the year puts it well ahead of the Tesla Cybertruck and GM’s two electric trucks, though rivals’ sales tend to come on a quarterly basis. Most sales of Ford Pro F-150 Lightning models and E-Transit vans were fleet expansions — that is, customers adding more EVs after initial testing, a Ford spokesperson said.
Amid these mixed electric sales, the Mustang Mach-E remained a bright spot on the charts. Sales of this electric SUV grew 11 percent compared to May last year, and it is up 2.8 percent year on year. This was a positive sign for Ford’s electric lineup.
But what is surprising is that despite the strong sales of the Mach-E, the gas-powered Mustang somehow made a comeback in sales and overtook the Mach-E in May. Last month, the gas Mustang outsold the Mach-E by selling 5,010 units against 4,724 units. This is proof that demand for the traditional Mustang is still strong, at least in May.
The May sales result puts the gas Mustang just above the Mach-E for the first five months of the year, although the difference is only 51 units. This shows a very close contest. Recall, at the end of Q1, the electric Mustang had sold 2,230 units more than the gas model. This is a significant shift in May sales that turns the tide.
Meanwhile, Ford’s hybrid sales have been strong. The automaker saw sales of vehicles with electric assist increase by nearly a third, following a trend that has been ongoing throughout the year. Buyers are embracing a desire for cheaper fuel without having to plug in. In May, Ford sold 22,719 hybrid models, up 29 percent from a year ago.
Finally, you see that May sales give the gas Mustang a small advantage over the Mach-E. However, the source also notes that the gas Mustang is heading for one of its worst years ever. If this decline continues, it’s likely that the Mach-E will leave it in its electric dust. This shows an exciting and close sales race between both iconic models.
Sophiya’s passion for cars ignited before she was three, and she would identify every vehicle on her street. That enthusiasm fueled her pursuit of a mechanical engineering technology degree and a career covering the auto industry. A four-time Canadian Automotive Journalism Awards winner, Sophiya now serves as president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
