A 2022 Ford Motor Co. Maverick compact pickup truck during the Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC, on Friday, January 21, 2022.
To Drago | Bloomberg | fake images
DETROIT – Ford Motors U.S. sales rose 10.5% last month compared to February 2023, driven by increases in sales of hybrid and fully electric vehicles.
The Detroit automaker on Monday reported February sales of 174,192 cars and trucks. The results included an 81% increase in sales of electric vehicles and approximately 32% in hybrid models. Sales of traditional internal combustion engines also increased, 7.5% more than in the same month of the previous year.
The increase in hybrid sales is part of Ford's plan to double down on the technology. Ford said hybrid sales totaled 12,045 in February, including 6,463 units of its Maverick Hybrid small pickup truck.
Ford's electric vehicle sales have fluctuated month to month depending on demand and prices. Ford's all-electric vehicle sales last month increased across the board, including a 64.3% increase in its Mustang Mach-E crossover and nearly doubling sales of the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck.
Despite increases in hybrids and electric vehicles, 89.5% of Ford's sales last month were traditional cars and trucks in February.
Sales of Ford's highly profitable F-Series pickup trucks fell 5.8% last month to 51,829 units. Shipments of the truck's new 2024 models were delayed due to an undisclosed quality issue, Automotive News reported last month.
Amid quality and warranty issues, Ford CEO Jim Farley has instituted stricter testing and quality controls during new vehicle launches.
Ford reported that total year-to-date sales through February were 311,325 units, an increase of 6.6% compared to the same period last year.
