Ford’s US auto sales edge higher in second quarter

(FILES) Attendees pictures of a 2024 Ford Mustang GTD during the North American International Auto Show at the Huntington Place convention center in Detroit, Michigan, on September 14, 2023. Ford reported slightly higher second-quarter US sales on July 3, 2024, pointing to gains in its truck division including of hybrid models the automaker has championed. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher / AFP)

New York, United States — Ford reported slightly higher second-quarter US sales on Wednesday, pointing to gains in its truck division including of hybrid models the automaker has championed.

The Michigan auto giant reported total sales of 536,050, up one percent from the year-ago level.

The company saw a dip in its best-selling F-series pickup trucks compared with last year.

READ: Ford sees $1.7B hit to fourth-quarter results

However, sales rose for the Maverick, a small pickup, and edged higher for the Ranger, a mid-sized pickup for which Ford is ramping up production.

The Maverick also comprised a hefty portion of Ford’s 56 percent rise in hybrid sales to 53,822. Ford has argued that hybrids pose a step towards no-emission vehicles for customers who are still skittish about electric vehicles.

Ford’s US sales came in about 15,000 vehicles shy of a forecast from Cox Automotive.

Auto analysts have cautioned that US auto sales could deteriorate somewhat in the second half of 2024, with some pointing to uncertainty over the presidential election.

At the same time, auto pricing has weakened somewhat, reflecting rebuilt auto inventories.

Among other companies reporting sales, Stellantis reported a 21 percent drop in US auto sales to 344,993.