Ford Motor Company was the biggest gainer in total sales, posting a strong number for the month of April 2025. This increase was fueled by robust demand for its trucks and hybrid cars. The automaker’s gambit paid off—the automaker sold almost 100,000 more trucks, helping push their overall sales up 16% over last year. This increase further establishes Ford’s reputation for quality truck production. The company encounters significant roadblocks as it tries to broaden its electric vehicle (EV) aspirations.
In April, Ford’s hybrid vehicle sales suddenly increased by 30%. The new compact Maverick—hailed for its combination of utility and great fuel economy—was instrumental in this jump. Its meteoric rise in popularity is a testament, in part, to consumers’ growing preference for more hybrid options. These hybrids are starting to get more buzz than fully electric counterparts from the automaker.
However, despite the overall sales increases, Ford’s EV division suffered major blows. The manufacturer announced a shocking 40% drop in EV sales for the month. At the same time, the Mustang Mach-E was suffering a 40% year-over-year sales decline. It isn’t just the Model Y—in the last quarter, sales of the F-150 Lightning, another central tech-forward contender, plummeted 17% versus last year. Ford recently had a breakthrough in hybrid tech, one that’s almost miraculous. Its electric offerings have a hard time mustering any market enthusiasm.
Fortunately, Ford is an imperfectly-but-clearly-defined case of a company taking these challenges head-on. They’ve implemented aggressive employee pricing and broader discounting strategies to move units of their EVs. Nearly two-thirds of dealerships said they had less than ten days of Mach-E inventory. This would imply that availability is being constrained by supply chain issues.
Ford’s legacy truck business is booming, while its electric truck business is busting. This contrast provides the company with plenty of room to pivot and make up the difference in the EV race. Hybrids are as strong as ever. The broader EV sales decline presents a different set of concerns for Ford’s long-term electric plans and overall competitive chops in what is clearly an expanding EV market.
Ford continues to walk this tightrope, but as of now continues to rely on white hot truck demand. This demand provides the foundation for a much-needed rebound electric vehicle market. The automaker must address the underlying issues affecting its EV sales to secure a more prominent position in the rapidly evolving automotive market.
