Ford's U.S. Vehicles Sales Dip 1% in May

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co.'s total U.S. vehicle sales slid 1 percent year-over-year to 250,813 units in May, with retail sales down 2 percent to 171,535 vehicles and fleet sales flat at 79,278 units, reports mlive.

While trucks and SUVs have been strong sales drivers in the U.S. for automakers this year, Ford's results were mixed, which is curious, especially after the company announced Tuesday it was reducing its production-shutdown schedule this summer to meet demand in these segments.

Sales of the company's best-selling vehicle, the F-Series truck, fell 10 percent in May to 61,870 units. However, Ford said Tuesday that result was on "tight supply, as the second F-150 facility – Kansas City Assembly Plant – ramps up to full line speed this quarter."

Meanwhile, the Ford Edge established a May sales record, and commercial vans had their best performance in the month since 1978. The company also noted that its 2016 Explorer went on sale in May, and sales were up 24 percent.

Here's a closer look at sales by brand and segment:

Ford

Sales of Ford-brand vehicles dipped 2 percent to 241,639 units in May, compared with the same month in 2014.

Ford cars

Sales of Ford cars were up 2 percent to 85,846 units. The increase was led by rises of 31 percent to 9,426 units for the Fiesta and of 40 percent to 13,616 units for the Mustang. Focus sales edged up 1 percent to 23,934 units. Sales of the C-Max dipped 8 percent to 2,607 units, while Fusion sales also dropped 8 percent to 31,325 units.

Ford utilities

Ford utilities sales slipped 1 percent to 72,541 units. Escape sales fell 8 percent to 29,2487 units, Flex sales declined 14 percent to 2,443 units and Expedition sales dropped 18 percent to 4,147 units. Those decreases were partially offset by a 34 percent rise in Edge sales to 14,399 units.

Ford trucks

Sales of Ford truck were down 5 percent to 83,252 units in May. As mentioned, the F-Series fell 10 percent to 61,870 units. Sales if the Transit connect rose 8 percent to 4,576 units, while sales of Heavy Trucks dipped 2 percent to 727 units.

Lincoln

Lincoln-brand vehicle sales were up 4 percent on an annual basis to 9,174 units in May.

Lincoln cars

Sales of Lincoln cars fell 14 percent to 3,909 units. The MKZ was off 11 percent to 3,296 units, and the MKS dropped 28 percent to 613 units.

Lincoln utilities

Lincoln utility sales climbed 23 percent to 5,265 units. Sales of the Navigator grew 50 percent to to 1,046 units, and the MKC sold 2,289 units, compared to 677 for a previous model. Sales of the MKX dropped 38 percent to 1,488 units, and the MKT fell 12 percent to 442 units.

"We continue to see strong consumer demand for our newest products, including Edge, F-150, Mustang, Transit Vans and Lincoln MKC," Mark LaNeve, Ford's vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a release. "Our all-new F-150 is still turning on dealer lots in 26 days against tight supply, and F-150 average transaction prices set a record in May, as customers continued buying a rich mix of high-series pickups."