Ford Motor Co.’s U.S. sales increased 16.3% last month year-over-year, making for the Dearborn automaker’s best May since 2019.
The company is offering thousands of dollars in discounts per vehicle as a part of its offering of “A Plan” discounts typically reserved for employees to its customers through the July 4 weekend. It comes in response to the Trump administration imposing 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and certain parts, and analysts say consumers have moved up their purchases in anticipation of price increases further into the year.
Some of that activity, however, has slowed, according to S&P Global Mobility, which is predicting a 2% increase year-over-year in overall U.S. sales for the fifth month of 2025.
At Ford, sales of gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, which represented 87% of it sales, grew 17% in May compared to a year ago. Hybrids were up 29%, and electric vehicles fell by a quarter as sales of the F-150 Lightning pickup and E-Transit commercial van declined 42% and 93%, respectively. Lincoln sales grew by 39%.
Truck sales were up 11% in May. F-Series pickups increase almost 15% for their best May since 2019. Ranger grew by 34% and Maverick grew 14% for a May sales record, including a 4% increase for its hybrid variant. Transit overall was down 4.1%.
Ford SUV sales grew by 23%. Bronco Sport gained 46%, Escape was up 24%, Bronco got a 51% boost and Mustang Mach-E increased 11%. Explorer was up 23%, and Expedition had its best May in 20 years, growing by 43%. The Mustang coupe fell 3.2% in May.
Early last month, Ford said it increased the prices by as much as $2,000 on its Mexico-built vehicles, including Bronco Sport, Mustang Mach-E and Maverick, because of tariffs. Trump has pushed auto tariffs to safeguard national security and bolster the industry’s domestic supply chain.
The president has insisted the import taxes will increase U.S. vehicle production, create well-paying manufacturing jobs and generate federal income to lower taxes and pay off national debt. Despite auto executives and analysts saying tariffs will affect consumers, and that it takes years to add assembly in the United States, the president has said he couldn’t care less if automakers raise their prices.
At luxury brand Lincoln, all of its products saw increases in sales for the month for its best May since 2007. Corsair was up 5.6%. The China-built Nautilus had its best May, growing by 24%. Aviator’s 42% growth was its best May performance since 2003. Navigator increased by 133% for its best May in years, as well.
