Ford Motor Company (F 0.08%) said today that its U.S. sales rose 4.1% in May from a year ago, despite exceptionally tight inventories caused by a global shortage of crucial computer chips.
The global chip shortage, a result of a surge in demand for computers and consumer electronics during the pandemic, has limited Ford's ability to fill surging orders for key products including its huge-selling F-Series pickups.
But with supplies of new vehicles tight across the industry, Ford has been able to sell its most-profitable products at strong prices, without significant incentives.
New technology has helped draw buyers to showrooms. Ford said that "electrified vehicles," meaning hybrids as well as the battery-electric Mustang Mach-E, have been a bright spot. The company sold over 2,800 examples of its new hybrid F-150 PowerBoost pickup in May, while sales of hybrid versions of the Escape and Explorer SUVs were more than double year-ago levels.
Ford has built almost 28,000 of the Mustang Mach-E this year, more than expected. Image source: Ford Motor Company.
Ford delivered 1,945 Mustang Mach-Es in the U.S. in May as it ramped up exports to other markets including Norway, where the sporty electric crossover was the country's best-selling vehicle last month. Year to date through May, Ford has manufactured 27,816 units of the Mustang Mach-E, with 10,510 of those going to U.S. customers.
But not all the news was good. Production halts at the two U.S. factories that build Ford's top-selling F-150 have limited dealers' supplies of the new-for-2021 trucks. Total sales of F-Series pickups, which include the F-150 and the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty variants, fell 29.2% from a year ago to just 46,260 trucks.
