Ford F-150, Both New And Used, Dominates Sales Report For End Of May

Memorial Day is the widely accepted kickoff to summer. Likewise this time is the kickoff to the summer sales for the automotive industry. Summer is a vital time for the automotive industry.

It’s when most auto makers send the most inventory to dealers and conversely when most dealers move the most product. And summer represents a time of transition too, as the outgoing model year gets a furious push so that dealers can make room for the new model years that generally come in late summer and fall.

PureCars Technologies is a leading provider of digital marketing and advertising insights for automotive dealers. They released a report that was pretty eye opening to me.

According to PureCars, for the week of May 22-28, which was the Memorial Day Week, and the unofficial kickoff to summer, Ford led the way ahead of all other brands. Here’s the breakdown of brand sales for May 22-28 according to the PureCars report:

Brand % of Sales
1: Ford 14%
2: Toyota 11%
3: Chevrolet 11%
4: Honda 8%
5: Jeep 6%
6: Nissan 4%
7: Subaru 4%
8: Hyundai 4%
9: GMC 5%
10: Kia 3%

Even more interesting, according to this report, was the breakdown of new vehicles versus used vehicles and which vehicles were the most popular. Not surprisingly, the Ford F-150 (both new and used) occupied the top two spots.

Ford F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in America, so this isn’t surprising, but it does show that things could be looking up for Ford, after a miserable financial start to 2020 (due to the pandemic and other disruptive issues). Could this have something to do with the aggressive incentive plan Ford put in place that included zero-interest financing?

Here’s PureCar’s breakdown of Brand/Model/New vs. Used for the Week of May 22-28:
1: Ford, F-150, Used
2: Ford, F-150, New
3: Chevrolet, Silverado, Used
4: Ram, 1500, Used
5: Toyota, Rav4, New
6: Chevrolet, Silverado, New
7: Honda, CR-V, New
8: Ford, Escape, Used
9: Jeep, Grand Cherokee, Used
10: Chevrolet, Equinox, Used
11: Toyota, Camry, Used
12: Toyota, Corolla, Used
13: Nissan, Rogue, Used
14: Nissan, Altima, Used
15: Ram

Why Is The Ford F-150 So Popular?
Ford has been the best-selling vehicle in America for nearly four decades and the best-selling truck for more than 40 years. That says a lot. And obviously the F-150 is the single-most important vehicle Ford sells.

The profit margins are huge for Ford, and that’s why Ford has moved away from cars altogether and focused on trucks and SUVs. All of this is due to the success and popularity of the F-150.

So why is the F-150 so popular? I asked PureCar CEO Jeremy Anspach that question as he explained the F-150’s dominance on their latest sales chart.

“Durability, reliability, and superior design are common characteristics that define the Ford F-150,” Anspach said. “The F-150 offers great value and versatility for both everyday drivers as well as those in fields such as construction, and shoppers are getting great offers with aggressive incentives on used models of the F-150 which makes it one of today’s most sought-after vehicles in America.”

Anspach summed it well when he said versatility. Ask any of the loyal F-150 buyers why they prefer the F-150 over the competition and it’s the versatility. From a basic work truck to a luxury weekend warrior, the F-150 has mass appeal. And with numerous engines, it can be whatever you need it to be.

That’s why yesterday, I mentioned some things I hope the next-generation F-150 carries over from the current generation. And versatility is the most important thing to continue the success of the F-150.

Leave me a comment and tell me why you love your F-150 and why you chose it. I really will find this interesting.

Jimmy Dinsmore has been an automotive journalist for more than a decade and been a writer since the high school. His Driver’s Side column features new car reviews and runs in several newspapers throughout the country. He is also co-author of the book “Mustang by Design” and “Ford Trucks: A Unique Look at the Technical History of America’s Most Popular Truck”. Also, Jimmy works in the social media marketing world for a Canadian automotive training aid manufacturing company. Follow Jimmy on Facebook, Twitter, at his special Ford F-150 coverage on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can read the most of Jimmy's stories by searching Torque News Ford for daily Ford vehicle report.