Ford claims No. 2 spot in EVs behind Tesla – however hole stays vast

DETROIT – Ford Motor stated Friday that it has achieved CEO Jim Farley’s aim of changing into the second best-selling automaker of electrical automobiles within the U.S.

The Detroit automaker, citing third-party trade knowledge, narrowly topped Hyundai/Kia to hit the aim. Tesla stays the trade chief by a large margin, however has been shedding market share as extra EVs enter the market.

Ford stated its share of the electrical automobile phase was 7.4% via November, up from 5.7% a yr earlier.

The corporate reported gross sales of 53,752 all-electric automobiles within the U.S. via November. Tesla, which doesn’t get away home outcomes, reported international deliveries of greater than 908,000 EVs via the third quarter.

Ford topping Hyundai comes after the South Korean automaker misplaced incentives that gave consumers of its EVs tax credit of as much as $7,500 beneath the Biden administration’s Inflation Discount Act, which took impact in August. Autos comparable to Ford’s EVs which might be produced in North America nonetheless qualify for the credit score.

Hyundai didn’t instantly reply for remark. Hyundai Motor Co. CEO Jaehoon “Jay” Chang, in an unique interview with CNBC, described the lack of incentives as regarding and a “very difficult problem.”

Motor Intelligence confirmed Ford topped Hyundai in EV gross sales via November. The automotive knowledge agency reviews Hyundai offered 52,061 EVs via November – 1,691 items lower than Ford.

Tesla has long-dominated U.S. EV gross sales. However with extra EVs changing into out there, S&P World Mobility reported that its market share of recent registered electrical automobiles within the U.S. stood at 65% via the third quarter, down from 71% final yr and 79% in 2020.

Holding onto the No. 2 spot − a aim Farley beforehand introduced Ford would obtain by 2023 − might show difficult. Common Motors CEO Mary Barra has stated the corporate plans to prime Tesla in EV gross sales by mid-decade, as America’s largest automaker plans to considerably step up EV manufacturing within the coming years.

GM doesn’t report month-to-month gross sales. By way of the third quarter this yr, it reported gross sales of lower than 23,000 EVs.

Ford reported its EV gross sales as a part of its November outcomes, which total had been down 7.8% from a yr earlier. The corporate reported U.S. automobile gross sales final month of 146,364 items – its second-worst total whole since June. Its EV gross sales had been up from a yr in the past, when gross sales quantity was very restricted.

Ford, citing retail orders, stated demand for its automobiles stays robust. It didn’t give a cause for the November gross sales declines, however the firm and different automakers proceed to battle via provide chain issues.

Gross sales of Ford’s worthwhile F-Collection pickups had been solely 55,169 in November – off 8.7% from a yr earlier. They’re now off 12.8% for the yr following reported elements issues with the automobiles.

Gross sales of all Ford’s automobiles, together with its luxurious Lincoln model, totaled lower than 1.7 million items via November, a 2.7% lower from a yr earlier.

– CNBC’s Phil LeBeau contributed to this report.