Ford trucks sales were flat for another month in a row, yet it doesn’t matter. The automaker could care less right now; its focus is on the new 2015 Ford F-150. That truck could quickly set sales records.
For the month of October, Ford truck sales were flat with a -0.6 percent drop versus October 2013 sales numbers. Overall, the truck is down -0.5 percent on the year.
These numbers look bad especially with Chevy and Ram truck sales booming in comparison. For the year, Chevy is up 10 percent and Ram is up a whopping 33.5 percent. These increases in sales have reduced Ford’s dominant market share.
Yet, all of this doesn’t really matter to Ford. Right now, there is restricted inventory of 2014 models due to Ford plant changeovers at the three truck plants. In October, Ford shut down one entire plant while it worked to implement the new tools and processes needed to work with aluminum.
This transition will cost 90,000 units of production according to Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s president of the Americas. Hinrichs also says the sales drop is temporary and is by design.
Adding to the sales drop is a reduction on incentives. Ford dropped them to maintain some inventory preferring to have trucks on lots instead of being sold out.
With a brand new and highly anticipated 2015 Ford F-150 truck hitting dealer’s lots in the next month, Ford expects it will regain its dominant standing in the truck market.
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