Ford's Mustang Sales Soar 40% While Mach-E Plummets 50% in 2026 Q1

Ford and Lincoln Sales Drop 14.4% in April, Extending Brutal Q1 Decline

Ford and Lincoln sales fell 14.4% in April, deepening a brutal first quarter for the automaker. Group sales, combining both brands, were already down 8.8% year-over-year through Q1. April’s figures worsened the trend, dragging the running total further into the red.

Mustang Sales Surge 40% Year-to-Date

Against the odds, one bright spot emerged: the Mustang. Now Ford’s only passenger car sold in the U.S., the iconic pony car climbed nearly 20% in April. Year-to-date, Mustang sales are up nearly 40%, with 19,904 units sold through April—5,830 in April alone, an 18.4% increase over April 2025.

Mustang Mach-E Collapses 50% Year-to-Date

In stark contrast, the Mustang Mach-E struggled. April sales fell 8.8% to 2,670 units, while year-to-date deliveries plummeted 50% to 7,270, down from 14,535 in the same period last year.

Ford’s 2026 Sales Breakdown: Electrified Vehicles and Trucks Decline

Ford sold 178,667 vehicles in April, a 14.4% drop compared to last year. Electrified vehicles fell 31.1%, with EVs down 24.8% and hybrids down 32.5%. Even internal combustion models slid 11.8%.

Year-to-date, Ford-branded vehicles are down 10.6%. Trucks declined 12.1%, and SUVs fell 10.9%. Other models trending upward included:

• Bronco: Up 18.6%
• Transit: Up 22%
• Explorer: Up 1%
• Heavy trucks (e.g., F550, E450): Up 7.4% with 1,033 sales

Every other Ford-branded vehicle declined, many by double digits. The Ranger fell 25.1% to 5,245 units.

Lincoln Sales Decline 21.4% in April, Navigator Collapses 41.7%

Lincoln, Ford’s luxury division, fared no better. Overall, the brand is down 7.4% year-over-year, but April saw a steeper 21.4% drop. The Nautilus was the only model in the black, up 7.7% for the month.

Other Lincoln models declined sharply:

• Aviator: Down 26.5%
• Corsair: Down 40.1%
• Navigator: Down 41.7% to 1,600 sales, a major blow for the freshly redesigned flagship

Ford’s 2026 Sales Summary

Ford’s 2026 began with a steep decline across most segments, with the Mustang standing as the sole bright spot amid broader struggles in electrified vehicles, trucks, and luxury models.