Why Ford's Q2 Sales Should Have Rivals Worried
Three automakers defy the Q2 downturn
Most automakers' Q2 sales in the U.S. didn't fare well, and of the three that did experience gains, one stood out substantially. Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor North America, and General Motors were the only major manufacturers to report U.S. year-over-year sales gains during Q2, but Ford beat the latter two companies by 7% and 7.2%, respectively, at 14.2%. In Q2, Ford sold 612,095 new vehicles in the U.S., many of which were SUVs and pickups. For the first half of 2025, Ford reported that its domestic sales increased by 6.6% to 1,113,386 units, compared to the same period in 2024. Sales for Ford's luxury subsidiary, Lincoln, increased 31% to 31,332 new vehicles during Q2, while Ford brand deliveries rose 13.4% to 580,763 new cars, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Ford's last-minute pivot made all the difference for Q2
Ford's employee pricing campaign for most of its inventory, named 'From America, For America,' which ended July 7, was a key catalyst in generating this sales success. The campaign was a direct response to the Trump administration's automotive import tariffs set to increase vehicle prices. Ford had another ad campaign and incentive program ready to go, but it worked through a weekend at the end of March to develop 'From America, For America.' The transition led to Ford capturing the first half of the year's sales crown for the eighth time in the past decade. Ford's CEO, Jim Farley, said: 'Toyota is a tough competitor, but this is about much more than a sales race, it's about being a company Americans trust and turn to when it matters,' according to USA Today. Farley began his career in marketing at Toyota.
Where Ford thrived during Q2
Trucks and SUVs represented nearly 80% of Ford's Q2 sales. Its F-Series pickup broke a Q2 record with 222,459 deliveries, the Maverick compact truck's sales grew 26.3% to 48,041 units, and the Ranger's numbers increased 36.3%, supported by the model's new Raptor variant. Collectively, the F-Series, Ranger, and Maverick's Q2 sales rose 15.1% year-over-year. Sales of Ford's electrified lineup, which includes BEVs (battery electric vehicles), hybrids, and PHEVs (plug-in hybrids), jumped 6.6% during Q2 to 82,886 units, and Pro Super Duty numbers grew 13.5%, the best since 2004. Regarding Ford's SUVs, Expedition sales led the way during Q2, at 43.9% to 31,298 units, marking the model's best Q2 in 20 years. Lincoln Navigator sales rose 115% to 7,355, its strongest Q2 in 21 years, and the Bronco family, which includes the Bronco and Bronco Sport, sold a record 78,543 SUV examples for a 44.7% gain. Overall, Lincoln experienced its best quarter since 2007.
Final thoughts
Ford's sales surging 14.2% during Q2 outpaced an industry growth of just 1.4%, AInvest reports. Much of this success was attributed to a last-minute promotional shift created over a single weekend, underscoring the impact of timely and customer-focused marketing. Additionally, Ford gained a competitive edge during Q2 by leveraging its robust vehicle supply of trucks and SUVs as rivals dealt with dwindling inventories. While Toyota and General Motors similarly posted Q2 gains, the progress of the two companies paled in comparison to Ford's.
Why Ford's Q2 Sales Should Have Rivals Worried first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 17, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
General Motors (GM) Gets Back on Track Following Q2 Earnings Slide
General Motors (GM) is recovering from a minor setback this week. The U.S. automaker announced highly anticipated earnings results on Tuesday, with revenues dipping 1.8% compared to the same period a year ago, and net income down a stark 35% in Q2. The news sent the stock reeling. After a sharp drop on Tuesday, GM stock has been steadily rebounding in the days that followed, according to TipRanks' chart data. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Despite these setbacks, normalized earnings per share (EPS) exceeded expectations by $0.05, and revenue surpassed consensus by $1.13 billion. This suggests that the market may have been overly pessimistic. The key concern is that EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) was weighed down by $1.1 billion in tariffs during the quarter, with management forecasting a full-year impact of $4–5 billion. Given the mixed picture, I'm maintaining a cautious Neutral stance on General Motors. Tariffs Weigh on GM as EV Sales Accelerate Margins in the automotive industry are being impacted by a 25% U.S. import tariff on vehicles and components. This has led to North America EBIT for GM being sharply down from 10.9% in Q2 2024 to 6.1%. Excluding tariffs, EBIT would probably be around 9%. Compounding these margin pressures is that the EV (electric vehicle) segment remains unprofitable, as it continues to incur high battery and manufacturing costs. To combat tariffs, GM is investing $4 billion to shift vehicle production from Mexico/Korea back to the U.S., adding around 300,000 units per year. The goal here is to offset at least 30% of the tariff headwinds through domestic capacity expansion within 18 months. On the positive front, EV sales surged 111% year-over-year to reach 46,300 units, and Chevrolet (owned by GM) is now the #2 EV brand in the world behind Tesla (TSLA). As a more concrete example of the success Chevrolet is experiencing, consider that its Chevrolet Equinox EV sold 17,420 units in Q2, representing a 1,620% year-over-year increase. However, the company's strong ICE (internal combustion engine) sales continue to underpin revenue. Management aims to achieve EV profitability by early 2026 at the latest. GM must be making strategic, long-term investments in electric vehicles now, as the shift toward electric and autonomous mobility is inevitable over the coming decades. Encouragingly, GM is already gaining traction in the EV space. GM Positioned as a Cheap Value Stock EV sales will need to accelerate meaningfully. It's not enough for the segment to simply turn a profit — it needs to deliver standout performance. That requires patience from capital allocators, especially while internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles still dominate GM's revenue. Looking ahead, the rise of autonomous technology is poised to disrupt the entire automotive business model within the next five to ten years. For now, GM appears more likely to deliver stable, moderate returns rather than becoming a breakout value play — though markets, of course, can always surprise. From a valuation perspective, GM's forward P/E ratio is 70% lower than the sector median, while its forward EPS growth is 46% higher. On the other hand, forward revenue growth lags behind the sector median by 48%, and its forward price-to-sales ratio is 70% lower. This suggests GM may be fundamentally mispriced — but mispricing doesn't guarantee correction. Markets are often driven more by sentiment and psychology than by cold facts. It's also important to recognize that not all EV-related developments offer upside potential. The macroeconomic impact of tariffs is substantial, particularly for a vertically integrated manufacturer like GM with global operations. These cost pressures are a real drag on margins and dampen the likelihood of a near-term sentiment shift or catalyst-driven rally in the stock. Is GM a Good Stock to Buy Now? On Wall Street, GM has a consensus Moderate Buy rating based on 13 Buys, seven Holds, and two Sells. GM's average stock price target of $56.83 suggests a potential upside of ~7% over the next 12 months. The consensus among analysts shows a conservative and realistic return horizon. In my opinion, we can expect a total return of approximately 15% from this stock over the next 12 months in a conservative bull case. GM Is Great, but GM Stock Is Only Good have a strong appreciation for GM as a company — from its iconic car brands to its proactive stance on the future of electric vehicles. But admiration alone doesn't make for a winning investment. A successful stock requires both solid fundamentals and strong market sentiment, and GM currently falls short on the latter. In investing, there's no room for emotion — decisions have to be driven by returns. While a 15% annual return is solid and may suggest some alpha, a broad S&P 500 (SPX) index fund offers similar performance with better diversification and lower risk. For now, I remain Neutral on GM stock.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Toyota Drops Impressive Land Cruiser Lease Offer for July
Toyota Drops Impressive Land Cruiser Lease Offer for July originally appeared on Autoblog. The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser delivers more than you might think While the Land Cruiser might have attracted early ire for being smaller and arguably less opulent than the model it replaced, there are some immediately attractive positives to the SUV. For one, it's still extremely off-road capable, and the new hybrid powertrain ensures less time and money filling up at the pump. A total of 326 horsepower means it can move out of its own way pretty easily, too. Further adding to the allure is the SUV's 6,000-pound max towing capacity and 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space, both of which will likely be more than enough for most customers in the mid-size two-row SUV segment. Toyota Land Cruiser lease offer, July 2025 The most affordable Land Cruiser lease deal for July 2025 is an attractive $489 per month for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing. The lease allows for 10,000 miles per year, which is technically a low-mileage lease, but it may work for some shoppers. The advertised price excludes tax, title, and other local fees, as well as the $650 acquisition fee. More importantly, there is also a $350 disposition fee at the conclusion of the lease, which can sometimes be waived. Furthermore, this lease deal is only available to shoppers in the New York metro area. But, a similar deal exists for Midwest markets like Chicago, where shoppers can get the same terms for $499 per month with just $2,999 due at signing. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Other markets have deceptively good lease offers rolling, too. Although the price is higher, a higher mileage allowance and similar money down means these lease deals still deserve careful consideration. Shoppers in the Southwest markets like Phoenix and the Pacific Northwest like Seattle and Portland can enjoy 12,000 miles per year with $3,999 due at signing for $529 and $539 per month, respectively. Markets in the Southeast, specifically the Miami metro, can get the same 12,000-mile/36-month term for $629 per month and $4,628 due at signing. All these numbers are subject to change, and none of them include local taxes, fees, or other additional charges. Check the latest Toyota deals and incentives for yourself before anything else. Want a $0 down lease deal on the Land Cruiser? Want to ride off into the sunset with nothing out of pocket? We don't blame you. By dividing the amount due at signing over the 36 months, we can get a rough estimate of what the monthly payment might look like. For New York metro shoppers, the monthly payment climbs to a dead-even $600 per month. Shoppers in the Midwest get an even better deal with a new payment of around $582 per month. The Mountain states and the Pacific Northwest will now need to make do with a $640 and $650 monthly payment, respectively. Finally, states in the Southeast can walk out the door with zero down and around a $757 monthly payment. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Final thoughts If you aren't put off by the Land Cruiser's lack of a third-row seat, now could be a great time to update the family truckster. Cool retro looks and generally good on- and off-road manners make this an easy pick if you're looking for something a little bit more refined than the 4Runner but not quite shopping in Lexus territory. The latest lease offers make this Land Cruiser a little bit more attainable, especially for East Coast shoppers. We say it's a decent buy if you aren't interested in keeping the Land Cruiser for the long haul. *Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle. Toyota Drops Impressive Land Cruiser Lease Offer for July first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 23, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.


Car and Driver
7 hours ago
- Car and Driver
Ford Bronco Sport 'Raptor' Seen in Spy Photos Is Actually a Hoax
Our spy photographers caught what we thought was a Ford Bronco Sport Raptor testing without camouflage, but it's actually just a joke. The fake Raptor version of Ford's compact crossover sits higher, partially thanks to BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires. The prototype also has larger exhaust pipes and two mufflers instead of one, but we now know that a real-life Bronco Sport Raptor isn't in the cards. UPDATE 7/24/25, 6:50 p.m.: A Ford spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that the Bronco Sport "Raptor" that was captured in our spy photos isn't a real upcoming model. Instead, it's more of an internal joke. "This is our team having fun, not a Bronco Sport Raptor. Just like our customers, we encourage employees to leverage the customization superpowers of the Bronco family and continue to explore possibilities," the spokesperson said in an email. Once exclusive to the F-150 pickup truck, the Raptor nameplate has begun spreading through the Ford lineup. Along with the F-150 Raptor and V-8-powered F-150 Raptor R, Ford now sells a Raptor variant of the Bronco off-roader and a Raptor-ized version of the smaller Ranger pickup. It appears that Ford isn't stopping there: our spy photographers have caught this Raptor-badged Ford Bronco Sport prototype testing, and it seems to pack some serious hardware upgrades. The Bronco Sport Raptor prototype wears no camouflage, curiously, and it proudly displays Raptor badges on the front doors and tailgate. The former appears to be the emblem from the tailgate of the Bronco Raptor, while the latter looks like the badge from the rear of the Ranger Raptor. KGP Photography | Car and Driver The prototype also sports a Sasquatch sticker on the rear fender, suggesting that this vehicle may have started life as a Badlands Sasquatch model, a new addition to the Bronco Sport lineup for 2025. There's also a sticker on the rear window depicting Mothman, a cryptid that was reportedly spotted prowling West Virginia in the 1960s, spawning a series of tall tales. We're not sure what to draw from this sticker, and it might just be Ford engineers having a bit of fun, given that the Sasquatch package is already named for a legendary cryptid. The steel front bumper and bull bar look identical to those of the Sasquatch, but there are some notable differences on this Raptor prototype. The fender flares are wider and feature exposed rivets. This Bronco Sport looks to have a taller ride height, which could come in part from a revised suspension. But that extra ground clearance is also thanks to the beefy BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM3 tires, a significant upgrade over the Sasquatch model's Goodyear Territory all-terrain rubber. Unfortunately, we don't know the tire sizes, as Ford's engineers appear to have scraped off the tire code on the sidewalls. Interestingly, the KM3 is a more serious off-road tire than the BFGoodrich KO2s fitted to all other Raptor models, with more of a focus on traction in mud and on rocks at the sacrifice of on-road performance. KGP Photography | Car and Driver The prototype is also sporting a new exhaust setup. Instead of a single muffler that leads to two exhaust tips, there are two separate mufflers that each lead to much larger exhaust outlets. This could mean that the Bronco Sport Raptor could add some extra oomph on top of the 250 horsepower put out by the turbocharged inline-four. We're not entirely sure what to make of this prototype. Ford could be developing a new Bronco Sport Raptor, or it could just be testing upgrades to the Sasquatch package or other optional equipment, with the Raptor badges meant to fool us. If this does enter production as a Bronco Sport Raptor, we expect even more design changes to differentiate it from lesser Bronco Sport models, starting with a bolder grille featuring the large "FORD" badging like other Raptor models. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.