Ford and Lincoln April Sales: Decline Deepens, but Mustang Shows Growth
Detroit had hoped the worst was behind. But it turned out not to be the case. Ford started 2026 with a truly unappealing first quarter, and April figures only worsened the picture. Combined sales of Ford and Lincoln brands had already fallen 8.8% year-over-year by the end of the first quarter. April brought a 14.4% decline, further deepening the overall downturn.
Mustang: The Only Bright Spot
Against the general trend, there is one positive note. The Mustang, which remains Ford’s only passenger car in the US, grew nearly 20% in April. Since the start of the year, its sales have increased by almost 40%.
Ford and Lincoln sold 178,667 vehicles in April, down 14.4% compared to last year. Weakness is observed across all segments. Sales of electrified vehicles fell by 31.1%, with electric vehicles down 24.8% and hybrids down 32.5%. Even internal combustion engine models, considered a safer bet, lost 11.8%.
Year-to-Date Figures: Overall Decline
From an annual perspective, the situation looks no better. Ford brand cars fell by 10.6%. Trucks are down 12.1% year-to-date, and SUVs are down 10.9%. The Mustang remains the only segment where Ford shows growth: up 39.2% this year, with 19,904 units sold through the end of April. Of those, 5,830 were sold in April, up 18.4% compared to the same month in 2025.
Mustang Mach-E: Sharp Decline
The Mustang’s electric counterpart is experiencing a vastly different year. Mustang Mach-E sales fell 8.8% in April, to 2,670 units. Since the start of the year, the picture is even gloomier: deliveries have dropped by 50% — to 7,270 units, compared to 14,535 over the same period last year.
Other Ford Models: Slight Growth
In April, Ford also saw positive momentum in a few other models. These include the Bronco, which grew by 18.6%, the Transit by 22%, and the Explorer by 1%. Heavy trucks (E450, F550, etc.) also rose by 7.4% — to 1,033 sales. All other Ford brand vehicles lost ground, most at double-digit rates, including the Ranger — down 25.1% (5,245 units).
Lincoln Sales: Problems Deepen
Lincoln, Ford’s luxury division, also failed to show better results. Overall, the brand fell 7.4% year-over-year, but April demonstrated an even steeper drop — of 21.4%. The only model that remained in positive territory was the Nautilus, which grew by 7.7% for the month. All other models moved in the wrong direction, and most sharply.
The Aviator lost 26.5%. The Corsair lost even more, 40.1%. The Navigator, Lincoln’s flagship SUV, suffered the heaviest blow: 1,600 sales, down 41.7% compared to April 2025. For a model that was updated in 2025 and positioned as key in the luxury full-size segment, this is not just a weak month — it is a serious problem.
Overall, the April data suggests that Ford and Lincoln are facing deep structural challenges. The decline in electric vehicle sales, especially the Mach-E, points to a possible loss of confidence in the brand’s electric lineup, while traditional models, with the exception of the Mustang, are also not showing resilience. Lincoln, for its part, needs a strategic review, as even flagship models are losing market position, which may indicate decreasing demand for the brand’s luxury vehicles amid economic uncertainty.