Ford Mustang sales decreased in the United States and Mexico while increasing in South Korea in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Ford Mustang Sales - Q4 2018 - United States
In the United States, Ford Mustang deliveries totaled 14,223 units in Q4 2018, a decrease of about 28 percent compared to 19,670 units sold in Q4 2017.During the complete 2018 calendar year, Mustang sales decreased about 7 percent to 75,842 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSTANG | -27.69% | 14,223 | 19,670 | -7.36% | 75,842 | 81,866 |
Ford Mustang Sales - Q4 2018 - Mexico
In Mexico, Ford Mustang deliveries totaled 413 units in Q4 2018, an increase of about 22 percent compared to 339 units sold in Q4 2017.During the complete 2018 calendar year, Mustang sales decreased about 4 percent to 1,922 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSTANG | +21.83% | 413 | 339 | -3.56% | 1,922 | 1,993 |
Ford Mustang Sales - Q4 2018 - South Korea
In South Korea, Ford Mustang deliveries totaled 219 units in Q4 2018, an increase of about 103 percent compared to 108 units sold in Q4 2017.During the complete 2018 calendar year, Mustang sales increased about 14 percent to 839 units.
| MODEL | Q4 2018 / Q4 2017 | Q4 2018 | Q4 2017 | YTD 2018 / YTD 2017 | YTD 2018 | YTD 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSTANG | +102.78% | 219 | 108 | +14.15% | 839 | 735 |
Competitive Sales Comparison
The 27.69 percent decrease in Ford Mustang sales during the fourth quarter enabled the Dodge Challenger to swoop in to take the segment’s sales volume crown. In fact, Dodge Challenger sales increased 17 percent in the face of the Mustang sales decline. This circumstance marks the first quarter ever that the Mustang was outsold by the Challenger. Meanwhile, Chevy Camaro sales decreased 21.66 percent to 11,135 units.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Two-Door Sports Cars - Q4 2018 - USA
| MODEL | Q4 18 / Q4 17 | Q4 18 | Q4 17 | YTD 18 / YTD 17 | YTD 18 | YTD 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHALLENGER | +17.47% | 14,403 | 12,261 | +3.38% | 66,716 | 64,537 |
| MUSTANG | -27.69% | 14,223 | 19,670 | -7.36% | 75,842 | 81,866 |
| CAMARO | -21.66% | 11,135 | 14,213 | -24.99% | 50,963 | 67,940 |
| MX-5 MIATA | -4.19% | 1,511 | 1,577 | -20.57% | 8,971 | 11,294 |
| 370Z | -26.21% | 763 | 1,034 | -24.84% | 3,468 | 4,614 |
| BRZ | +9.71% | 904 | 824 | -7.19% | 3,834 | 4,131 |
| 86 | -31.07% | 923 | 1,339 | -39.44% | 4,146 | 6,846 |
| 124 SPIDER | -25.28% | 600 | 803 | -21.51% | 3,515 | 4,478 |
| TC | -87.50% | 1 | 8 | -99.01% | 2 | 203 |
| TOTAL | -14.05% | 44,463 | 51,729 | -11.57% | 217,457 | 245,909 |
Even so, the Mustang was the best-selling car in its segment for the complete 2018 calendar year, handily outselling the Challenger and Camaro.
The mainstream, two-door sports car segment fell by 13.85 percent in Q4 2018 and 12 percent for the complete 2018 calendar year.
The Ford Authority Take
Fourth quarter 2018 proved to be rather unfortunate for Ford Mustang sales, as the pony fell behind the Dodge Challenger. It’s rather difficult to pinpoint exactly the reasons for the circumstance, but it could one of the following:
- A negative market reception to the Ford Mustang’s mid-cycle facelift
- Increased sales of the Dodge Challenger to daily rental fleets, while Ford reduces Mustang sales to such customers
- Customers preferring the larger and potentially more comfortable nature of the Dodge Challenger to the smaller and sportier Mustang
- Dodge parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, offering higher incentives on the Challenger than Ford did on the Mustang
- Holdouts waiting for the new Mustang Shelby GT500
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Mustang Q4 2017 sales, except as noted
- In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q4 2018 and 76 selling days in Q4 2017
More Information & Sales Reporting
- Ford Motor Company news
- Running Ford Motor Company sales numbers
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- Running Ford Mustang sales numbers
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Comments
People are getting tired of ford.Gt and mustang shelby gt 500 ,cars for few at craisy prices.On thing is that the car is expensive no, only sold to special people selected by ford.I ha ve bought 9 mustangs.That is the end, next will be a corvette.
I live in Michigan and this has been a brutal winter. Perhaps the availability of 4-wheel drive on Challengers (and Chargers) but not Mustangs or Camaros would explain the spike during winter months.
I agree 100% with Ramon. Switch up to the Corvette ( I currently drive a C7 Corvette in the summer and a 2018 F150 the rest of the year.) Ford prices on the “good stuff” Ford GT, Shelby etc. are CRAZY, and they won’t give any employee or other discounts. Chevy is very generous with Corvette discounts if you check around.
Another reason could be the high rate of 5.0 engine problems. Have read that Ford has been
buying back 2019 models because of engine knock, some leading to engine seizure. A friend
of mine bought a 2019 Mustang GT and the engine seized at 600 miles. Ford bought back his
car. Word of this problem has been circulating on Mustang blog sites since last summer,
prompting many to forgo their purchases.
How about an I4 engine for the basic model of both Mustang and Camaro. Ford is an impressive 310 hp turbo and Camaro is 275 hp. It just doesn’t cut it. Might as well put in a v6 in the Corvette, well at least not yet.
One thing I notice from watching the used Mustang market is that prices are the same or higher than they were a year ago. That seems strange given the fall in new sport coupe sales across the board. Very, very few bargains are to be had. South Florida S550 convertibles with V-6’s are the only ones I find with prices around $12K. Everyplace else people think their Mustangs are worth a lot as do car dealers.
Right now I’m in Maui, HI for almost two weeks and two weeks to go. The island has probably 95% of its vehicles that are rentals and I do not know the numbers but it must be at lease 20,000 or more. What sticks out the most and seen everywhere, Mustang convertibles and Jeeps Wragler’s. Most Jeeps are the four door version. I don’t know what engines are usually in the a Mustang rentals, probably the I4. I guess Ford must think the used market is getting saturated with Mustangs and that softens the price. Hey I’m a Chevy guy but I did rent an Escape.
Assuming vehicles on order don’t count as sales, I think the low 4th Qtr numbers may be due to Ford’s inability to fill orders in a timely manner since mid-2018. I’m waiting for my 2019 GT Premium since September 2018, as are many other customers, including one I know of in Louisiana that’s been waiting over 9 months. Heck, I might as well order a 2020 instead. There are a number of reasons given for the scheduling and production delays, but mostly commodity restrictions (e.g., MagneRide, Carbon Sport) and parts shortages (e.g., steering wheels, transmissions). Other likely issues are plant shift reductions and limited railcar/convoy capacity.