One of the longest-running rivalries in the auto world is that of Ford vs. Chevrolet. The contention is alive and well to this day, with the two American auto giants battling it out in many segments and markets, both at home and abroad. One of the simpler ways to determine which of the two legendary marques is coming out ahead in the rivalry is by raw sales figures, and that’s what we’ll do here today for the third quarter of 2021.
Total Ford sales in the U.S. market fell nearly 27 percent to 383,805 units compared to 287,925 units for Chevy. That’s a difference of 95,880 units in Ford’s favor.
Sales Results - Q3 2021 - USA - Ford
MODEL | Q3 2021 / Q3 2020 | Q3 2021 | Q3 2020 | YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 | YTD 2021 | YTD 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRONCO | * | 9,403 | * | * | 10,204 | 0 |
BRONCO SPORT | * | 20,690 | * | * | 81,204 | 0 |
E-SERIES | -1.66% | 9,132 | 9,286 | +5.09% | 26,467 | 25,186 |
ECOSPORT | -51.95% | 8,190 | 17,045 | -26.92% | 34,494 | 47,200 |
EDGE | -40.50% | 15,596 | 26,211 | -28.51% | 54,951 | 76,862 |
ESCAPE | -43.99% | 26,299 | 46,956 | -15.15% | 111,791 | 131,753 |
EXPEDITION | -13.95% | 16,696 | 19,402 | +24.07% | 64,204 | 51,747 |
EXPLORER | -29.00% | 41,933 | 59,060 | -0.02% | 160,174 | 160,209 |
F-SERIES | -22.04% | 172,799 | 221,647 | -9.20% | 534,831 | 589,034 |
FUSION | -99.23% | 225 | 29,243 | -87.12% | 11,678 | 90,664 |
GT | -20.00% | 40 | 50 | -29.93% | 103 | 147 |
HEAVY TRUCKS | +20.17% | 3,199 | 2,662 | +66.76% | 9,889 | 5,930 |
MAVERICK | * | 506 | * | * | 506 | * |
MUSTANG | -34.19% | 9,115 | 13,851 | -13.80% | 41,065 | 47,637 |
MUSTANG MACH-E | * | 5,880 | * | * | 18,855 | 0 |
RANGER | -49.44% | 14,335 | 28,350 | -2.20% | 72,706 | 74,338 |
TRANSIT | -30.35% | 27,086 | 38,890 | -15.88% | 78,799 | 93,670 |
TRANSIT CONNECT | -75.44% | 2,681 | 10,916 | -22.27% | 19,621 | 25,241 |
FORD TOTAL | -26.79% | 383,805 | 524,242 | -6.73% | 1,331,542 | 1,427,599 |
The most popular Ford model was the F-Series with 172,799 deliveries during the quarter. Comparatively, the Chevy Silverado was the highest-selling model for the Bow Tie brand, netting 123,067 deliveries.
Additionally, The Blue Oval’s Heavy Trucks (F-650 and F-750) were the only Ford models to experience growth during the quarter, with sales up 20 percent to 3,199 units.
Sales Results - Q3 2021 - USA - Chevrolet
MODEL | Q3 2021 / Q3 2020 | Q3 2021 | Q3 2020 | YTD 2021 / YTD 2020 | YTD 2021 | YTD 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BLAZER | -64.44% | 10,484 | 29,486 | -29.45% | 50,339 | 71,356 |
BOLT EUV | * | 2,341 | * | * | 2,747 | 0 |
BOLT EV | -61.74% | 2,174 | 5,682 | +56.95% | 22,056 | 14,053 |
CAMARO | -37.81% | 5,203 | 8,366 | -32.13% | 15,084 | 22,226 |
COLORADO | -53.42% | 12,696 | 27,256 | -24.77% | 51,555 | 68,529 |
CORVETTE | +59.97% | 10,166 | 6,355 | +95.88% | 24,748 | 12,634 |
EQUINOX | -51.92% | 32,444 | 67,476 | -21.18% | 151,110 | 191,727 |
EXPRESS | -51.87% | 7,160 | 14,875 | -1.62% | 36,589 | 37,190 |
IMPALA | -98.59% | 27 | 1,916 | -91.69% | 741 | 8,914 |
LOW CAB FORWARD | +53.12% | 1,669 | 1,090 | +18.52% | 4,141 | 3,494 |
MALIBU | -98.94% | 269 | 25,455 | -56.19% | 32,155 | 73,399 |
SILVERADO | -16.56% | 123,067 | 147,484 | -0.06% | 414,389 | 414,650 |
SONIC | -98.83% | 51 | 4,347 | -85.53% | 1,563 | 10,799 |
SPARK | -55.24% | 3,748 | 8,373 | -0.13% | 23,007 | 23,036 |
SUBURBAN | +28.07% | 9,667 | 7,548 | +42.08% | 34,183 | 24,059 |
TAHOE | +4.68% | 24,202 | 23,121 | +26.21% | 75,148 | 59,540 |
TRAILBLAZER | +147.35% | 25,531 | 10,322 | +334.08% | 73,898 | 17,024 |
TRAVERSE | -65.93% | 10,767 | 31,603 | +12.12% | 94,198 | 84,012 |
TRAX | -78.77% | 6,259 | 29,485 | -48.49% | 41,306 | 80,193 |
CHEVROLET TOTAL | -36.06% | 287,925 | 450,317 | -5.64% | 1,149,030 | 1,217,656 |
Truck Sales
In total, Ford truck sales fell 25 percent to 187,640 units. Meanwhile, Chevy sold 137,432 trucks, down nearly 22 percent compared to Q3 2020.
Sales Numbers - Ford Truck Sales - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FORD MAVERICK | * | 506 | * | 0% | 0% | * | 506 | * |
FORD RANGER | -49.44% | 14,335 | 28,350 | 8% | 11% | -2.20% | 72,706 | 74,338 |
FORD F-SERIES | -22.04% | 172,799 | 221,647 | 92% | 89% | -9.20% | 534,831 | 589,034 |
TOTAL | -24.94% | 187,640 | 249,997 | -8.34% | 608,043 | 663,372 |
In the full-size pickup truck race, the Ford F-Series saw 172,799 sales, regaining its title as America’s best-selling pickup truck during the quarter by overtaking the Chevy Silverado, which saw 123,067 units sold.
Meanwhile, the Ford Ranger sales decreased over 49 percent while the Chevy Colorado experienced a decline of over 53 percent, with the Ranger outselling the Colorado by 1,639 units. The new Ford Maverick added 506 units to Ford’s bottom line.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Truck Sales - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET COLORADO | -53.42% | 12,696 | 27,256 | 9% | 16% | -24.77% | 51,555 | 68,529 |
CHEVROLET SILVERADO | -16.56% | 123,067 | 147,484 | 90% | 84% | -0.06% | 414,389 | 414,650 |
CHEVROLET LOW CAB FORWARD | +53.12% | 1,669 | 1,090 | 1% | 1% | +18.52% | 4,141 | 3,494 |
TOTAL | -21.84% | 137,432 | 175,830 | -3.41% | 470,085 | 486,673 |
As such, Ford remains the best-selling purveyor of pickup trucks in America.
SUV Sales
Chevy outsold Ford when it comes to (body-on-frame) SUV sales during the third quarter of 2021.
Ford Expedition sales totaled 16,696 units resulting in a decline of 14 percent, with the Ford Bronco adding another 9,403 units for a total of 26,099 Ford SUVs sold during the quarter.
Sales Numbers - Ford SUV Sales - Q2 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FORD EXPEDITION | -13.95% | 16,696 | 19,402 | 100% | 100% | +24.07% | 64,204 | 51,747 |
TOTAL | -13.95% | 16,696 | 19,402 | +24.07% | 64,204 | 51,747 |
Meanwhile, the Tahoe and Suburban combined for 33,869 units sold, up more than 10 percent compared to the third quarter of 2020.
Sales Numbers - Chevy SUV Sales - Q2 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET TAHOE | +4.68% | 24,202 | 23,121 | 71% | 75% | +26.21% | 75,148 | 59,540 |
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | +28.07% | 9,667 | 7,548 | 29% | 25% | +42.08% | 34,183 | 24,059 |
TOTAL | +10.43% | 33,869 | 30,669 | +30.78% | 109,331 | 83,599 |
We should note that we expect Ford to begin to outsell Chevy when it comes to body-on-frame SUVs once the all-new Ford Bronco is running at full steam.
Crossover Sales
Ford crossover sales fell nearly 21 percent to 118,588 units during the third quarter of 2021. By comparison, Chevy crossover sales were down more than 48 percent to 90,000 units.
Sales Numbers - Ford Crossovers - Q2 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FORD EXPLORER | -29.00% | 41,933 | 59,060 | 35% | 40% | -0.02% | 160,174 | 160,209 |
FORD ESCAPE | -43.99% | 26,299 | 46,956 | 22% | 31% | -15.15% | 111,791 | 131,753 |
FORD BRONCO SPORT | * | 20,690 | * | 17% | 0% | * | 81,204 | 0 |
FORD EDGE | -40.50% | 15,596 | 26,211 | 13% | 18% | -28.51% | 54,951 | 76,862 |
FORD ECOSPORT | -51.95% | 8,190 | 17,045 | 7% | 11% | -26.92% | 34,494 | 47,200 |
FORD MUSTANG MACH-E | * | 5,880 | * | 5% | 0% | * | 18,855 | 0 |
TOTAL | -20.56% | 118,588 | 149,272 | +10.92% | 461,469 | 416,024 |
The all-new Mustang Mach-E and Bronco Sport enabled The Blue Oval brand to overtake its Bow Tie rival during Q3 2021.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Crossovers - Q2 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET BOLT EUV | * | 2,341 | * | 3% | 0% | * | 2,747 | 0 |
CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -61.74% | 2,174 | 5,682 | 2% | 3% | +56.95% | 22,056 | 14,053 |
CHEVROLET TRAX | -78.77% | 6,259 | 29,485 | 7% | 17% | -48.49% | 41,306 | 80,193 |
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | +147.35% | 25,531 | 10,322 | 28% | 6% | +334.08% | 73,898 | 17,024 |
CHEVROLET EQUINOX | -51.92% | 32,444 | 67,476 | 36% | 39% | -21.18% | 151,110 | 191,727 |
CHEVROLET BLAZER | -64.44% | 10,484 | 29,486 | 12% | 17% | -29.45% | 50,339 | 71,356 |
CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | -65.93% | 10,767 | 31,603 | 12% | 18% | +12.12% | 94,198 | 84,012 |
TOTAL | -48.29% | 90,000 | 174,054 | -4.95% | 435,654 | 458,365 |
Car Sales
Ford car sales fell over 78 percent to 9,380 units, a direct result of the Dearborn-based automaker completely discontinuing its sedan lineup, including the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Taurus.
Sales Numbers - Ford Cars - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FORD MUSTANG | -34.19% | 9,115 | 13,851 | 97% | 32% | -13.80% | 41,065 | 47,637 |
FORD FUSION | -99.23% | 225 | 29,243 | 2% | 68% | -87.12% | 11,678 | 90,664 |
FORD GT | -20.00% | 40 | 50 | 0% | 0% | -29.93% | 103 | 147 |
TOTAL | -78.26% | 9,380 | 43,144 | -61.83% | 52,846 | 138,448 |
Meanwhile, Chevrolet sold about 10,000 more passenger cars at 19,464 units. Though Chevy has discontinued several car lines such as the Sonic, Cruze, Impala, Volt and Chevy SS performance sedan, it still continues to offer the Spark, Malibu, Camaro and Corvette. Production of the Camaro and Malibu, however, was idled for several months during 2021 as a result of parts and component shortages.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Cars - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET CAMARO | -37.81% | 5,203 | 8,366 | 27% | 15% | -32.13% | 15,084 | 22,226 |
CHEVROLET CORVETTE | +59.97% | 10,166 | 6,355 | 52% | 12% | +95.88% | 24,748 | 12,634 |
CHEVROLET SPARK | -55.24% | 3,748 | 8,373 | 19% | 15% | -0.13% | 23,007 | 23,036 |
CHEVROLET SONIC | -98.83% | 51 | 4,347 | 0% | 8% | -85.53% | 1,563 | 10,799 |
CHEVROLET MALIBU | -98.94% | 269 | 25,455 | 1% | 46% | -56.19% | 32,155 | 73,399 |
CHEVROLET IMPALA | -98.59% | 27 | 1,916 | 0% | 3% | -91.69% | 741 | 8,914 |
TOTAL | -64.49% | 19,464 | 54,812 | -35.57% | 97,298 | 151,008 |
Van Sales
Ford outsold Chevy in the van segment more than five-fold during Q3 2021. It’s worth noting that The Bow Tie brand fields a single offering, the Express (offered in passenger, cargo and cutaway versions), versus The Blue Oval’s Transit Connect, Transit, and E-Series (the E-Series is currently available exclusively as a cutaway).
Sales Numbers - Ford Van Sales - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FORD TRANSIT CONNECT | -75.44% | 2,681 | 10,916 | 7% | 18% | -22.27% | 19,621 | 25,241 |
FORD TRANSIT | -30.35% | 27,086 | 38,890 | 70% | 66% | -15.88% | 78,799 | 93,670 |
FORD E-SERIES | -1.66% | 9,132 | 9,286 | 23% | 16% | +5.09% | 26,467 | 25,186 |
TOTAL | -34.17% | 38,899 | 59,092 | -13.33% | 124,887 | 144,097 |
Chevy Express sales totaled 7,160 units for a 51.9 percent decrease in sales volume, while total Ford van sales decreased more than 34 percent to 38,899.
Sales Numbers - Chevy Van Sales - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET EXPRESS | -51.87% | 7,160 | 14,875 | 100% | 100% | -1.62% | 36,589 | 37,190 |
TOTAL | -51.87% | 7,160 | 14,875 | -1.62% | 36,589 | 37,190 |
Notably, the Ford Transit Connect, Transit, and E-Series all experienced a decrease in sales.
EV Sales
When looking specifically at sales of battery electric vehicles, Ford sold 5,880 units of the Mustang Mach-E, currently its only EV on sale.
Sales Numbers - Ford EV Sales - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FORD MUSTANG MACH-E | * | 5,880 | * | 100% | NAN% | * | 18,855 | 0 |
TOTAL | * | 5,880 | * | * | 18,855 | 0 |
By comparison, Chevy sold 4,515 units of its two Bolt offerings, a decrease of 20.5 percent year-over-year. For the sake of context, the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV received a refresh while gaining an all-new, larger sibling in the form of the Chevy Bolt EUV. However, sales of both models is being stifled by the ongoing stop-sale and resulting production stoppage over a battery-related fire risk.
Sales Numbers - Chevy EV Sales - Q3 2021 - United States
MODEL | Q3 21 / Q3 20 | Q3 21 | Q3 20 | Q3 21 SHARE | Q3 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHEVROLET BOLT EV | -61.74% | 2,174 | 5,682 | 48% | 100% | +56.95% | 22,056 | 14,053 |
CHEVROLET BOLT EUV | * | 2,341 | * | 52% | 0% | * | 2,747 | 0 |
TOTAL | -20.54% | 4,515 | 5,682 | +76.50% | 24,803 | 14,053 |
Overall, the Ford brand sold exactly 95,880 more units than Chevy during the third quarter of 2021, mostly as a result of higher van and truck sales. However, it’s worth noting that General Motors (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC) sold more vehicles than the Ford Motor Company (the Ford brand plus Lincoln) during the same timeframe. To wit – GM posted 446,997 deliveries versus Ford’s 400,843 units.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford continued to outsell Chevy during Q3 2021, a circumstance that has taken place for the last few years. That said, the results present a somewhat distorted comparison, since both automakers continue to face major supply issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, including parts shortages, plant shut downs and other manufacturing issues, as well as a bevy of other logistical problems.
Interestingly, Ford’s 27 percent decline resulted in The Blue Oval brand losing 140,437 units year-over-year, while Chevy’s 36 percent drop caused it to lose 162,392 units. We should have more of an apples-to-apples comparison once the operating environment stabilizes and returns back to normal. When that might be, however, is currently anyone’s guess.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Ford sales for Q3 and GM sales for Q3 2020, unless noted otherwise
- In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q3 2021 and 77 selling days in Q3 2020
- Ford Motor Company sales Q3 2021 U.S.A
- Ford sales Q3 2021 U.S.A. (Ford brand)
- Lincoln sales Q3 2021 U.S.A.
- Ford Motor Company sales July 2021 U.S.A.
- Ford sales July 2021 U.S.A. (Ford brand)
- Lincoln sales July 2021 U.S.A.
- Ford Motor Company sales August 2021 U.S.A.
- Ford sales August 2021 U.S.A. (Ford brand)
- Lincoln sales August 2021 U.S.A.
- Ford Motor Company sales September 2021 U.S.A.
- Ford sales September 2021 U.S.A. (Ford brand)
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- Ford Europe sales Q3 2021
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