Following a period of years where new vehicles were in short supply and high demand due to complications stemming from the pandemic, the entire industry has faced a dramatic turnaround through the course of 2024. In fact, inventory levels are currently quite bloated across most of the industry, though there are some automakers managing these things better than others. That doesn’t include Ford or Lincoln, both of which have been facing some of the highest inventory levels in the business for months now, and the Ford brand saw its 2024 model year inventory swell to new levels last month, too.
In terms of overall inventory, Ford posted a days’ supply of 112 in September – the ninth highest of any brand – followed by an even higher 119 day’s supply in October, which was the seventh highest in the entire automotive industry – understandably prompting concerns from the automaker itself. Perhaps even more startling is the fact that Ford has the highest level of 2024 model year inventory left on dealer lots of any brand – and it isn’t even close, according to new data from S&P Global Mobility.
Rather, Ford had over 400,000 2024 model year vehicles sitting on dealer lots at the beginning of November, according to this data, while the next closest brand – Chevrolet – came in at less than half of that total. Interestingly, Ford is the only one of the top automotive brands that has increased its 2024 inventory over the past three months. In total, there were 1,570,309 2024 model year vehicles still hanging out on lots at the beginning of the month, compared to 1,448,814 from the 2025 model year.
Meanwhile, overall new vehicle inventory grew to 3.06 million vehicles in the U.S. at the end of October, which is 0.2 percent higher than September, and the second straight month it has come in above the three million mark – the highest those levels have been since the onset of the pandemic.
Comments
No surprise. American brands have focused only on SUV´s, crossovers and trucks. Not everybody like SUV´s or crossovers or is willing to buy one no matter what. That´s my case and after 30 years buying american, I´ve been forced to switch to german and other european or asian brands in order to buy a sedan.
This SUV obsession has brought more uncomfortable vehicles, they are harder to get in more expensive tires and lots of unused air space and weight to carry around.
They say they make what people want. I say lower prices is what people want. I had a new Mustang in mind but looking at the GT prices up now for 2025 by 3 to 4000 is only going to hurt their sales even more.
I have a 2016 Ford Flex which I bought after Rebates for $ 34,000 before a small $3,000 on a 2005 Lincoln Town car. The vehicles of today are now in the high 40’s and 50’s . People cannot afford them.
It’s time for 20k off truck month to move the metal.
Lots of dealers are already offering $15,000 off F-150s. GM and Ram dealers have big discounts too. Dealers are still holding onto Super Dutys like gold though, which is what I want.
I keep looking for ford to bring back a sedan. I have bought ford vehicles 2 at a time on lease for 45 years now and i am looking else where for a low cost vehicle.
This is really bad. The fact that the numbers are this bad AND RISING is teeing up a forthcoming calamity. I can’t believe we aren’t seeing super sales already.
GREED….$5k over MSRP which is already too high and endless recalls