Overview
- Cox Automotive’s quarterly forecast released Sept. 24 projects Ford’s year-to-date sales will fall about 8.8% through Q3 and GM’s about 6.2%, with Ford’s share near 12.5% and GM’s near 16.7%.
- The firm expects the combined market share of the three Detroit automakers to fall to roughly 36%, a low point driven by weaker results at Ford and GM compared with rivals.
- Cox and dealers say higher pump prices are shifting demand to hybrids and other fuel‑efficient models, and brands with several hybrid options have held up better this year.
- Ford’s sales have been hit by the discontinuation of the fuel‑efficient Escape and by reduced pickup output after a fire at an aluminum supplier, and some GM dealers report lost customers because of limited hybrid offerings.
- Cox raised its full‑year U.S. new‑vehicle sales forecast to 16.1 million and predicted Hyundai and Kia combined could outsell Ford in Q3, a change that could pressure Detroit to add more fuel‑saving models and alter dealer inventories.