Best-Selling Pickup Trucks: April 2018
The biggest news for April vehicle sales is that GM is no longer releasing monthly sales numbers — at least, publicly — which is likely to send ripples across the auto industry (until now, Tesla has been the only automaker that didn't report monthly sales numbers). Instead, GM will release sales numbers to the public on a quarterly basis. This means that we won't be able to provide sales numbers for the Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado, and GMC Sierra and Canyon.
Although monthly auto sales reporting has been around for close to a century, some in the auto industry have complained that it puts too much pressure on the dealers to sell more vehicles than they would otherwise. Every automaker has an incentive plan designed to encourage dealerships to sell as many vehicles as possible in a month. That has led some dealerships and brands to be more "creative" about how they hit those targets and receive their incentive bonuses from the manufacturers. And, of course, there are stories of some dealerships resorting to game playing to pad those numbers.
What does all this mean for PickupTrucks.com's monthly sales story? As you can see, we've provided an abbreviated list of April's best-selling pickups, leaving the GM trucks off. Clearly, we'll do something different with this story going forward, possibly reporting sales every quarter followed by an in-depth sales analysis. As always, we're open to suggestions about what you'd like to see in our coverage of pickup sales, so feel free to let us know in the comments section below. In the meantime, we'll be working with our analytics department to see what alternatives are available.
Regarding the sale numbers we do have for April, Ford continued its upward sales trend in the full-size class while just about everyone else struggled. Likewise, the mid-size Toyota Tacoma is having a monster year, selling more pickups after four months than at any other time in its history, according to Toyota. Not surprisingly, the Nissan Frontier is also having a good year, up more than 25 percent over last April.
Cars.com graphic by Paul Dolan; manufacturer images
Comments
Those who can, do. Those who can't, drop out of the race. Or they take their ball and go home.
Looks like the hot-selling Honda we hear so much about is off by about 23% since this time last year. Ouch! Maybe it's because they just can't make 'em fast enough.
There should be some really poetic comments today from the GM-haters.
So far in 2018 GM is having an excellent year with large SUVs and Pickups. We'll have to wait till the end of June to see how bad Ford (and the rest) get spanked by GM
I guess everyone was right at one thing, Ram took the #2 truck spot on this list and that's about it.
The Titan seems to be bombing.
papa- since gm hasn't spanked ford in 41 years, I doubt 3 months from now will be nay different.
This is really funny-GM drops out, and the gm fans have to now wait until the end of each quarter to see the numbers. This could be bad, since gas is rising almost daily and reports indicate summer gas will be at record price levels, GM waiting 3 months may be really be bad for them.
-CT
I still cant believe the Frontier. Man what a cash cow for Nissan.
@PapaJim -- Good observation on Honda not being able to build Ridgelines fast enough. The Odyssey and Pilot, which the Ridgeline has to compete with for plant resources, are enjoying healthy sales this month. Pilot sales are up 22% and in their 8th consecutive month of increased sales, while Odyssey sales are up 21%. I will let you guess which models are more important to Honda.
With fuel prices nobody will wanna be driving pickups anymore
"So far in 2018 GM is having an excellent year with large SUVs and Pickups. We'll have to wait till the end of June to see how bad Ford (and the rest) get spanked by GM
Posted by: papajim"
I hope that you are not too surprised if you are reminded of this remark in 2 more months. How do you like crow served?
With GM's new trucks coming out soon and Ram's already on the market I am predicting a 10% drop in full size trucks for GM through the end of the year. I hope that they do better than Ford or Ram on changeovers. GM stock is down another percent today, I should have sold out last November. GM is down 18% in the last six months. Is that your idea of doing great? I guess that I just got spanked by GM.
GARBAGE MOTORS COMPANY ARE LOOSERS. Mean while Ford is having a healthy sales and guess what? the best never rest.
Chingon
It's spelled "loser"
I am GLAD GM no longer reports it's monthly sales, this way, we don't need to hear pathetic excuses every month, but rather, once every three month from the minions.
Bravo GM, you finally did something right.
@Walt
Did not want to get bogged down on the corporate news, but here's something that should warm your heart if you're a stockholder.
GM is up 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years.
Higher than it was 30 days ago, 12 months ago, and 5 years ago. Feel free to look it up.
@CT
there's so much wrong with your comment today that I don't know where to start. Gas prices are presently moderate. In my area it's a buck cheaper per gallon that it was in 2012. The prices for this summer are forecast in my area to remain less than 3 dollars per gal.
GM has sold more pickups than Ford (all together now!) for years. You drink the Dearborn koolaide dude.
The fact that GM has chosen to report quarterly instead of monthly doesn't mean they'll sell fewer trucks, it just means you'll be groaning more about Ford's lousy sales performance less often.
Nothing new, for 41 years & counting :-)
GM dropping monthly sales reporting, undoubtly a savings there for the accounting dept. Ford is dropping cars sales completely, huge saving to the car buying public.
The tacoma sales increase is a result of the GM midsize. People flocked to the newer GM midsize then after a few years of ownership, they realized it just a different lipstick. Some left, traded or sold and got back in the tacoma and frontier. The GM midsize will continue to decline over time. I think the same think will happen to the ranger too when it shows up... It will initially sell well due to being the new but when consumers realizes it's just another new lipstick, they'll leave... I think the quality of toyota will remain it's biggest assets in maintaining it's steady sales.
papa- since gm hasn't spanked ford in 41 years, I doubt 3 months from now will be nay different.
Posted by: crunchtime | May 1, 2018 2:55:31 PM
So Ford fans are suddenly referring to Chevy and GMC collectively as GM when referencing sales? Funny how that works.
There's a VERY GOOD REASON why Ford has to phrase their "best selling truck BRAND" line the way they do. GM outsold Ford in the truck market multiple times, so Ford HAS to make the distinction "best selling BRAND". The only way Ford's garbage claim is true is by breaking GM sales down by which badge GM put on the truck.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is really funny-GM drops out, and the gm fans have to now wait until the end of each quarter to see the numbers. This could be bad, since gas is rising almost daily and reports indicate summer gas will be at record price levels, GM waiting 3 months may be really be bad for them.
-CT
Posted by: crunchtime | May 1, 2018 2:55:31 PM
Funny how you purport to be a neutral commenter here all the time, yet you make antagonistic statements like this.
Ford is the one that will be sweating if fuel prices rise. They just announced that they're ending production of all cars except for the Mustang and a made in China Focus. The Ranger won't be here until 2019, their crossover SUV's are painfully outdated, and the cost to build aluminum trucks is climbing.
Keep in mind that only just this year was Ford able to boost the fuel economy of the F-150 w/ 5.0 Coyote to match (not even beat) the fuel economy of GM's "old school" 16 valve 5.3. And it required Ford spending more money on aluminum body panels, a completely redesigned Gen 3 Coyote with dual fuel systems, 32 valves with independent intake and exhaust valve timing, variable length intake manifold, and a 10 speed automatic.
WTF is wrong with the list? Honestly, I see only 7 places and no GM? Is this a joke?
GM is scared the 2019 GM trucks are so ugly ,they refuse to put out sales numbers..
RAM sales down I think as people are waiting for the 2019 model to hit the dealers...Some dealers have some ,very few models but we will see by Sept..what the true effect of the 2019 model is like !
"GM is up 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years.
Higher than it was 30 days ago, 12 months ago, and 5 years ago. Feel free to look it up.
Posted by: papajim"
The problem is that in the past 5 years they are only up a total of 3%, That is a very weak performance.
Keep in mind that only just this year was Ford able to boost the fuel economy of the F-150 w/ 5.0 Coyote to match (not even beat) the fuel economy of GM's "old school" 16 valve 5.3. And it required Ford spending more money on aluminum body panels, a completely redesigned Gen 3 Coyote with dual fuel systems, 32 valves with independent intake and exhaust valve timing, variable length intake manifold, and a 10 speed automatic.
@ HD Ranking
Now that says it all!!! All that technology and hardly anything to show for it!! They finally match the 5.3L but have absolutely nothing that compares to the 6.2L.
The problem is that in the past 5 years they are only up a total of 3%, That is a very weak performance.
Posted by: Walt | May 1, 2018 6:45:20 PM
I would imagine they would prefer being up 3% as opposed to the 35% landslide Ford has gone through over the last 3.5 years.
PapaJimmy would be crying up a storm if Ford quit posting numbers. But since GM is his hero hes defending like it's his lady
So GM thinks that losing quarterly is somehow better than losing monthly??
So GM thinks that losing quarterly is somehow better than losing monthly??
Posted by: Christopher Bates | May 1, 2018 10:54:31 PM
A whole 1/3'rd of Ford's sales this month were low-margin fleet sales. Is Ford really "winning" when the margins are razor thin? No not really. Then again, Frank was just saying a few weeks ago how sales proves nothing because McDonalds hamburgers aren't the best. Ford is the McDonalds of the truck world... razor thin margins on razor thin burgers.
Just wait till the Ford Ranger comes out next year !
The Tacoma will be toast and the Frontier and Ridgeline won't exist anymore.
Not only will the Ranger lead in the compact truck sales they will take away full size Silverado and Ram sales,,,,,,,,and even take away F-150 sales !
The 2.3 Eco-Boost engine in the Ranger will have more power than the V6's in the Tacoma + get better MPG's and haul and tow MORE !
I can't wait to test drive one !
@papajim
They have been retuning the Canyon and Colorado engines and transmission in Australia
https://www.goauto.com.au/news/chevrolet/chevrolet-colorado-in-for-a-tweak-too/2018-05-02/72213.html
@ Ecoboost Rules
Please put down the glass of EGO Boost Kool-Aid and quietly step away from it. You will be much better off.
-HR
@ Ecoboost Rules
WHEN, WHEN, WHEN......that's what we always hear, talking about the Ranger!!!
Also, Ford is making a big mistake getting rid of all their cars except the focus and mustang!!! Along with the price of aluminum..Ouch!!!
Sooner or later that gas will go up bc of greedy government officials and many people will be abandoning their trucks/suv's for smaller cars like they did in 2008!
I lived in Vegas from 2006 to 2008 and gas out there got up to $4.28. A few people I worked with out there were from Hawaii and they were telling me it got over $5.00 there.
Ford has long term contracts with Al suppliers, I highly doubt they will be subject to short term pricing pressure.
@HDRamking
You are correct the Coyote is more complex then the pushrod 5.3. However, the Coyote is just as reliable and has a higher power density. Some would argue it’s the best motor under 6 liters in light trucks.
Nice to see the Tacoma small truck crack the top 3 in sales, good job!
Note: GM is so pathetic, why even bother to report their junk!
@ Oxi
Id take a new Colorado over a Tacoma anyday!! Every comparison test says the same thing!!
Its just Toyota has DIE HARD fanboys like you that don't see outside the box!!!
HD Ram, I like to bust the Gm guys bubble, since they cry the most. In reality, Ford is number 1 and has been, I have no issues with Fords or Gm's for that matter.
-CT
The problem is that in the past 5 years they are only up a total of 3%, That is a very weak performance.
Posted by: Walt | May 1, 2018
But their dividend yield is over 4 percent Walt. You knew that, right? Add that to your cap appreciation and it's a good deal considering that it's a hi-cap industrial stock.
Gas in our part of Canada has risen considerably, so much so my truck is sitting idle more and more. Taken to driving wife's Mazda around more. It is predicted to climb even higher for summer and maybe longer with little drop for the future. I see a lot of electric cars...mostly taxi but also other's around town now. Maybe it's just summer coming but it i also see a lot and i mean a lot more people on bikes with backpacks going and coming to and from work. All those people who bought luxury trucks to just drive around are having second thoughts.
Busdy, I agree with that. Most of the time gas creeps and goes up 50 cents before anyone realizes it. Gas is up in the NE where I am by 57 cents over the past few months, and it will continue to go up according to many reports.
-CT
Wow, GM is too embarrassed to tell anyone how badly sales is doing? I guess they're tired of forty or so years being an also-ran.
@ Oxi
Id take a new Colorado over a Tacoma anyday!! Every comparison test says the same thing!!
Its just Toyota has DIE HARD fanboys like you that don't see outside the box!!!
Posted by: TNTGMC | May 2, 2018 8:59:43 AM
I'd buy a Tacoma before any chevy. I ain't a Fan of either.
@ Oxi
Id take a new Colorado over a Tacoma anyday!! Every comparison test says the same thing!!
Its just Toyota has DIE HARD fanboys like you that don't see outside the box!!!
Posted by: TNTGMC | May 2, 2018 8:59:43 AM
I'd buy a Tacoma before any chevy. I ain't a Fan of either.
@ Frank
That explains it then!!!!
re: Frank
That explains it then!!!!
Posted by: TNTGMC | May 2, 2018
Actually there is NO explanation this side of a serious med school.
Even then, there may simply be no way to compare Frank's condition to a normal person.
@ Frank
That explains it then!!!!
Posted by: TNTGMC | May 2, 2018 11:44:55 AM
It's self explanatory, the TACOMA is a far better truck.
@ Frank
That explains it then!!!!
Posted by: TNTGMC | May 2, 2018 11:44:55 AM
It's self explanatory, the TACOMA is a far better truck.
Actually there is NO explanation this side of a serious med school.
Even then, there may simply be no way to compare Frank's condition to a normal person.
Posted by: papajim | May 2, 2018 12:18:32 PM
Not everyone in life will agree with you, you can't put me down, I laugh at you everytime. The tissue box is next to your midol if you're still emotional.
zero emotion, Frank. I deal in facts and figures.
Accuracy.
In your case, the best bet is to review the medications you're on every few months and make sure that your doctor is familiar with people who suffer from conditions like yours.
@ Frank
The older Tacoma was a great truck compared to older Colorado. The new one not so much, compared to the new Colorado! It has WON every comparison its been against the Tacoma! The new Ranger has its work cut out for it. I do hope it puts down great numbers too!! Then it will push GM to make an even better truck!! Something Toyota didn't do on this last Tacoma! Even a blind man can see that!!
TNT- you usually shoot down the competitions or car people like wards unless it helps GM. It seems that way. Toyota is a great truck and proven to outlast any of the others so they say. Although I wouldn't take any of the little trucks since that is not my cup of tea. I do agree on the Ranger comment, yes as usual, someone else does the greatness and pushes GM to catch up-for sure I agree with you on that.
-CT
The comments to this entry are closed.