Pickup Truck Sales Breakdown: Second Quarter 2018
There's no doubt the first half of 2018 has been a good one for the auto industry, especially if you were selling pickup trucks. Six of 11 pickups had a strong second quarter, with eight out of the 11 beating their 2017 numbers by a healthy margin. If sales in the second half of 2018 simply repeat the first half, the sales tally at the end of the year will be 17 million units; however, most prognosticators are seeing strong headwinds in the auto industry's future due to trade wars resulting from U.S. and foreign tariff strategies.
In the mid-size class, the Toyota Tacoma continued to break sales records as Toyota gets more creative at its Mexico and San Antonio plants, squeezing more vehicles out of both plants by running three shifts. The Chevrolet Colorado continues to be the No. 2 player, putting Chevrolet on track to sell more mid-size pickups than ever before. Honda is the only player in the class to be in the red in both yearly and quarterly sales, but much of that has to do with limited Alabama plant capacity, since the popular Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV are produced at the same plant as the Ridgeline.
The full-size truck arena is probably the healthiest class in the auto industry right now, which is good news for pickup truck makers because those vehicles bring in the highest gross profits. Ford is on track to sell close to 1 million F-Series pickups by the end of the year, which means it might sell close to 700,000 F-150s. The all-new 2019 Ram 1500 will likely be available with all its powertrain options by fall; Ram will continue to sell the previous-generation Ram 1500 as a 2019 under the Classic badge. GM will benefit from a two-plant strategy as it simultaneously builds old and new half-ton pickup trucks (the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500) by the end of the year.
From the manufacturer perspective, GM's full-size and mid-size strategy is doing the best job of providing consumers with more pickup choices. And when you combine all pickup truck sales, GM is just inching ahead of Ford. Of course, with the arrival of the new 2019 Ford Ranger in dealerships before the end of the year, that is likely to change. Probably the single bright spot on the horizon for pickup truck sales is that the economy seems to be doing well, with more people returning to the workforce. That could be good news for the construction industry and even the housing market, which are always good indicators of how strong truck sales are likely to be.
Cars.com graphics by Paul Dolan; manufacturer images
Comments
Wow! Possibly 1,000,000 F-Series trucks by year-end!
LOVE
FORD!
GM with 2 trucks can't even outsell Tacoma. That's sad.
GM with 2 trucks can't even outsell Ford F-Series. That's sad.
Posted by: Robert | Jul 10, 2018 2:49:53 PM
GM with 2 trucks can't even outsell Ford F-Series. That's sad.
Posted by: Robert | Jul 10, 2018 2:49:53 PM
FORD THE BEST!!!! Way better than garbage motors and their weed wacker motor.
General Motors continues its complete dominance of the market for building and selling pickup trucks.
Ford is the one that's "inching" along trying to catch up, despite other viewpoints---the numbers don't lie.
Ford fans should wait till next year if they expect to see the Ranger shake things up. It has become clear that FCA's top management miscalculated badly about their product release strategy.
The years 2017 & 2018 have been some killer sales periods for pickups and RAM has been mostly AWOL, which is really sad considering how good the product is.
JUNK MOTORS AKA ( FORD ) SEEMS TO BE FALLING BEHIND AGAIN. MAYBE THEY CAN DO BETTER NEXT QUARTER, OR DO WORSE.. NOBODY REALLY CARES.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ford will really need to crank up the incentives in the second half of 2018 if they want to pull ahead of GM. $15,000 off 2018 F-150's and 35% of sales going to fleet buyers still isn't enough.
LOL @ papajim spewing fake news to further make his med feel good, that guy is nutty as they arrive.
For the past 100 plus years, history shows GM is just a poor company, always trying to best Ford but just ends up in Bankrupted with nothing but mediocre and underdeveloped cars.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA to all the GARBAGE MOTORS FAN GIRLYS that’s funny when they use my username and hey another big laugh HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Enjoy your GARBAGE MOTORS WHILE IT LAST I MEAN YOUR WEED WAKER.
@ papajim With the ranger coming on line GM better push hard to keep the total truck sales. But if you really wanted to talk about total truck sales you would have to talk world wide. And we both know Ford would win that. And as a wise man once said (figures don't lie but liars figure).
What PUTC isn't telling you is the real story.
The real story is the Ford Ranger is coming soon and it's going to shake up the pickup truck market and turn it on it's head.
Ford won't lose, you can count on that!
anybody notice? there are tons and tons of stories here on PUTC filled with excitement about the new 2019 Silverado and Ram 1500 and NO stories about the Ford Ranger.
PUTC knows the Ford Ranger is going to sell-sell-SELL like crazy so they pretend it doesn't exist and cover up that fact by saturating all the stories on other brands of trucks, particularly the Silverado and Ram
Except for papajim and beebe who are stating facts, the first 12 comments are sad. Any event, the general is the only manufacturer likely to crack the 1 million sales figure in pick-ups for 2018. Ford dealership retail foot traffic is about to drop off soon as prospective buyers check out newer , more attractive and technically advanced trucks from Ram and GM. Ford will have to drive hard into the fleet sales.
The Ranger, you mean that unicorn? Even if the mythical Ranger reappears on to the scene, it will only steal sales away from the F-series.
maybe a story on ford fighting osha over a death at the Kentucky truck factory. fyi It's osha, they'll find something.
Halfway through the year, GM 4 truck lines ( Silverado, Sierra, Colorado, Canyon ) barely outsell Fords 1 truck line ( F Series ) by 27,533
That has GM executives worried
The Ford Ranger will steal away sales from the Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, Ridgeline, and do I need to mention the lowly Frontier?
The F-150 will continue with the 750,000 to 1 MILLION year sales.
what nobody talks about is how the F-150 ALREADY takes away sales from the heavy duty trucks
smart people have figured out that the F-150 can tow and haul just as much plus get 20+ MPG riding in luxury
also Consumer Reports rated the F-150 as the best vacation vehicle cause of it's smooth and luxurious ride and most pleasurable driving experience.
The F-150 is not only the MOST capable pickup it's also the top family vehicle
That has GM executives worried...Posted by: Stella | Jul 10, 2018
@Stella
It is the Ford execs who worry, because life at Ford for line execs is nerve-wracking. Somebody is always on the verge of getting fired. Each quarter, another one bites the dust.
Not only are the GM executives worried, so are the resident PUTC GM fans over GM needing 4 truck lines to barely outsell 1 truck line Ford.
Haha ecoboost rules is drunk again!! The F-150 can't touch an HD when it comes to towing..you are clueless, but I remember you don't even know how much your F-150 can tow. In the last comparison your F-150 couldn't even beat the 6.2 pulling 10,000lbs, not even in mpg...so to think it could tow with the big boys is hilarious! You are completely incompetent to post anything about trucks
lets do some math:
lets say the Ford Ranger takes away half of the sales of the Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, Ridgeline, and Frontier
that number for the 2nd quarter is 129,838
129,838 X 4 quarters = 519K per year
500,000 /year are competitive numbers for the full size trucks
and that only taking away sales (only half) of the small pickups and not touching the sales numbers of the full size pickups
like I said: The Ford Ranger can be #2 or 3 in sales w/o effecting the F-150 sales numbers knocking the Silverado and Ram down to 4th or 5th place
still don't get it? even IF the sales numbers stay the same for the Silverado and Ram the Ford Ranger will still beat them !@
Not only are the GM executives worried, so are the resident PUTC GM fans over GM needing 4 truck lines to barely outsell 1 truck line Ford.
Posted by: Stella | Jul 10, 2018 11:35:38 PM
Allow me to simplify things for you:
GM builds pick-ups, Ford builds pick-ups, GM sells more pick-ups. Any questions?
lets say the Ford Ranger takes away half of the sales of the Tacoma, Colorado, Canyon, Ridgeline, and Frontier
that number for the 2nd quarter is 129,838
129,838 X 4 quarters = 519K per year
Posted by: Ecoboost Rules | Jul 10, 2018 11:28:59 PM
Wow. Put the crack pipe down. The Ranger will be lucky to sell more than 100k trucks. Especially with a raspy, detuned 2.3 Ecoboost.
------------------
Not only are the GM executives worried, so are the resident PUTC GM fans over GM needing 4 truck lines to barely outsell 1 truck line Ford.
Posted by: Stella | Jul 10, 2018 11:35:38 PM
Why would GM fans be worried? They aren't financially invested in GM. Why would GM be worried. They sell more trucks than Ford. Even with "military grade" aluminum bodies, the F-sisters can barely outsell GM's old steel bodied trucks. The F-150 was the newest half-ton on the market until just a few months ago, just got a completely new line of engines for 2018 and now comes standard with the 10-speed, yet Ford dealers have been putting $15k on the hood of 2018 F-150's for several months already. They should NOT have to put that kind of cash on the hood of a "game changing" military super-alloy truck. How much more cash are Ford dealers going to have to pile up on the hood to pull in more suckers when the 2019 Ram and 2019 Silverado/Sierra start showing up in droves over the next few months. Not will they have competitive new platfroms, they'll be more affordable and better built than the truck with the fragile aluminum bedded trucks. Ford is the one that's going to be worried. They better push that 35% fleet sale stat to 40% to keep their sales numbers up.
That has GM executives worried...
- Stella
With fuel prices at risk of jumping sky high at any time, Ford has almost nothing notable in the EV market, and their entire line of crossover SUV's are ancient, Ford execs are the ones that are worried. GM is positioned for the next major fuel shortage. Not only are they outselling Ford in lucrative fullsize SUV's, they're outselling Ford in pure EV and hybrid electric vehicles. They're outselling Ford in China. They're outselling Ford in total truck sales in the US. Ford barely pulled out a profit for 2017. You need to do some research before you try to act like you know what's going on in the auto world.
You need to do some research before you try to act like you know what's going on in the auto world...Posted by: Blackdragon | Jul 11, 2018
@Blackdragon
Maybe you should just take some deep breaths. Fuel prices? Fuel shortages? Are you still living in 1974?
The US is producing so much crude oil, natural gas and refined distillates (gas, ethanol) today that we're on the verge of becoming the world's biggest exporter of energy. Russia, Britain, the entire OPEC cabal are dumping oil in the markets and hoping not to incur the wrath of the IMF.
Are you watching CNN again?
WOW, Ford is slaying the twins
Time to trade up to a Ford. My GM is barely holding on anymore to 3rd place. I am such a sucker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ fake TNTGMC... Jealous ford guy
I'll keep my 6.2L and class leading HP all while getting better fuel economy while towing or not towing compared to that ecobust!
You also use papajims user name...now u really have no morals. U must not have had good quality parenting! Poor guy! U could stop by my office and I can try and rehabilitate u if u would like. There's always open arms out there for help... Just ask..its america!
But not class-leading torque...that'd be the EcoBoost.
"GM builds pick-ups, Ford builds pick-ups, GM sells more pick-ups. Any questions?"
-posted by GMSR2NDRATE
Yes. I have a question: Which brand builds the most full-size [real] pickups?
Yes. I have a question: Which brand builds the most full-size [real] pickups?...Posted by: redbloodedxy | Jul 11, 2018
I have a question. How many central american laborers working at a Ford plant does it take to build a Ford pickup?
I have a question. How many central american laborers working at a Ford plant does it take to build a Ford pickup?
Posted by: papajim | Jul 11, 2018 8:05:28 AM
Answer: less than a GM
Question: how many Asians does take to put a GM together in a GM plant
I'll keep my 6.2L and class leading HP all while getting better fuel economy while towing or not towing compared to that ecobust!
Posted by: TNTGMC | Jul 11, 2018 7:14:47 AM
betcha i get better FE with my 3.5tt than you do with you're 6.2 and class leading TQ to with it
@ Ford drools
I'll take that bet...any day of the weeks.
Lol..u have 10 more ft lbs...whoopy!! I have 45 more HP. So I win u lose.
Plus there is no accurate way to measure it BC u will probably lie about your FE just like ford does to the public.....
@ redblood
That's all ford is...class leading this...class leading that...
We saw what your class leading Super Duty could do against the Duramax. It got spanked in all performance categories and in the dyno!!
GM builds pick-ups, Ford builds pick-ups, GM sells more pick-ups. Any questions?"
-posted by GMSR2NDRATE
Yes. I have a question: Which brand builds the most full-size [real] pickups?
-posted by: redbloodied
Ford doesn't sell as many pick-ups as GM because they lack the choice and quality product that the descriminating consumer demands. Ford however has a huge sheep following.
@ brick
"the F-sisters can barely outsell GM's old steel bodied trucks."
Posted by: Brick | Jul 11, 2018 1:49:52 AM
Are you blind or just drunk on the gm kool-aid? The chart in this very article states that the F-series outsold the twin sisters by approx. 60k trucks YTD!! If that's barely outsold then would you say that the girly colorado has barely sold ANY trucks YTD??
GM HDs are pretender trucks with girl suspensions for middle aged women.
Reality check:
Ford Super Duty carries more, tows more--sells more.
Ford doesn't sell as many pick-ups as GM because they lack the choice and quality product that the descriminating consumer demands. Ford however has a huge sheep following.
Posted by: GMSRGREAT | Jul 11, 2018 9:50:10 AM
Hahahahaha nice try. The descriminating buyer has chosen to make the f-series the best selling full-size for 4 decades and all of gm's attempts to change that have always failed. It ok gm will always have its excuse-maker following.
Correction: Gm sells more pick-ups because they have 4 different truck lines competing against 1 truck line.
@ full size
Gm has 2 trucks Chevy and GMC that fit under the category of trucks.
Ford had Lincoln but that didn't work, they had the ranger and well we all know that didn't last. But if u had both of them still in production u would gladly accept them in the sales wouldn't you!
Nice try TINYGMC.
Lincoln was a niche luxury truck, not "Professional Grade [barf]" like your unpopular GMC.
@ redblood
Lol..really... Well my GMC is still in production and selling well. Your Lincoln truck is DEAD!! LMFAO
and don't retort to name calling like Frank please
...its TNTGMC!!!
@Fullsize,
Some people don't realize that Fullsize and Midsize are two different animals. This is why this country is what it is, it always start from the mid-west and makes it's way south.
@TNT
Chevy has 2 pickup nameplates and gmc has 2 pickup nameplates simple math equals 4 trucks from Gm. Yeah the Lincoln is gone (was never a fan) just like the Cadillac badged avalanche is gone. The Ranger we all know ONLY lasted 28years before being put on hold like the OEM's do all the time (camaro). Sure i would accept it because then the sales chart may show that Ford outsells gm in fullsize and overall truck using 2 nameplates versus 4
@ Frank
However u want to look at it. OK they have 4 if u break it down into midsize and full size. Whoopi! Who cares GM is sucvcessful at it and does it well!! Why u whining
Ford couldn't do it..they tried. Get over it.
Hey, GM! If you can't outsell Ford's fullsize-class trucks after 40 plus years, just sell more classes! If the others start selling those classes and you once again fall behind Ford, well maybe you could buy Tonka Trucks and/or Little Tike Trucks and include those in your sales total!
@ redblood
Pretender trucks?? LMFAO, well then that's pathetic that your Badass Super Duty loses to a pretender truck in almost every comparison on this site
Plus there is no accurate way to measure it BC u will probably lie about your FE just like ford does to the public.....
Posted by: TNTGMC | Jul 11, 2018 9:44:40 AM
you mean lie like you do i have yet to talk to anybody with 6.2 that gets the FE you do so i'm calling you out i say you're off by 2 MPG s
We saw what your class leading Super Duty could do against the Duramax. It got spanked in all performance categories and in the dyno!!
Posted by: TNTGMC | Jul 11, 2018 9:46:15 AM
you mean that small truck that can't tow S%!t and the only thing it's good for is racing up a hill that's funny
Some people don't realize that Fullsize and Midsize are two different animals. .......
Posted by: Frank | Jul 11, 2018 10:52:47 AM
FRANKY, are you attempting to defend the F-150 model and the Superduty models as being the same animal?
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