If you're waiting for a Ford model in high demand, great news. The automaker is planning to boost production for popular electric, hybrid and gas models including the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, Bronco Sport and Maverick. Ford also says it's getting ready to launch all-new versions of the 2023 Super Duty, Ranger, Mustang, and Escape.
Ford is America's best-selling automaker through the first two months of the year. In February, Ford says its U.S. market share increased by 1.4 percentage points to 13.3 percent, powered by a 21.9 percent sales increase. The automaker also reports that February 2023 EV sales were up 68.1% year-over-year.
“We have had a strong start to 2023 sales and we are moving to fast-track quality production,” said Kumar Galhotra, president, Ford Blue. “Increasing production benefits both our customers and our business.”
Ford says it started increasing production of the Mustang Mach-E last week. Changes at Ford's production plant will allow Ford to nearly double its hourly production with the goal of producing 210,000 Mach-E's annually by the end of the year. Ford says the all-electric SUV helped make it the No. 2 EV seller in the U.S. last year. The automaker says more than two-thirds of customers are coming from other makes.
Ford is also boosting production numbers for both the Bronco Sport and Maverick. It says production is targeted to increase by more than 80,000 units this year to help meet demand in both North and South America. In the U.S., Ford reports brand SUV sales totaled 777,770, up 4.6% in 2022 versus 2021, led by the Bronco family of vehicles. Maverick was the No. 1 small truck in America in 2022 and sales were up 89.4% year-over-year in February 2023.
Ford says it will also add a third crew in April at it Kansas City Assembly Plant to boost production of its best-selling Transit and all-electric E-Transit vans with an annual targeted production increase of 38,000. Ford says it's investing $95 million and adding 1,100 union jobs as part of the production increase.
Ford also says it's also looking at ways to increase production at the Dearborn Truck Plant, where it builds F-150 gas and hybrid trucks to meet continued strong demand. The F-Series holds the title of America’s best-selling truck for 46 consecutive years.