The Traditional Ford Mustang Is Still Slightly More Popular Than the Mustang Mach-E
In March of 2022, Ford announced that it would split into “two separate but interdependent businesses. The Ford Model E division would focus on building EVs and developing new and groundbreaking technologies. The other, the Ford Blue division, would focus on the continued development of internal combustion engines (ICE) and cater to customers who either don’t want an EV or can’t afford one.
The Mustang Mach-E and the classic Mustang pony car are excellent representations of those distinct business plans. Last year, the company saw increased sales for the Mach-E but decreasing sales for the regular Mustang. At least for now, the Mustang with the Coyote heart is still the sales king. Despite the shared name, are these models competing for sales?
The Mach-E sales are growing and likely won’t stop
In 2021, Ford sold 27,140 Mach-Es, and in January 2022, Ford sold 39,458 Mach-Es. That’s an impressive 45% increase. According to data from GoodCarBadCar, Ford also saw an 11% increase in sales from January 2021 to January 2022, meaning that 2023 is already on track to be the best sales year yet.
If that isn’t enough to convince you that Mach-E sales are on the rise, Ford recently revealed they were planning to boost production of the Mach-E significantly for 2023. Considering that, along with the growing demand for EVs, it’s safe to say that Mach-E sales will only continue to grow over the coming years.
The Mach-E will outpace the Mustang
As cars reach the end of their lifecycle, there are often dips in sales either because people are waiting for the next generation or simply because the platform has overstayed its welcome. Unfortunately, Mustang sales have steadily declined, especially in the last three years, but 2023 is the platform’s 9th year in production.
The seventh generation’s arrival in 2024 may result in a significant spike in sales as buyers anticipate the first all-new Mustang in nine years. With the Challenger and possibly the Camaro going away, will the Mustang be able to outsell its EV stablemate? Of course not, but that is neither a surprise nor a bad thing.
The Mustang and Mach-E are not competitors
Though both have the same emblem on the grill, the Mach-E and Mustang are different. The Mach-E is a high-tech, high-performance EV crossover designed to be a family vehicle or daily driver. Crossovers dominate the market, so EV crossovers are likely to be a rapidly growing segment, especially if significant infrastructure improvements are made.
The Mach-E is here to stay and will likely surpass the Mustang in sales this year. That said, this isn’t bad news for the Mustang. In the 21st Century, the Mustang has never been a massive sales leader. It’s a niche sports car/muscle car that sells well for the type of car it is. Conversely, the Mach-E is designed to be a big seller from the ground up. It’s a crossover, an EV, performs well, and has good range. The Mustang is an impractical two-door coupe often fitted with a thirsty V8 and a manual transmission—not exactly common ground.
The only thing these two have in common is an engaging driving experience. Those in the market for a Mach-E are unlikely to be cross-shopping it with a Mustang GT. In other words, these two cars are not stealing each other sales. For now, the combustion-powered Mustang is still the best-selling Mustang, but the Mach-E will soon be the sales king.
