Ford closed the third quarter of 2026 with stronger retail momentum across several of its most important U.S. segments, as F-Series production climbed, the Bronco set new sales records, the Maverick Hybrid delivered its best third quarter ever, and large SUVs continued to gain ground. While overall Ford sales declined 6.6% to 509,764 vehicles amid the planned phase-out of the Escape and Lincoln Corsair, the underlying picture was considerably stronger: excluding those outgoing models, Ford estimates its U.S. retail market share increased to 12.1%.
Ford Sold More Than 509,000 Vehicles in the Third Quarter
Ford reported third-quarter U.S. sales of 509,764 vehicles, bringing its year-to-date total through September to 1,516,279 vehicles.
At first glance, the quarterly total represented a 6.6% decline. But Ford says that number needs to be viewed in the context of its planned product transition, particularly the phase-out of the Escape and Lincoln Corsair.
After adjusting for those two models, Ford’s total sales volume was essentially unchanged year over year, while the broader industry declined by approximately 1%. Ford estimates its adjusted retail market share increased by roughly 0.4 percentage points to 12.1%.
The stronger areas of Ford’s business were concentrated in trucks, large SUVs, off-road models, hybrids and commercial vehicles.
F-Series Remains Ford’s Most Important Sales Engine
The Ford F-Series continued to dominate the company’s U.S. sales performance, with 561,508 trucks sold through September 2026.
That total placed F-Series more than 140,000 units ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado through the first nine months of the year.
Ford says F-Series remains on track to complete an extraordinary 50th consecutive year as America’s best-selling truck.
September provided additional momentum. F-Series sales increased 2.4% during the month to 67,448 trucks, helped by improving production output.
Ford also said F-Series achieved the highest retail market share and retail revenue among full-line truck brands during the third quarter while requiring the lowest incentive spending within the segment.
Super Duty Production Hits a 19-Year High
Ford’s heavy-duty truck business delivered one of the quarter’s most notable manufacturing achievements.
Super Duty production reached 110,275 trucks during the third quarter, representing an increase of 4.4% compared with the same period one year earlier.
It was Ford’s strongest quarterly Super Duty production result in 19 years.
Overall F-Series production increased 4.5% during the quarter to 266,777 trucks.
Ford also experienced a short-term supplier-related production disruption affecting the F-150 at the end of September. The company said the issue was unrelated to aluminum and that the expected financial impact could be absorbed within its full-year 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance of $10 billion to $11 billion.
Maverick Hybrid Delivers a Record Quarter
At the opposite end of the truck market, the Ford Maverick Hybrid delivered one of the strongest growth stories in the lineup.
Third-quarter Maverick Hybrid sales increased 59.6% to 27,793 trucks, setting a new quarterly record.
Year-to-date hybrid Maverick sales reached 74,300 units, another record.
The F-150 Hybrid also remains an important part of Ford’s electrified truck strategy, recording 34,527 sales through September.
The Maverick’s performance shows that hybrid power continues to resonate particularly well when paired with an affordable, practical vehicle.
Bronco Sets New Third-Quarter and Year-to-Date Records
The Ford Bronco was another major winner.
Bronco sales reached 38,020 SUVs during the third quarter, setting a new record for the period.
Through September, Ford sold 114,956 Broncos, also establishing a year-to-date record.
Ford has continued to support the Bronco with a broad range of trims, special editions and performance variants, helping the model remain competitive in the rugged SUV segment.
Nearly One in Four Fords Sold Has an Off-Road Connection
Ford’s off-road portfolio is becoming a major part of its U.S. business.
Vehicles and packages carrying names such as Bronco, Raptor, Tremor and FX4 accounted for 24% of Ford’s sales through September, an increase of 3.8 percentage points compared with a year earlier.
Ford sold 364,141 off-road-oriented trucks and SUVs through September, including 123,507 during the third quarter.
Sales across the group increased 8.4% year to date and 12.2% during the quarter.
Tremor models were particularly strong, with sales increasing 122% through September. Raptor sales increased 4.6%, while the Explorer Tremor recorded its strongest quarter since launch.
Explorer Growth Helps Ford Dominate Large Three-Row SUVs
The Ford Explorer also delivered substantial growth.
Explorer sales increased 17.6% through September to 189,210 SUVs.
Combined sales of the Explorer Tremor and Platinum increased 59.9%, while the more accessible Active and ST-Line models increased 23.3%.
Expedition year-to-date retail sales grew 10.1%.
Combined Explorer and Expedition sales reached 249,481 vehicles through September, making Ford the best-selling brand in the U.S. large three-row SUV segment, ahead of Chevrolet and Toyota.
Affordable Ford Trucks and SUVs Are Still Finding Buyers
Combined sales of the Maverick, Ranger and Bronco Sport increased 9.5% through September to 112,627 vehicles.
Entry-level versions played an important role.
Third-quarter Ranger XL sales increased 14.6%, Bronco Sport Big Bend sales increased 5.1%, and Maverick XL sales climbed 15.5%.
Ford’s certified pre-owned operation also expanded significantly, with Ford Blue Advantage sales increasing 44% during the third quarter.
Lincoln SUVs Quietly Delivered a Strong Quarter
Ford’s premium Lincoln division also posted several notable gains.
The Lincoln Nautilus recorded third-quarter sales of 9,066 SUVs, an increase of 17.7%.
Ford says that represents the model family’s strongest third-quarter result since the Lincoln MKX entered the midsize premium SUV segment in 2007.
Nautilus sales through September reached a record 27,248 units.
The larger Aviator also performed well, with quarterly sales increasing 11.3% to 4,887 SUVs.
Through the first nine months of 2026, Aviator sales totaled 18,309 units, its best nine-month performance since 2003.
Navigator sales also increased during the third quarter.
Ford Remains America’s Commercial Vehicle Leader
Commercial vehicles remain another crucial part of Ford’s U.S. business.
The company sold 891,400 trucks and vans through September, maintaining its position as America’s best-selling truck manufacturer.
Transit sales alone reached 119,185 vans through September.
Based on Ford’s analysis of registration data available through July, Ford held approximately 41% of the U.S. Class 1-7 commercial truck and van market.
Software Is Becoming a Bigger Part of Ford’s Business
Ford says active paid software subscriptions exceeded 1.7 million through September, an increase of more than 40% year over year.
Ford and Lincoln drivers have also accumulated nearly 14 million hours of hands-free highway driving using BlueCruise.
The figures underline Ford’s growing emphasis on recurring digital revenue alongside traditional vehicle sales.
Ford’s Mobile Service Network Continues Expanding
Ford Remote Services completed nearly 1.1 million U.S. customer experiences during the third quarter, an increase of 11%.
Mobile Service alone handled more than 701,000 customer experiences, growing 18% year over year.
Ford now operates nearly 4,500 Mobile Service units across the United States, which the company says is the largest mobile service fleet operated by any automaker.
More Special Editions Are Coming in the Fourth Quarter
Ford is entering the final quarter of 2026 with several additional enthusiast-focused models in the pipeline.
Orders are already open for the F-150 Carhartt Edition, while Ford plans to begin accepting orders later in October for the Bronco Filson and Bronco RTR editions.
The company has also extended its Ford Power Promise through the fourth quarter for customers purchasing or leasing a new 2026 Mustang Mach-E.
Eligible buyers can choose between a complimentary home charging station with standard installation or $1,500 in bonus cash.
Ford’s Q3 Results Show Where the Company Is Heading
Ford’s third-quarter results look stronger beneath the headline 6.6% decline.
Once the planned Escape and Corsair phase-outs are accounted for, the company’s core U.S. retail performance was comparatively resilient.
The strongest gains came in areas central to Ford’s current strategy: F-Series, Bronco, Maverick Hybrid, large SUVs, off-road models and commercial vehicles. At the same time, software subscriptions and mobile servicing continued to expand.
Heading into the final quarter of 2026, Ford’s traditional strengths in trucks and SUVs remain intact, while hybrids, connected services and specialized lifestyle models are becoming increasingly important parts of the business.
