Hyundai Expected to Outsell Ford in Q3 as Detroit Automakers Lag in Hybrid Offerings
According to a new forecast from Cox Automotive, Hyundai Motor Co. (HYMTF) is expected to outsell Ford Motor Company (F) for the first time ever during the third quarter of 2026. The South Korean automaker's sales are projected to rise by 6.5% year-over-year to approximately 511,421 units, while Ford’s sales are forecasted to decline by 7.1% to around 504,172 vehicles due in part to production issues and a lack of hybrid models. Cox analysts attribute the shift partly to Hyundai's strong performance across its brands, including Genesis and Kia (KIAHF), as well as Ford’s struggles with F-Series pickup truck production. Additionally, both Ford and General Motors Company (GM) are being outpaced in the growing U.S. hybrid market due to limited offerings. Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) is also gaining ground on GM, narrowing its sales gap despite a slight overall decline for GM. Analysts note that rising gas prices have shifted consumer preferences toward more fuel-efficient vehicles like hybrids.
Topics: Cox Automotive forecast Ford Hyundai U.S. auto sales