Ford’s 2021 gross sales down 6.8% however finishes 12 months with sturdy fourth quarter

Ford cars are observed at the gross sales lot on the Helfman Ford dealership on October 28, 2021 in Houston, Texas.

Brandon Bell | Getty Pictures

DETROIT – Ford Motor’s gross sales ultimate 12 months declined 6.8% in comparison to 2020, however the automaker mentioned it made strides towards the tip of the 12 months in overcoming disruptions led to via an ongoing semiconductor chip scarcity.

The Detroit automaker on Wednesday mentioned it bought 508,451 cars within the fourth quarter, a 26.8% building up over the 0.33 quarter and higher than the whole business’s decline of about 3% from the former 3 months.

Ford ended the 12 months with 247,000 cars in inventory, up 22,000 devices from November after the chip scarcity led to traditionally low stock ranges previous within the 12 months.

General, the U.S. automobile business bought 15.1 million cars in 2021 in spite of primary provide chain disruptions and lingering affects of the coronavirus pandemic, in line with business information corporate Autodata. It used to be the slowest gross sales 12 months since 2012.

Ford bought 1.9 million cars in 2021, down 6.8% when compared with the prior 12 months. That maintained its third-place U.S. gross sales place at the back of Common Motors and Toyota Motor, which dethroned GM in U.S. gross sales after a 90-year run because the No. 1 American automaker.