Europe only talks about ecological transition, electrification, banning the sale of thermal vehicles. France increases the ecological penalty each year. Meanwhile, America, she does not let go of her old loves. On the contrary. She persists and signs. In the first half of the year, the podium of the best-selling vehicles in the United States thus remained occupied by… three “Full Size” pick-ups, these enormous machines of which the States have always been fond. Leading across the Atlantic for 45 years, the Ford F (299,300 units sold) is inevitably followed by its closest competitors, the Chevrolet Silverado (259,500) and the Ram (ex-Dodge, Stellantis group, 245,000), according to the ranking of the magazine Car and Driver.
Tesla in… thirteenth place
–
The SUV (upper middle according to European categories) Toyota Rav 4 follows quite far (201,000), preceding the Toyota Camry large road sedan (136,000). Behind: a large SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is no longer imported into France in its petrol and diesel versions because it would now be liable to a penalty of 40,000 euros! And this 4×4 itself precedes the… GMC Sierra (119,000), which is none other than a brother of the Chevrolet Silverado within the GM group. Sign of the times, all the same: an electric Tesla points the end of its grille. But not before the thirteenth rank. This is the Model Y (108,000 sales), the SUV derivative of the “small” Model 3.
The Ford F 150 is the absolute icon of the American automobile. It rolls across the Atlantic 17 million units. The Ford is also the oldest vehicle in the world sold under the same name. It has kept the same name since 1948! Ford has sold more than 40 million copies, in total. Not bad for a model today almost reserved for North America. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), its production would have generated since its beginnings 50 billion dollars of GNP while creating the equivalent of 500,000 jobs. These pick-ups also generate very high margins. They have also saved, historically, GM, Ford and the ex-Chrysler.
Drip sales in France
Available from 31,150 dollars across the Atlantic (compared to 34,600 for the Silverado), the Ford F is available with a large and traditional V8 of 5.0 liters of displacement (400 horsepower) but also six cylinders a little more “modest” 2.7 (325 horsepower), 3.3 (290 horsepower), 3.5 (400 horsepower). A hybrid version of the latter is now on the program (430 horsepower), joined this year by a Lightning electric version (560 horsepower). Powered by two on-board engines and fitted with a 4×4 system as standard, the new zero-emission F launched last spring can tackle the toughest terrain with a payload of one tonne (1.5 tonnes for petrol versions) and a towing capacity of 4.5 tons. A real F, which starts here at 40,000 dollars.
This F is a gigantic vehicle with a rather rustic technique – hence its relatively low price – 5.50 meters in length (almost two meters longer than a Twingo), not really sober (!), but vast , robust, able to face the worst treatment and the most rutted paths. Favorite of craftsmen with its big beauty and its big grille like Peterbilt or Kenworth trucks, the F is adapted to the mode of use and… to the size of the average American. Just like the Silverado and Ram. The F is distributed drop by drop in France by specialized importers, in particular American Car City, which offers copies with 500 kilometers on the odometer from 81,500 euros excluding taxes. And this, up to 187,400 (Raptor Shelby Baja). Vehicles with a V8 engine are Flexfuel models. They can therefore run on E85 ethanol. Hence a large tax rebate on the malus! American Car City also offers a few hybrids at nearly 100,000 euros (excluding taxes)…
Total vehicle sales fell almost 18% in the first half in the United States (to 6.86 million units). Under the influence in particular of the lack of supplies of semiconductors. Sales of SUVs, 4x4s and pick-ups fell 15.8%. They represent… 78% of the American market. Reduced to the bare minimum, passenger cars (sedans) plunged 24.6% over six months. In the total market, Toyota trails GM very closely. The Japanese sold 1.04 million vehicles, against 1.09 for General Motors, the traditional leading American manufacturer. Toyota could thus steal first place from the Detroit group, for the first time! Ford fell below the million mark (990,000) in the first half of 2022, ahead of Stellantis (817,300), according to Marklines Data Center.
–
