Hyundai set to outsell Ford in third quarter as Detroit automakers lag on hybrids

Hyundai is expected to outsell Ford in the United States during the third quarter, according to analysts at Cox Automotive, who point to a lack of hybrid vehicle options as a key factor weighing on sales at Ford and General Motors.

Cox analysts said that both Ford and General Motors are seeing sales lag in part because they do not offer as many hybrid models as some competitors, at a time when hybrid vehicles have continued to attract buyers looking for a middle ground between traditional gasoline engines and fully electric vehicles.

Shifting demand

The US auto market has seen shifting consumer preferences in recent years, with hybrid vehicles gaining popularity among buyers who want improved fuel efficiency without the charging infrastructure requirements of fully electric cars. Automakers with broader hybrid lineups have been able to capture more of that demand.

Hyundai, along with its affiliate Kia, has expanded its hybrid offerings across multiple vehicle segments in recent years, a strategy that analysts say has helped support its sales performance relative to some legacy Detroit manufacturers.

Ford and General Motors have both signaled plans to expand their own hybrid and electric vehicle lineups, though the timing and scale of those rollouts will determine how quickly they can close the gap with competitors like Hyundai in the hybrid segment.