DETROIT – Ford Motor narrowed its U.S. gross sales loss final 12 months to 2.2%, because the automaker notably elevated gross sales of its F-Collection pickups to finish 2022 with a slight improve in December.

The Detroit automaker on Thursday reported gross sales of greater than 1.9 million autos in 2022, together with a rise of three.2% in the course of the remaining month of the 12 months. Ford’s gross sales had been off 2.7% via November, earlier than the December increase.

Ford mentioned it bought greater than 75,000 F-Collection pickups in December, a 20.1% improve in comparison with a 12 months earlier and the most effective month of the 12 months as components and provide chain issues disrupted manufacturing. Gross sales of the vehicles nonetheless ended the 12 months down 9.9% however higher than the 13% they had been down via November.

Andrew Frick, Ford vice chairman of gross sales, distribution & vehicles, mentioned the corporate is “effectively positioned heading into 2023.” Nevertheless, the automaker didn’t launch a gross sales forecast for the 12 months.

Ford’s 2022 gross sales outpaced the trade, which was estimated to be down by roughly 9%. However they weren’t in a position to match crosstown rival Normal Motors, which managed to eke out a 2.5% achieve in gross sales in comparison with 2021.

Ford mentioned it was in a position to achieve 0.7 share factors of market share in 2022, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to offset its 1.3 share level loss from the prior 12 months.

Concerning all-electric autos, Ford mentioned it was in a position to keep its standing because the nation’s second best-seller of EVs. Regardless of greater than doubling its EV gross sales, Ford trails trade chief Tesla by a large margin.

The Ford model’s gross sales had been down 2.1% final 12 months, whereas the corporate’s Luxurious Lincoln model was off by 4%.