DETROIT – Normal Motors pulled forward of Ford Motor to grow to be the nation’s second best-seller of all-electric automobiles throughout the first quarter, trailing solely trade chief Tesla.

GM on Monday stated it bought 20,670 EVs throughout the first three months of the 12 months. Ford, which was No. 2 final 12 months, reported EV gross sales Tuesday of 10,866 over the identical time-frame.

Motor Intelligence experiences Ford’s EV gross sales throughout the first quarter dropped its rating in EV gross sales to fifth within the U.S. Hyundai Motor, together with Kia, and Volkswagen pulled forward of Ford along with GM, in line with the auto trade knowledge agency.

Ford’s drop in rankings and gross sales have been largely on account of manufacturing downtimes at two of its North American vegetation that produce electrical automobiles. Gross sales of its Mustang Mach-E fell 19.7% throughout the quarter, because it retooled a manufacturing facility in Mexico to double its manufacturing capability to 210,000 fashions a 12 months. Ford additionally misplaced about 5 manufacturing weeks of its F-150 Lightning pickup on account of a battery hearth, which led to manufacturing facility downtown and a small recall.

GM nonetheless considerably trails Tesla in EV gross sales. Motor Intelligence estimates Tesla, which doesn’t report gross sales by area, bought 161,630 EVs within the U.S. throughout the first quarter.

Each GM and Ford have stated they plan to overhaul Tesla in EV gross sales within the years forward, nonetheless Elon Musk’s firm is concentrating on important enlargement of its personal EV manufacturing. Tesla beforehand stated it expects to provide 20 million electrical automobiles per 12 months by 2030.

A majority of GM’s EV gross sales have been from its Chevrolet Bolt fashions that begin below $30,000. The vehicles function older battery expertise known as Ultium than its newer, costlier EVs such because the GMC Hummer and Cadillac Lyriq.

GM confirmed Monday that it expects to construct 50,000 EVs within the first half of 2023 and “double that” within the second half of the 12 months, as Lyriq manufacturing ramps up and shipments of the electrical model of the Chevrolet Silverado pickup start later this spring.

Ford is increasing manufacturing of its EVs as properly, together with plans, which it reconfirmed Tuesday, to increase manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning at a Michigan plant to an annual manufacturing run price of 150,000 this 12 months.

Ford has stated it plans to realize annual manufacturing capability of two million EVs globally by 2026. GM has stated it will hit that very same threshold a 12 months earlier.

– CNBC’s Phil LeBeau contributed to this report.