- The gigantic bet by Ford (NYSE:F) on using aluminum in the popular F-150 line is starting to pay off as production wrinkles smooth out and consumers show confidence in the truck's reliability.
- The gap between Ford F-150 sales and Chevrolet Silverado sales has widened in recent months as positive reviews on performance continue to pour in.
- F-150 sales in September improved 16.4% Y/Y to 69,651 units. Perhaps more important than the raw volume number, the average F-10 sticker price was up $6.1K from a year ago.
- What's next: An aluminum-bodied Ford Expedition was spotted near the Ford development center in Dearborn, Michigan.
- Bottom line: Ford is up 11.8% over the last 52 weeks. Some auto industry analysts think that concerns on the F-150 roll-out have been a drag on share price.