As Lincoln Struggles to Regain Its Sales Footing, the Aviator Can't Arrive Fast Enough

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

May brought happier sales number for Ford Motor Company compared to the lackluster month that preceded it, though the same can’t be said for the Lincoln brand. Despite a 0.7 percent overall sales gain last month, Ford’s 1 percent year-over-year uptick in volume was countered by Lincoln’s 5.2 percent sales drop.

It’s the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year volume loss for the premium brand once described as “resurgent.” True, Lincoln’s sailing in far calmer waters that it was a decade ago (or even a handful of years back), but its engines seem to be set to slow astern. After achieving a post-recession sales peak of 111,724 vehicles in 2016, Lincoln’s sales slipped ever so slightly in 2017. It’s now down 13.4 percent over the first 5 months of 2018.

Lincoln’s upcoming Aviator can’t arrive soon enough.

What’s to blame for the brick wall? Blame cars, for the most part. While the MKC and MKX crossovers, which rose to post-recession heights (for the MKX, anyway) last year, have since fallen by about 15 percent over last year’s year-to-date total, the new-for-2018 Navigator can’t fully replace the volume of the quickly sinking MKZ and Continental sedans. Its lofty MSRP can certainly make up a lot of the lost profit, however. The Ford Fusion-based MKZ sank 35.7 percent in May, year over year, with volume down 35.1 since the start of the year. The Continental’s fared even worse, down 37.8 percent in May and 25.1 percent over the first five months of 2018.

To sum up the brand’s product mix performance, sales of Lincoln cars fell 36.5 percent in May, and 32.5 percent since the start of the year. Thanks to the late-2017 addition of the Navigator, however, the brand’s SUVs had a good month — up 13.7 percent from the same month last year. Year-to-date figures show a small loss of 2.2 percent.

In just the past year, cars have gone from 37.7 percent of Lincoln’s lineup to barely over a quarter. May of 2016 showed the same mix as 2017. It’s no wonder the rumor of a returning (and retro-ified) Continental carries so much doubt. Over the same time frame, the Navigator, which spent much of the past decade in the doldrums awaiting execution or salvation, is now a driving force in the lineup. Just last May, only 8.3 percent of Lincoln’s volume could be attributed to Navigator. It’s now 18.8 percent.

Year over year, the Navigator’s May sales saw a 122 percent increase. That translates into an 85.8 percent year-to-date sales gain for the hulking three-row full-sizer. In fact, you’d have to travel back in time to 2007 to find a better sales month for the largest of the Lincolns.

Sometime next year, Lincoln plans to add a new model with an old nameplate, and it’s located in a sweet spot in the lineup. Smaller than the Navigator, but larger and more upscale than the MKX (refreshed and renamed Nautilus for 2019), the 2020 Aviator’s rear-drive architecture and premium looks should be the move that gets Lincoln running in the right direction again. It’s also possible buyers might take to the new MKC and MKX/Nautilus’ Continentalized face in greater numbers. With the Aviator in place, Lincoln could axe the MKZ and Continental entirely and still maintain its current volume.

[Images: Lincoln Motor Company]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Bd2 Bd2 on Jun 06, 2018

    Like Audi and Acura (and increasingly Lexus), Lincoln sees its future in CUV/SUV sales (basically, only MB and BMW sell sedans in all 3 segments in sufficient volume). While the Aviator seems promising for Lincoln, the problem is that the MKC and MKX/Nautilus have under-performed compared to the competition (NX/RX, RDX/MDX, etc.). Expect the upcoming Cadillac XT4 to handily outsell the MKC, just as the XT5 handily outsells the MKX, but if Lincoln gives the next gen MKC and Nautilus, the full Nav/Av treatment, could turn those 2 around.

  • Edsel Maserati Edsel Maserati on Jun 06, 2018

    Nautilus? What a silly name. What a stupid name. What an UNDESIRABLE name.

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
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