Ford and Stellantis say car sales fell at the start of the year.

Ford Motor stated on Monday that its new-vehicle gross sales in the USA fell 17 % within the first three months of the yr, consistent with different automakers which might be struggling to maintain their factories working amid a worldwide scarcity of laptop chips.

Ford stated it had offered 429,174 automobiles and lightweight vehicles within the first quarter, in comparison with 517,711 in the identical interval a yr in the past. Its gross sales included 6,734 Mustang Mach-E electrical sport utility autos, solely 120 greater than a yr in the past, a mirrored image of the impression of the chip scarcity.

Stellantis, the maker of Jeeps and Ram pickups, stated its U.S. gross sales fell 14 % to 405,221 automobiles and lightweight vehicles. Jeep model gross sales solely fell 2 %, thank to 2 new S.U.V.s, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. The corporate’s Chrysler and Dodge manufacturers noticed declines of 27 % and 36 %.

Established automakers have been battling the chip scarcity for months, some for greater than a yr. Against this, Tesla, the largest vendor of electrical automobiles, stated on Saturday that its new automotive gross sales have been up practically 70 % within the first quarter.

Ford stated its sellers had 268,000 autos in stock on the finish of March, down from 370,000 a yr in the past. G.M. had shares of 273,760 autos, down from 334,628 a yr in the past. Years in the past, the 2 automakers usually held inventories of 800,000 autos or extra.

Ford, Common Motors and different corporations have stated that they anticipated manufacturing and gross sales to return to extra regular ranges within the second half of the yr.

Ford is seeing sturdy demand for its pickup vehicles and sport-utility autos, Andrew Frick, Ford’s vp of gross sales, distribution and vehicles, stated in an announcement. The automaker took in 50,000 orders from retail prospects for F-series vehicles in March, which Mr. Frick stated was a file.

Toyota Motor, which initially weathered the chip scarcity higher than its American rivals, outsold each Ford and G.M. within the first quarter, promoting 514,592 autos, simply forward of G.M’s 512,846. Toyota additionally outsold Ford and G.M. in 2021, turning into the primary producer primarily based outdoors the USA to attain that feat within the business’s practically 120-year historical past.