Ford Mustang outsells Challenger and Camaro in 2023

The Ford Mustang in 2023 overtook the Dodge Challenger to reclaim the muscle car crown in the race for U.S. sales.

The Mustang managed 48,605 sales, a rise of 2.2% on the previous year. That figure was likely boosted by the introduction of the redesigned 2024 model last year.

The Challenger on the other hand saw its sales dive 18% to end the year with 44,960 units moved. Production of the retro muscle car came to an end in December and some potential buyers may have held off on their purchase to see what Dodge has planned for the Challenger’s electric successor due next year.

The Camaro, the perennial second runner-up in this race, also ended production last year, though its sales were up 25.9% to end the year with 31,028 units moved. Unlike Dodge, Chevy hasn’t announced a successor to the Camaro. While the nameplate won’t be retired, there may be a long wait before any successor arrives.

The Mustang is traditionally the fastest horse in the sales race, and it’s still ahead if you count sales of the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. Mach-E sales were up 3.3% in 2023, with Ford moving 40,771 of the them over the period. That’s the closest the Mach-E has been to its gas-powered sibling since the start of sales in 2021.

While the Challenger experienced a sharp drop in sales, the same didn’t occur to the related Charger whose production also ended in December. Like the Challenger, the Charger is also due to receive an electric successor in 2024, though it still managed to register 75,920 sales in 2023, down just 5% on the previous year.

The past year turned out to be a bumper year for sales for the overall market after recent declines caused by the pandemic and the ensuing supply chain issues. New vehicle sales in the U.S. reached around 15.5 million units in 2023, up 12.4% on the previous year. General Motors had the highest sales, registering 2.6 million units, up 14.1% on the previous year.

The good times may not last though due to the recent rise in interest rates making monthly payments harder for consumers. EV demand while still growing is also starting to slow.