2026 North American Vehicle Awards: Dodge Charger Named Car of the Year
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy F?
Source: seekingalpha
- Car of the Year: The Dodge Charger (STLA) was named the 2026 North American Car of the Year for its blend of muscle car performance and hatchback practicality, showcasing strong interior and exterior design that marks a return to the brand's gas-powered roots.
- Truck of the Year: The Ford Maverick Lobo (F) earned the Truck of the Year title for creating a new space in the compact pickup market with fun-to-drive characteristics and meaningful performance upgrades, catering to a diverse range of customer needs.
- Utility Vehicle of the Year: The Hyundai Palisade (HYMTF) was recognized as the Utility Vehicle of the Year, starting under $40,000 and featuring a premium cabin and robust safety features, appealing to family-oriented consumers.
- Award Criteria: The jury noted that the winning vehicles set benchmarks in their segments based on innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, user experience, and value, aiming to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year.
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Analyst Views on F
Wall Street analysts forecast F stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
10 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 11.680
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
Current: 11.680
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
About F
Ford Motor Company is an automobile company. The Company develops and delivers Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The Company’s segments include Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro, and Ford Credit. The Ford Blue segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Model e segment primarily includes the sale of its electric vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Pro segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, accessories, and services for commercial, government, and rental customers. The Ford Credit segment consists of the Ford Credit business on a consolidated basis, which is primarily vehicle-related financing and leasing activities. Its vehicle brands are Ford and Lincoln.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Strong Demand: Despite the overall sales decline, demand for F-Series trucks and large SUVs like the Bronco, Explorer, and Expedition has continued to grow, suggesting a strong consumer preference for these models.
- Strategic Focus: Ford President Andrew Frick stated that the company is focusing on its strengths in high-demand segments while continuing to meet customer needs for both affordable and premium vehicle options, enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
- Stock Price Fluctuation: Currently trading at $11.48, Ford's stock has decreased by 1.67% from the previous trading day, reflecting market concerns over the company's sales performance, which may impact investor confidence.
See More
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- Electric Vehicle Sales Drop: Sales of Ford's electrified vehicles plummeted 34.8% to 48,019 units, reflecting reduced consumer purchasing willingness amid high gas prices and economic uncertainty, which could impact future market share.
- Luxury Brand Performance: Lincoln's Q1 sales dipped 0.5% to 23,610 vehicles, demonstrating brand stability and consumer loyalty despite the challenging overall market environment.
- Retail Market Share Growth: Despite the overall sales decline, Ford estimates its retail market share grew by 0.2 percentage points to 11.6%, indicating the company's ability to maintain a certain market position in a competitive landscape.
See More
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- New Product Strategy: Tesla has ceased production of its flagship Model S and X vehicles, reallocating production lines to develop the Optimus robot, although this shift has yet to yield significant sales, reflecting uncertainty in the company's new business direction.
- Energy Business Performance: The deployment of battery energy storage systems in Q1 was 8.8 GWh, down from 10.4 GWh a year earlier, indicating increased competition in the energy market that may affect Tesla's long-term growth potential in renewable energy.
See More
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- Stock Performance Decline: Ford's stock fell over 2% in the past week despite CEO Farley's announcement of the new EV initiative, indicating persistent bearish sentiment in the market regarding the automaker's electric vehicle future amidst broader industry challenges.
- Sales Data Warning: In February, Ford's total U.S. vehicle sales dropped 5.5% year-over-year, with EV sales plummeting 37.7%, highlighting weak consumer demand for electric vehicles and the company's underperformance in the EV market.
- Analyst Rating Downgrade: Wells Fargo lowered Ford's price target from $11 to $10, maintaining an 'Underweight' rating, citing multiple market drivers moving in unfavorable directions, which adds to Ford's market pressures.
See More
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- New EV Platform: Ford is targeting a ~$30,000 electric pickup by 2027 to compete with Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, although current EV sales remain weak and analysts are cautious about the company's prospects.
- Market Reaction: Despite CEO Jim Farley's podcast announcement about the new EV project, Ford's stock fell over 2% in the past week, indicating skepticism from the market regarding its electric vehicle strategy.
- Weak Sales Data: In February, Ford's total U.S. vehicle sales dropped 5.5% year-over-year, with EV sales plummeting 37.7%, reflecting ongoing weak consumer demand for electric vehicles and multiple market challenges facing the company.
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See More
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- Amazon Order Impact: Amazon's order for 100,000 electric delivery vans established Rivian's market presence, with a four-year exclusivity agreement amended in 2023 to allow sales to other customers, although component shortages hindered order fulfillment.
- Market Competition Pressure: Rivian's electric delivery vans are priced around $80,000, while Ford's E-Transit is offered in the mid-$50,000s, coupled with Ford's established service infrastructure, which Rivian is still developing, reducing its market appeal.
- Product Performance Enhancement: Rivian plans to increase the electric delivery van's range by 30% through a larger battery pack and introduce all-wheel drive, aiming to improve product performance to attract more buyers and reshape its market image.
See More
