Mustang Mach-E was released in 2020 to some controversy among Mustang purists, who repeated the same question: Is an electric SUV-shaped Mustang really a Mustang?

As it turns out, that doesn't seem to matter all too much, as the Mustang Mach-E is quickly catching up to the internal-combustion Mustang in terms of units sold.

Mustang Mach-E sales rising

The standard Mustang has sold

33,364

units so far in 2022, while the electric Mustang Mach-E has sold

28,089

in the same period.

Sales of gas-powered Mustangs have fallen overall in recent years, with the pony car recording a 22% decline in sales compared to this time last year.

Could we one day see the Mustang Mach-E outselling the classic gas-guzzling Mustang?

Wait and see

It's hard to tell at this point; many different factors can affect a vehicle model's sales performance.

We'll see that Mustang Mach-E sales are up nearly 50% from the same time last year (28,089 vs. 18,855) and that the automaker has finally reopened order banks (after hiking the price) for the all-electric pony.

But there are a few things that could upset the idea that the Mach-E is on track to outpace the standard gas-powered Mustang—and we'll have to wait and see before jumping to any conclusions about either model's longevity.

New models on the horizon

The current sixth-generation gas-powered Mustang has been on the market in its current form since about 2015 with a minor redesign in 2018 and a number of special trim levels, including the Mustang Bullitt, California Special, and a laundry list of Shelby models.

As a vehicle line ages, its appeal wanes, and sales tend to follow. In its first year of sales in 2015, the sixth-generation Mustang sold about 122,349 units, with 105,932 sold in 2016 before dropping to 81,866 in 2017.

Since then, sales have been steadily declining for the current generation Mustang.

The true test of Mustang's appeal and longevity will be how the seventh generation stacks up.

Ford

recently unveiled the next-generation 2024 Mustang, which the automaker says will feature the highest-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine ever installed in the Mustang lineup, as well as an optional drift brake for track use.

If it sees a sales spike for the first full year of the new generation, we can assume it's business as normal for the Mustang faithful—who might honestly dig this model because of its super-powerful V8.

Sourcing EV components could become a problem

The automaker has already stated that the Mustang Mach-E is an expensive vehicle to build, though when it launched in 2020, the Mach-E turned some profits for the company.

But thanks to the rising

cost of materials

to produce electric vehicles, the Mach-E costs nearly $25,000 more to manufacture than the Ford Edge SUV.

Ford has already raised prices on all trim levels of the Mustang Mach-E, likely to account for the increased cost of manufacturing.

We'll likely see the automaker maintain similar pricing even if the industry solves its sourcing issues unless it's having trouble moving existing inventory either after a mid-cycle refresh or prior to the introduction of a new model of Mach-E, if the Blue Oval decides to keep the line.

They're two different vehicles

Despite the name similarity, the Mustang Mach-E and the gas-powered Mustang are completely different vehicles, with the four-door Mach-E boasting more SUV-like characteristics compared to the sleek styling of the Mustang coupe.

It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, with detractors claiming the Mach-E cheapens the Mustang name for the sake of appealing to electric vehicle consumers.

Regardless of your feelings on the Mustang name, it was a good move by the automaker to leverage the power of the Mustang brand for its first real (read: non-compliance) all-electric vehicle venture.

And with growing legislation against internal-combustion vehicles, it also sets the stage for an all-electric Mustang coupe in the near future—assuming Ford finds it profitable enough.

MORE:

The 2024 Ford Mustang Is on the Way

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