Ford Motor joined Fiat Chrysler and different main automakers in reporting double-digit declines in first-quarter U.S. car gross sales as shoppers shelter in place and dealerships shut amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Ford reported Thursday that its gross sales fell 12.5% via March from a yr in the past. The decline is bigger than the corporate's crosstown rivals however is decrease than the 15% slide anticipated for the general business.

March is usually the best gross sales month of the primary quarter, with many gross sales coming towards the top of the month as automakers provide further reductions. Nevertheless, the coronavirus and states enacting stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders considerably disrupted sellers from promoting autos.

 "Wanting on the quarter, it began out very well," stated Mark LaNeve, Ford vice chairman of U.S. advertising and marketing, gross sales...