WASHINGTON, United States — Normal Motors led US automobile gross sales within the first quarter, in response to firm reviews Tuesday, because the business braces for President Donald Trump’s incoming tariffs this week.
GM stated its US gross sales jumped 17 % within the quarter from the identical interval a 12 months in the past, reporting 693,363 deliveries.
Fellow main automakers Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia additionally reported gross sales will increase, whereas Ford logged a small decline and Jeep and Chrysler dad or mum Stellantis slid extra sharply.
READ: Japanese carmakers put up greater Q1 U.S. gross sales forward of Trump tariffs
Tariffs of 25 % on imported automobiles and sure elements are set to kick in Thursday, and economists warn that the fees might trigger common auto costs to surge by 1000’s of {dollars} over time.
Trump can also be as a result of announce “reciprocal” levies midweek — which might hit imports from numerous international locations — on a slew of different items to handle commerce practices that his administration deems unfair.
The tariffs might additional have an effect on US neighbors Canada and Mexico, each key gamers in North American automobile manufacturing provide chains.
READ: Trump auto tariffs strike at coronary heart of North American commerce
Mannequin turnover
“GM’s gross sales development outpaced each different main automaker, and the driving power is our portfolio,” stated Rory Harvey, GM’s president of worldwide markets.
The corporate pointed to gross sales development in its Chevrolet and Cadillac manufacturers, with will increase seen amongst electrical automobile fashions as effectively.
In the meantime, Toyota Motor North America reported 0.9 % development in automobile gross sales to 570,269 items for the quarter.
Its government vp Mark Templin stated the corporate continued to “see regular gross sales from our Toyota and Lexus manufacturers due partially to improved stock ranges and new fashions.”
“We’re additionally seeing our gross sales mixture of electrified automobiles rising,” Templin stated in an announcement.
Honda’s gross sales had been up 5.3 % from a 12 months in the past within the first quarter, these of Hyundai had been up 10 %, and Kia gross sales rose round 11 %.
However US auto large Ford reported a 1.3-percent drop in US gross sales — to 501,291 automobiles — from the identical interval in 2024.
The decline was primarily as a result of discontinuation of sure fashions and the timing of rental fleet gross sales, the corporate stated.
However its first quarter figures had been higher than a forecast by automotive analysis agency Edmunds.
Ford maintained in an announcement that it noticed “robust retail gross sales in March,” due to gross sales of its best-selling F-Sequence pickup vehicles and the Ranger and Maverick fashions.
Stellantis blamed comparable results for its 12-percent year-on-year tumble within the first quarter, with fashions from manufacturers like Dodge and Alfa Romeo going off the market.
It added that new fashions had been on the best way and pointed to greater gross sales — up nearly 14 % — in figures corrected for the impact.
‘Liberation Day’
Upcoming tariffs forged a pall over the auto business, nonetheless, on condition that automotive elements shall be focused together with imported vehicles.
READ: Trump set to unleash ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs
JPMorgan analysts not too long ago estimated that over 80 % of Ford’s US gross sales are produced domestically. The corresponding determine for Honda was round 68 %, Toyota about 57 % and GM, 53 %.
However lots of the parts going into constructing these vehicles are imported.
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The American Automotive Coverage Council representing the massive three automakers — Ford, GM and Jeep-maker Stellantis — have warned that tariffs must be carried out in a manner that avoids rising prices for shoppers and preserves the business’s competitiveness.
