General Motors and Ford Motor Co. released their first-quarter 2025 U.S. sales results, revealing contrasting performances as the auto industry faces rising tariffs and ongoing affordability concerns.
GM reported a 17% year-over-year increase in sales, selling 693,363 vehicles in Q1 2025. Electric vehicle (EV) sales nearly doubled, surging 94% to 31,887 units, making GM the second-largest EV seller in the U.S. Strong performances from the Equinox and Blazer EVs contributed to the increase, along with double-digit growth across Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, and Buick. Chevy remained the brand’s volume leader with 443,564 sales, up nearly 14%, while Buick posted the highest percentage gain at 39%. The luxury-focused Cadillac brand saw an 18% increase, bolstered by the first sales of its all-electric Optiq and Escalade IQ EV models.
Despite the positive momentum, GM’s inventory fell 8% to 549,312 units. The company attributed the decline to high consumer demand, particularly for models impacted by the upcoming 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts.
Analysts noted that tariff concerns likely accelerated some purchases in Q1, but they warned of potential headwinds in the coming quarters as price increases take effect. GM’s average transaction price rose by less than 3% to approximately $51,000, while incentive spending remained below the industry average at under 4%.
In contrast, Ford reported a 1.3% decline in total U.S. sales for the quarter, delivering 501,291 vehicles. The drop was primarily due to reduced rental fleet sales and the discontinuation of the Edge SUV and Transit Connect van. However, Ford’s retail sales from dealerships rose 5%, driven by strong demand in March as consumers rushed to purchase vehicles ahead of the tariff implementation.
Ford’s truck lineup remained a bright spot, with F-Series pickup sales jumping 24% to 190,389 units in the quarter.
Including sales of the midsize Ranger and compact Maverick, Ford’s total pickup sales reached 243,317. The Maverick set an all-time monthly sales record in March with 19,008 units, though its quarterly sales were down slightly at 38,015. Analysts noted that the Maverick, which is assembled in Mexico, is among the vehicles that could see price hikes due to tariffs.
Ford’s EV sales, including hybrids, climbed 25.5% to 73,623 units, with hybrids in seeing a notable 33% increase. The Mustang Mach-E remained a high-demand model despite limited inventory, with 11,607 units sold, up 21% year-over-year. E-Transit electric van sales rose 30% to 3,756 units. Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand saw sales decline 4.7%, though the Navigator SUV posted a 29.8% gain.
