USA March/Q1 2023: General Motors (+17.7%), Ford Motor (+9.9%) overtake Toyota Motor (-8.8%), Q1 market up 7.8%

GM sales soar 17.7% year-on-year over Q1.

U.S. new light vehicle sales are estimated at 1.3 million in March by Wards Intelligence, a shy 6.6% year-on-year increase, keeping in mind March 2022 plummeted down -23.8% over the year prior. The Seasonally Adjusted Annualised Rate of sales (SAAR) stands at 14.4 million, up from 13.33 million in March 2022 but down on both January and February. The Q1 tally is up 7.8% on a devastated Q1 2022 (-15.7%) to an estimated 3,587,572 units.

In the groups ranking, General Motors (+17.7%) confirms it is back in charge of its home market, expanding its lead over #2 Ford Motor (+9.9%) also in good shape, to over 127,000 units. As a reminder, over Q1 2022 Toyota Motor was still leader and now it ranks #3 due to a volume off -8.8%. Hyundai-Kia (+18.5%) and Nissan Motor/Mitsubishi (+12.9%) also score very solid gains as does the VW Group (+21.8%) off a low base. BMW Motor (+11.4%) also beats the market while American Honda (+6.8%) matches it.

The Ford F-Series is up 21.1% over Q1 2023.

Brand-wise, Ford (+10.5%) reclaims the lead, toppling Toyota (-10.9%) with Chevrolet (+15.8%) shining at #3. Tesla (+38.7%) is estimated to deliver the largest gain in the Top 15 and climbs to #8 vs. #12 over the Full Year 2022. Kia (+21.8%), Nissan (+15.9%) and Hyundai (+15.5%) also deliver solid upticks. Buick (+99.2%) almost catches up with its two years-ago volume after sinking -58.2% over Q1 2022. Infiniti (+49%), Audi (+48.6%), Porsche (+33.7%), Cadillac (+28.7%) and Dodge (+24.2%) impress further down. Among smaller carmakers, Rivian (+366.7%) and Lucid (+315.8%) gear up.

The Ford F-Series (+21.1%) unsurprisingly retains the #1 spot in the models charts, widening its lead over the Chevrolet Silverado (+2.4%) from 19,600 units last year to 46,400 now. The Ram Pickup (-17.1%) is in difficulty and relegated to #3. #9 over the Full Year 2022, the Tesla Model Y (+98.1%) is estimated to rank #4 overall over the First Quarter, spectacularly nabbing the SUV crown off the Toyota RAV4 (-16.3%), down to #5. Lifted by a new generation, the Nissan Rogue (+69.1%) soars 10 spots on its FY2022 ranking to reach #6 and could threaten the RAV4 by the time the year comes to an end. The Toyota Camry (#9) and Tesla Model 3 (#15) are the only two cars in the Top 15.

Previous month: USA February 2023: Ford (+22.8%), Kia (+23.7%), Volvo (+36.4%) shine in market up 8.7%

One year ago: USA March 2022: Market down -23.8%, Q1 off -15.7%, Jeep (-2.2%), Mazda (-1.2%), Tesla (+76.6%) defy gloom

Full Q1 2023 Top 15 groups, Top 46 All brands and Top XXX All models below.