USA First Half 2025: General Motors (+11.8%) solid as H2 outlook gets stormy

Cadillac sales are up 16.5% as the Vistiq enters the charts.

The U.S. new light vehicle market grows just 3% year-on-year over the First Half of 2025 to 8,140,775 units. The outlook for H2 is weak as U.S. import tariffs take full effect and increase car prices. AlixPartners estimate carmakers will pass 80% of the cost of U.S. tariffs on to consumers, hiking average new vehicle prices by nearly $2,000, with the full impact to be felt by the end of 2025. As a result most analysts predict a Full Year 2025 result in negative. For now in the OEM charts General Motors (+11.8%) sails off and increases its advantage over Toyota Motor (+4.2%) and Ford Motor (+6.8%). Hyundai-Kia (+9.2%) and American Honda (+7.1%) do a little better whereas Stellantis (-11.1%) is once again mired in negative territory even though the situation seemed to be improving over Q2. Nissan Motor (-0.2%) is stable and the VW Group (-9.7%) suffers.

As for brands, if Ford managed to overtake Toyota to end Q2 as the #1 brand in the U.S., it is not enough to snap the H1 pole position with Toyota (+3.8%) keeping its crown over Ford (+6.5%) with an advantage of 5,200 units vs. 31,000 over H1 2024. Chevrolet (+9.6%) does even better at #3 ahead of Honda (+7.1%) and Nissan (+0.3%). Hyundai (+10%), Kia (+7.8%) and Subaru (-0.2%) ensure the Top 8 is identical to H1 2024. GMC (+11.2%) delivers the best improvement in the Top 10 and is up two spots to #9 as a result. Jeep (-4.9%) and Tesla (-15.8%) disappoint. Further down, Buick (+29.2%), Land Rover (+26.6%), Mini (+19%), Genesis (+17.4%) and Cadillac (+16.5%) all impress. At the other end of the scale, Dodge (-48.8%), Alfa Romeo (-33.8%), Chrysler (-21.9%), Volkswagen (-12.8%) and Mercedes (-11.7%) are among the worst performers.

Not only the Ford F-Series dominates the models ranking head and shoulders, it also posts the largest gain among the seven best-sellers at +17.2%. The Chevrolet Silverado (+3%) at #2 and Toyota RAV4 (-3.6%) at #3 can’t keep up. The Honda CR-V (+8.3%) and Ram Pickup (-2.9%) both gain one spot on last year to #4 and #5 respectively, with the GMC Sierra (+13.7%) up two ranks and the Chevrolet Equinox (+46.7%) surging five ranks to #7. The Toyota Camry (+0.1%) is stable and remains the best-selling passenger car in the country, increasing the gap with the Honda Civc (-1.2%). The Tesla Model Y (-26.1%) falls five spots to #9 and the Toyota Tacoma (+88.5%) soars 22 ranks to #10. Notice also the Chevrolet Trax (+32.2%) and Hyundai Tucson (+23%) both very solid in the remainder of the Top 20.

Previous post: USA June/Q2 2025: Ford (+13.6%) overtakes Toyota (+7.1%) to #1 brand in weakening market

One year ago: USA Q2 2024: Stable market sees Toyota RAV4, Honda Civic and Chevy Trax record large gains

Full H1 2025 Top 15 OEMs, Top 46 All brands and Top 315 All models vs. H1 2024 figures below.