Lead
General Motors reported a 5.5% increase in U.S. sales for 2025, selling more than 2.85 million vehicles nationwide, even as fourth-quarter deliveries fell 6.9% to roughly 703,000 units. The automaker’s gain was driven by stronger demand for EVs (up 48%), large SUVs and lower-priced models such as the Buick Envista. Industry tracker Cox Automotive estimated total U.S. light-vehicle sales rose about 2% to 16.3 million units for 2025. Meanwhile, Stellantis parent company saw a 3.3% decline overall, but its Jeep brand recorded its first annual U.S. sales increase since 2018.
Key Takeaways
- GM’s U.S. sales rose 5.5% in 2025, with total U.S. deliveries exceeding 2.85 million units for the year.
- GM’s fourth-quarter sales declined 6.9%, with about 703,000 vehicles sold in Q4 2025.
- GM increased its U.S. market share by 0.5 percentage points to 17% in 2025.
- EV deliveries at GM climbed 48% year-over-year, making it the No. 2 seller of all-electric vehicles in the U.S. behind Tesla.
- Toyota posted an 8% U.S. sales gain (about 2.52 million units), while Hyundai and Kia both reported record years, up 8.4% and 7% respectively; Honda rose 0.5%.
- Stellantis’ U.S. sales fell 3.3% in 2025; Jeep rose by less than 1%, marking its first annual increase since 2018.
- Cox Automotive estimated U.S. light-vehicle sales reached roughly 16.3 million units in 2025, a ~2% increase from 2024.
Background
The U.S. auto market has been adjusting to a post-disruption sales environment following the supply chain shocks of 2020–2021. Automakers that balanced inventory rebuilds with fresh product launches and competitive pricing generally outperformed peers. EV adoption accelerated in 2025, aided by broader model availability across price tiers and clearer incentives in some states.
GM has long been one of the largest sellers in the U.S.; it reclaimed or defended that position in most years except 2021, when Toyota briefly outsold it amid parts bottlenecks. In 2025 GM combined stronger EV volume with gains in SUVs and entry-level models to expand share. Stellantis, by contrast, continued a U.S. turnaround plan that included rebalancing incentives and diversifying powertrains; the parent company faced an overall decline even as Jeep edged into positive annual growth.
Main Event
On Monday GM released preliminary sales figures showing a 5.5% year-over-year gain for 2025 and a Q4 decline of 6.9% with roughly 703,000 units sold in the quarter. The automaker said EVs were a major contributor to the annual increase, with EV sales rising 48% and helping GM become the nation’s second-largest seller of electric passenger vehicles, behind Tesla.
GM’s performance was uneven through the year: several quarters showed growth, but supply, incentive mix and seasonal patterns produced a weaker final quarter. The company also highlighted demand across price points and noted the Buick Envista and large SUVs as volume contributors. GM reported U.S. market share moved up half a percentage point to 17% for the full year.
Across the industry, Toyota recorded an 8% increase and about 2.52 million U.S. sales in 2025. Hyundai and Kia each reported their third consecutive record years, rising 8.4% and 7%, respectively, while Honda posted a modest 0.5% gain. Stellantis overall declined 3.3% during the year as it implemented its U.S. restructuring; Jeep’s under-1% rise was its first annual increase since 2018.
Analysis & Implications
GM’s 5.5% gain in a market that grew roughly 2% indicates the company outpaced the industry in 2025. A near-50% bump in EV sales is particularly significant: it suggests GM’s investment in electric models and related incentives/availability translated into measurable volume. Holding a 17% market share underscores GM’s continued scale advantage in the U.S. market and helps its pricing leverage with suppliers and retailers.
However, the 6.9% Q4 decline shows the recovery is not uniform. Seasonal demand shifts, inventory normalization and competitive discounting likely weighed on quarter-end deliveries. For investors and planners, the contrast between full-year growth and a weak final quarter signals risk around inventory pacing and the durability of EV momentum absent sustained supply and favorable pricing.
Stellantis’ overall 3.3% decline but Jeep’s small uptick illustrate a company in transition. Management statements emphasize a diversified powertrain lineup and sequential quarterly improvements, which can presage a turnaround if product cadence and dealer execution continue. Nonetheless, achieving consistent growth across brands will depend on restoring profitability in volume segments while managing incentive spend.
Comparison & Data
| Automaker/Brand | 2025 U.S. Change | 2025 U.S. Sales (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| General Motors | +5.5% | >2.85 million |
| Toyota | +8% | ~2.52 million |
| Hyundai | +8.4% | Not disclosed |
| Kia | +7% | Not disclosed |
| Honda | +0.5% | Not disclosed |
| Stellantis (parent) | -3.3% | Not disclosed |
| Jeep (brand) | +<1% | Not disclosed |
The table summarizes percentage changes reported for major manufacturers; full company disclosures list model-level and channel breakdowns that explain where gains concentrated. For GM, GM’s roughly 703,000 Q4 deliveries explain the year-end split between a strong full-year result and a weaker quarter.
Reactions & Quotes
Stellantis highlighted sequential improvements and a broadened powertrain mix as evidence its U.S. strategy is beginning to work. The company pointed to quarterly gains and market-share progress while acknowledging ongoing work to complete the turnaround.
“With consecutive quarterly sales increases and market share growth, it’s clear that we are taking the right steps to reset our business in the U.S.,”
Jeff Kommor, Head of Stellantis U.S. Retail Sales (company release)
GM emphasized that demand was strong across price points and that the company expects to build on 2025 momentum. Management framed the EV gains and expanded market share as central to near-term plans.
“Demand for our brands and products is strong at every price point, and we are well-positioned to build on this momentum in the year ahead,”
Duncan Aldred, GM President of North America (company statement)
Unconfirmed
- The long-term sustainability of GM’s 48% EV growth depends on model availability and pricing trends that have not been fully disclosed in company summaries.
- Industry forecasts for 2026 volumes vary; Cox Automotive’s projection cited here is an estimate and subject to revision as the year progresses.
Bottom Line
GM’s full-year 2025 performance — a 5.5% U.S. sales increase and more than 2.85 million vehicles sold — positions it as one of the stronger performers in a modestly growing U.S. market. The firm’s EV acceleration and modest market-share gain are the most notable positives in its results, even as a weaker fourth quarter signals operational and timing risks.
For Stellantis, a 3.3% decline for the parent company combined with Jeep’s first annual gain since 2018 points to early signs of recovery rather than a completed turnaround. Observers should watch quarterly cadence, incentive trends and EV production ramping across manufacturers to assess whether 2025’s patterns continue into 2026.
Sources
- CNBC (news media report summarizing automaker results)
- Cox Automotive (industry data and market forecast, corporate)
- GM Media (press/official) (company releases and statements)
- Stellantis Newsroom (company releases and statements)