US Car Sales Show American Brands Still Dominate
Korean brands are catching up, but do they have enough to become number one?
As 2025 ends, everyone in the automotive industry wants to know about car sales. Every year, there are winners and losers, and 2025 was no different. However, US car sales are showing some changing trends.
We analyzed sales figures from major automakers to highlight some of the positives and negatives of a crazy year in sales. Here are the ten best-selling automakers in the US.
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- General Motors: 2,850,000 vehicles sold in 2025
- Ford: 2,204,124 vehicles sold in 2025
- Toyota: 2,147,811 vehicles sold in 2025
- Tesla: 1,636,129 vehicles sold in 2025
- Honda: 1,430,577 vehicles sold in 2025
- Stellantis: 1,260,344 vehicles sold in 2025
- Nissan: 926,153 vehicles sold in 2025
- Hyundai: 901,686 vehicles sold in 2025
- Kia: 852,155 vehicles sold in 2025
- Volkswagen: 329,813 vehicles sold in 2025
So, which companies were the winners and losers? Let’s start with the positives.
US car sales winners in 2025
Ford
2025 was not a kind year for Ford when it comes to quality issues. The famed automaker broke the record for most recalls in a year, with 100+ incidents.
Despite having such a troublesome year in this department, brand loyalty remained strong. Ford didn’t beat its rival GM, but it was close, thanks to products such as the F-150 and Maverick.
GM
Of course, GM falls in the winner category but not because it landed in the number one spot. Well, partly because of this, but it’s not the only reason. GM managed to lead the full-size SUV market as well as earn the second spot in EV sales, just behind Tesla.
Tesla
America’s most popular EV company got off to a rocky start after CEO Elon Musk delved into politics and hurt the company’s financial presence, with the stock going through a rollercoaster with every official statement. However, in the product section, Tesla plowed along, producing a historic 434,000 vehicles in Q4.
Hyundai
While the Korean automaker did not break the million-unit mark, it got close. However, what matters isn’t that figure especifically, but the fact that the company has consistently achieved record sales for five straight years.
Plus, as it expands to other products such as a midsize pickup, we could see the company become a clear contender for the number one spot soon.
That’s not to say that the other brands aren’t winners. Toyota, for example, continued with a consistent sales pace, although nothing surprising. However, consistency is key.
US car sales losers in 2025
Stellantis
“Wait, what?” You might wonder, mainly because Stellantis ranked 6th in sales. That’s precisely why we must place it in this dishonorable section.
Stellantis owns 14 brands globally and seven in the US: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Maserati. Even with so many brands, it fails to dominate, when it should.
However, here at Four Wheel Trends, we’re the first to recognize that the company is making the right moves, and we could see a better performance next year.
Volkswagen
The German automaker is struggling lately and 2025 is proof that the future is challenging. Tariffs might have been one deciding factor, but the reality is that Volkswagen’s bet on electric energy is a clear contradiction to what the US is promoting in the future.
Not only that, but its other brands, such as Audi and Lamborghini aren’t exactly big sellers. The positive light is that Porsche maintains a solid following and a great reputation for reliablity.
Volvo
The Swedish automaker isn’t even on the list as it has sold around 75,000 units globally. However, there was a time when Volvo had a decent presence in US auto sales.
Now, it’s barely hanging on, and tariffs have squeezed its ability to cope with the US market. At the same time, Chinese competitors in other markets are outperforming it. It’d be a miracle if the company survives for long.
Us car sales were a surprising theme throughout the year, and it won’t change in 2026. We’re bound to have surprises and, more than that, challenges. With car prices increasing so much, the average consumer could be priced out, leading to fewer sales. Let’s buckle up and ride this 2026.