U.S. auto sales decline in Q1 2026: market trends and brand performance

U.S. auto sales fell over 6% in Q1 2026, with GM leading but declining. Toyota and Hyundai-Kia show resilience. Explore key trends and brand performance.
The U.S. automotive market saw a decline in the first quarter of 2026. According to analysts, sales dropped by more than 6%, falling below 3.7 million vehicles. The main reasons included unfavorable weather conditions in winter, rising prices, and a reduction in available models.General Motors remained the market leader, selling 626,429 vehicles, a 9.7% decrease from the previous year. Toyota took second place with 569,420 cars, showing a minimal decline of just 0.1%. This slight drop was driven by Lexus, while the Toyota brand itself posted a small increase.Ford, based on analyst estimates, saw sales fall by 10.6%, to around 448,000 vehicles. Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia managed to grow despite the overall downturn. Hyundai increased sales by 1% to over 205,000 units, and Kia rose by 4% to about 207,000, achieving record results.Among other manufacturers, Honda sold approximately 337,000 vehicles, down 4.2%, Nissan moved 267,000, a 7.5% drop, Subaru sold 141,944, falling 14.9%, and Mitsubishi sold 26,884. The U.S. market is under pressure from price hikes and external factors, but some brands continue to strengthen their positions.