The first quarter of 2025 has come to a close and we have begun to see who the biggest winners and losers are. While some brands have failed to adapt to the new landscape, others have found their stride and continue to see impressive growth, particularly in the United States.
Many automakers saw some of the best sales numbers in their history in March, which could be indicative of a number of things. Impending tariffs and increases to the cost of vehicles could have played a large role. Regardless, there are a number of brands which are proving they have the stuff to challenge for the top spot when it comes to sales.
By exploring the sales figures from various automakers, we have found the ten brands that sold the largest number of vehicles in the first quarter of 2025 in the United States. We explore what parts of their strategies has resonated with consumers, and where they may have fallen short compared to last year.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Reuters and TopSpeed. This article is based on the most up-to-date sales figures at the time of publishing. Automakers that did not report their U.S. sales were excluded from the list.
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10
Jeep
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 140,584
While Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, struggled in the U.S. this year, with total sales falling 12 percent from 2024, Jeep managed to keep things fairly stable overall. Their standing with Americans has held, with the brand offering stylish off-road capable SUVs that come in at competitive prices.
Key Takeaways
- Total retail sales increased 2% year-on-year
- Jeep Compass sales up 15% year-on-year
- Jeep Grand Cherokee sales up 14% year-on-year
- Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe accounted for 23% of all Grand Cherokee sales
- Jeep Wrangler 4xe accounted for 26% of all Wrangler sales
Jeep has had some trouble gaining traction with certain models, but it looks like they seem to be recovering, even increasing overall sales slightly compared to last year. In particular, their electrified offerings have performed pretty well, all things considered, making up an impressively large portion of units moved this year.
9
GMC
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 146,221
As a group, General Motors had a fantastic first quarter, sitting at the top of the sales chart. Each of their individual brands performed exceptionally, including GMC. This all-American brand had one of its best first quarters in many years, with sales increasing across the board.
Key Takeaways
- Best-ever Q1 retail market share
- Best-ever Q1 sales for Denali models
- Best-ever Q1 Sierra sales, up 13%
- Best-ever Q1 Canyon sales, up 66%
- Best Yukon sales numbers since 2007
GMC has had a fantastic year so far, with all of their key models hitting new highs. The brand has clearly found its stride, and it looks like their growth is primed to continue through the rest of the year. Their new Acadia is performing exceptionally well, as well as their EV sales being the highest they have ever been.
8
Subaru
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 166,957
Subaru is kind of a quiet giant in the automotive world. People don’t talk about them much, but they continue to perform excellently when it comes to sales. This is in no small part thanks to how practical their vehicles are, their value proposition, and the fact that they are one of the most reliable brands at the moment.
Key Takeaways
- March 2025 is the best-ever sales month in company history
- 2025 Q1 sales are up 9.1 percent compared to last year
- 32nd consecutive month of sales growth
- Best ever month for Forester sales
- Best march sales figures for Crosstrek and Solterra
Subaru has had an absolutely fantastic Q1, with their March sales being particularly impressive. They sold 71,478 in March 2025 alone, making it the best sales month ever recorded for Subaru of America. The Forester remains the brand’s number one seller, with the Outback and the cool little Crosstrek not far behind.
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7
Kia
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 198,850
Another brand that has had a record-breaking Q1 is Kia. They have focused on producing vehicles that offer the best value for money in each segment in which they compete, and this strategy is clearly paying off for them. They also have an excellent EV line-up, giving consumers plenty of options.
Key Takeaways
- Record-breaking Q1 sales
- Best-ever March sales
- Sixth consecutive month of sales increases
- Carnival, Sportage, Telluride, K4 featured highest sales numbers to date
- The new K4 has seen sales increases every month since its introduction
Kia’s winning trend continues, with the brand proving that value is king. Their affordable models top their sales figures, with the Kia K4/Forte and the Sportage being the biggest movers for the brand. While most of their gas-powered models saw sales go up, their EV models seem to be struggling a little bit in 2025.
6
Hyundai
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 203,554
The first brand to break the 200,000-unit mark for the quarter is Hyundai. They follow a similar ideology to their Korean cousin, Kia, opting to pack their cars full of value, and keeping MSRPs low. They have also had a record-breaking month, with sales increasing a huge amount year-on-year.
Key Takeaways
- Total sales up 10% percent compared to 2024
- March sales up 13 percent from last year
- Sixth month in a row of record-breaking sales
- Sales of electrified vehicles up 38 percent
- Best ever sales month for Elantra N, Santa Fe, Tucson, IONIQ 5, and Palisade
Hyundai has seen consistent growth which seems to have skyrocketed in March. They sold 87,019 units in March, which is more than some brands higher up on this list, which could indicate even further growth as the year goes on. Notably, their electric vehicles seem to be performing better than those from Kia.
5
Nissan
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 253,920
Nissan is a brand that has been under the microscope a little bit lately. However, their sales in the United States have steadily been increasing. Last year was a peak for the brand in terms of sales, and this quarter has shown significant improvement compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Deliveries up 5.7% from Q1 2024
- Nissan Versa sales increased 156%
- Nissan Leaf sales up 103%
- Nissan Murano sales up 84.1%
- Best Nissan Kicks sales numbers since its introduction in 2018
The biggest winners in Nissan’s lineup are their sedans, with car sales up 45.1 percent compared to last quarter. While niche, its worth noting that the Z sports car sold 2,154 units this quarter, which is a 221 percent increase from last year and a mighty impressive figure. The only area the brand took a tumble is in truck sales, which dropped 12.7 percent.
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4
Honda
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 320,811
Honda is a brand that has been consistently strong ever since its entry into the U.S. market. They have a fantastic reputation and consumers trust them to deliver quality products. Their momentum continues this year, with another increase in total sales, putting them just outside the top three.
Key Takeaways
- Total sales up 13% from 2024
- All-time highest SUV/Light Truck sales
- Best March for hybrid and EV sales
- Best sales month ever for the CR-V
- Odyssey sales surpass 10,000 units for the first time in four years
Honda’s SUVs are their bread and butter, with the CR-V sitting pretty near the top of the overall sales charts. The company sold over 103,000 CR-Vs alone. While their SUVs are performing excellently, the Honda Civic and Accord both took hits this quarter. These cars and the RIdgeline pickup are the only vehicles in the brand’s lineup that saw sales decrease year-on-year.
3
Chevrolet
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 443,564
Chevrolet has always been a top contender in the United States and this isn’t likely to change any time soon. They ended last year with the Silverado being the second best-selling vehicle in the country. This year, it already looks like they are on track to smash 2024’s sales figures.
Key Takeaways
- 11th consecutive quarter of retail sales growth
- Best-ever Q1 for the Trax, up 57%
- Best Colorado sales since 2019
- EV sales up 119 percent
- Best Q1 for the Tahoe since 2007
The biggest seller for Chevrolet continues to be the Silverado pickup truck, with 129,714 units delivered this quarter already. However, a number of their other vehicles have seen immense growth, such as the Equinox and the Trax. The Corvette took a big hit this quarter, though, with deliveries down 20.8 percent.
2
Toyota
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 487,226
On a global scale, Toyota is the best-selling car company in the world. In the United States, they flex their muscles, coming in second at the end of the first quarter. While certain areas of their lineup have seen improvements in sales, the company didn’t see much of an increase overall compared to last year.
Key Takeaways
- Overall sales up 0.1% compared to Q1 2024
- March sales up 6.6%
- Quarterly electrified vehicle sales up 44%
- Quarterly pickup truck sales up 65.1%
- Quarterly GR86 sales up 36.1%
Toyota has seen some big successes and some fumbles in the last quarter. The Supra continues to sell in very low numbers, with sales decreasing steadily. The 4Runner, which entered a new generation, also saw a pretty large sales decline. Comparably, people have embraced the Tacoma, with its quarterly sales up 177.5 percent.
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1
Ford
Units Sold in Q1 2025: 501,291
Ford is arguably the American car company, especially in recent times. They sit at the top of the sales charts as the first quarter closes. This is in no small part thanks to an increase in their retail sales. However, overall the company sold fewer vehicles in Q1 of 2025 than it did in Q1 of 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Total first quarter sales down 1.3%
- Retail sales increased 5%
- March sales up 19%
- Electrified vehicle sales up 25.5% for the quarter
- Truck sales increased 15% compared to last quarter
Ford’s sales are a bit of a mixed bag. They sell a lot of fleet vehicles and rental vehicles and the discontinuation of the Ford Edge and Transit Connect accounts for a lot of lost income. Quarterly SUV and car sales also decreased overall. However, the American brand is saved by their trucks, with pickup sales increasing 15 percent compared to last year to 290,387 units.
