New car sales in the United States hit a 6-year high
Despite the slowdown at the end of the year, new car sales in the United States surprised in 2025, rising 2.3% to 16.3 million units — the best result since 2019 — as consumers rushed to make purchases ahead of price increases caused by duties, policy changes and the expiration of incentives for electric vehicles, according to Automotive News
Analysts point out that the Trump administration's federal measures, including 25 percent duties on imported cars and spare parts, as well as the termination of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit in September, have boosted demand. However, the dynamics slowed down at the end of the year: in the fourth quarter, sales fell by 4.3%, while sales of electric vehicles increased by about 37%.
The full-year results were favorable for automakers with a wide range of products: GM, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and BMW showed growth, while several brands that mainly import cars experienced declines. Hybrid cars have become an exceptional phenomenon, offsetting a sharp slowdown in electric vehicle sales and increasingly becoming the standard consumer choice among electric vehicles.