FILE - This Chevrolet Silverado EV sits on display at the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago. GM reports an upsurge in electric vehicle sales during the first quarter of 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

Despite a drop of nearly 10 percentage points from the previous year, General Motors leads the nation in auto sales.

GM sales in the first quarter of 2026 totaled 626,429 vehicles, the company reported this week in its news release. Chevrolet’s Silverado line accounted for 128,818 of its U.S. deliveries or 20.5%. GMC’s three Sierra models totalled 75,607 for the first quarter.

The company’s U.S. dealer inventory as of March numbered 516,287.

“We saw showroom traffic and sales steadily improve after January’s storms, and March was a much stronger month,” said Duncan Aldred, GM senior vice president and president of North America.

“We are well positioned for the future because of our operating discipline and the compelling value we offer, from affordable SUVs to premium vehicles and trucks.”

GM suffered a decline of 9.7% compared with the same period a year earlier. GM officials said it expected a similar fall for the industry as a whole.

The company said year-over-year comparisons are skewed by a high selling rate in March 2025. At that time industrywide sales soared to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of more than 18 million units.

The company noted it sold 25,900 electric vehicles for the first three months of the year. Slightly besting its fourth quarter 2025 showing, GM was second in U.S. EV sales for the period.

FORD INCREASES SHARE

Powered by double-digit growth in Ford’s large SUVs and F-Series, the Dearborn, Michigan-company said it delivered a higher first quarter retail share amid a shifting industry landscape.

Ford said its shift toward high-margin SUVs like Expedition and Explorer lifted its stimated retail market share to 11.6% — a 0.2 percentage point increase. This gain was achieved even as the company manages the end of the Escape and Lincoln Corsair lines.

Total sales declined 8.8%. Ford said in a news release the company will enter the second half of the year with a more focused, high-demand product mix as F-Series inventory normalizes, and the Explorer and Bronco family gain further momentum.

The F-Series delivered 159,901 trucks with sales growing sequentially in February and March with its strongest volume for the quarter in March at 62,238 trucks sold.

“The first quarter showed our team worked hard to maintain retail share and navigate a hanging industry, while underlying demand remains strong for F-Series, SUVs and the Ford Pro business,” said Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue and Model e.

“We’re focusing on our high-demand segment strengths while continuing to meet the needs of our customers with affordable and premium vehicle choices.”

Ford recorded 457,315 total vehicle sales in its first quarter.

Toyota Motor North America reported March 2026 U.S. sales of 211,617 vehicles, down 8.5% on a volume basis compared to March 2025. EV sales for the month totaled 115,422, up 2.5% on a volume basis.

For the first quarter, Toyota reported sales of 569,420 vehicles, down 0.1%. Sales of electrified vehicles for the first quarter totaled 287,276, down 0.5%. The Toyota division posted March sales of 182,606 vehicles, down 6.9%. For the quarter, the Toyota division reported sales of 488,468 vehicles, up 0.3%.