loading . . . GM sales strong in first quarter but tariffs loom General Motors Co.'s U.S. sales increased 17% in the first quarter of 2025 on strengths in trucks, SUVs and electric vehicles, but new tariffs loom.
Delivering 693,363 vehicles in the first three months of the year, GM outpaced its competitors in total U.S. sales. The Detroit automaker, however, is more vulnerable to the 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and major parts like engines and transmissions set to start being collected on Thursday, as it imports hundreds of thousands of vehicles from South Korea, China, Mexico and Canada.
“GM’s sales growth outpaced every other major automaker, and the driving force is our portfolio,” Rory Harvey, GM executive vice president and president of global markets, said in a statement. “We're the industry leader in trucks and affordable small SUVs, Cadillac is growing significantly in luxury, and we have the broadest portfolio of EVs in the industry.”
Some of GM's imported vehicles won't seen immediate impact. Those that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement remain duty-free until the government puts the processes in place to exclude only the value of U.S. content. According to the latest figures from the U.S. Trade Representative, 92% of vehicles imported from Canada and Mexico are compliant. That includes GM vehicles like some Chevy Silverados and the Blazer and Equinox SUVs.
All four GM brands recorded sales increases in the first quarter: Buick was up by 39%, Cadillac increased by 18%, Chevrolet grew up by 14% and GMC was up 18%. Retail sales grew by 15% for the best first quarter since 2018, and GM Envolve commercial fleet sales grew by 25%. EV sales were up 94%.
Chevy had its best first quarter since 2019. Silverado pickup sales fell 0.2% in the quarter, including a 125% increase in sales of the all-electric Silverado EV. Blazer EV sales grew more than 10 times, though the gas-powered model fell by 13%. Equinox EV sales hit more than 10,000, and the gas-powered version grew by 31%, its best first quarter since 2020. Suburban grew 40%, Tahoe was up by 28% for its best Q1 since 2007, Trailblazer increased by 21%, Traverse increased by 62% for a best-ever first quarter and the Trax rose by 57%. Colorado midsize truck sales had their best first quarter since 2019, up 73%.
Cadillac retail sales were up 21%, with EVs up 37% following the launch of the Escalade IQ and Optiq SUVs, with both nearing 2,000 sales. All-electric Lyriq sales, however, fell 26%. Sales of the traditional gas-powered Escalade rose 39%, its best first quarter ever.
GMC had its best first quarter ever, according to the automaker. Sierra truck sales rose 15% for its best ever first quarter, including the EV model. Hummer EV pickups and SUVs more than doubled. Yukon sales were up 30% for its best first quarter since 2005, but Terrain sales fell 27%. Acadia sales grew by 73%. The Canyon midsize truck had its best first quarter, up 66%.
Buick had its best quarter since 2006. Enclave rose by 37% for its best first quarter since 2019, Envision increased 17% and Envista was up by 54% for its best quarter. It also was the best quarter for the Encore GX, up 53%.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: GM sales strong in first quarter but tariffs loom https://detne.ws/3XHj0XQ
