New vehicle sales in the United States rose by 2.4% in 2025, marking the auto industry’s strongest annual performance since 2019.
The rebound followed earlier warnings from analysts who predicted that President Donald Trump’s trade and manufacturing policies would damage automakers and push prices higher.
Instead, major manufacturers reported solid gains across multiple segments of the market.
Ford recorded its best annual sales result since 2019, reflecting renewed demand for domestically produced vehicles.
General Motors posted its strongest year for SUV sales in decades, benefiting from consumer preference for larger vehicles.
Stellantis reported its first annual increase in Jeep brand sales since 2018, signalling a turnaround for the marque.
Honda achieved its best US sales performance since 2021, supported by steady demand across its model range.
Hyundai reported record sales in the United States, highlighting growing competitiveness among Asian manufacturers.
Industry data showed that tariffs introduced under the Trump administration did not lead to higher vehicle prices as previously forecast.
Supporters of the policy agenda pointed to tax deductions on auto loan interest for buyers of US-made vehicles as a key driver of demand.
Automakers including Ford, General Motors, Hyundai, Stellantis, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and others expanded or announced new US production investments.
The administration also rolled back fuel economy standards introduced under the previous government, which officials said would have added close to $1,000 to the average cost of a new car.
Additional measures included removing mandatory stop-start engine systems and approving production of smaller, lower-cost vehicles.
State-level electric vehicle mandates were revoked, easing compliance costs for manufacturers.
Together, these steps were credited by the White House with lowering long-term costs for consumers and strengthening domestic auto production.