Strange Times
It’s interesting to see how the U.S. EV industry has reacted to the volatile automotive world we currently live in. On one hand, rising fuel prices should have helped sales rebound after a tough 2025, but new car buyers have still driven away in hybrids. The industry is filled with speculation about why EV sales are slumping, but the effect is felt across the board.
A major player is experiencing an overall sales slump for a 4th consecutive quarter because of weak demand for its EV lineup. GM is seeing slower, lower sales, as shown by recently released numbers.
EVs Pulling Down The Group
Automotive News just released a report detailing GM’s (General Motors) current sales struggles. The report paints a sobering picture: despite strong demand for GM’s pickups and small crossovers, weaker demand for its EVs has pulled the brand‘s overall sales down. The headline figures show that GM sold 670,974 vehicles in the U.S. in the third quarter, down 5.5% from last year. By brand, Chevrolet sales dipped 4.6%, GMC’s fell 4.7%, and Buick was the only bright spot, up 7.9%.
The biggest loser in the GM group appears to be Cadillac, down 30%, as the brand shifts toward more EV-focused luxury vehicles and cut ICE models by killing off the XT6 and CT4. The report also highlighted specific model sales performance; surprisingly, sales for the Chevy Equinox EV dropped 92% while the Blazer EV fell 84%. Even the GMC Hummer saw a 73% drop in sales, and the Silverado EV and Sierra EV fell 58%, while the Cadillac Lyriq fell 51%. Most of these massive drops resulted from the repeal of the $7,500 tax credit for new EV sales.
Small Crossover and Pickup Saviors
The GM group has a few bright spots, with the planned introduction of the updated Silverado and Sierra pickups set to bolster a strong segment for GM. The small crossover lineup is also contributing to growth. Trailblazer sales rose 51%, Trax sales up 16%, and even the Buick Envista is up 18%.
One automaker capitalizing on GM’s slump is Toyota, which is now challenging GM’s overall sales position. Through September, Toyota rose 0.6% and is just 130,000 vehicles shy of taking GM’s market leader spot in the U.S.
Cole Attisha
