The American auto market in 2025 continued its well-established trend: trucks and SUVs overwhelmingly dominate consumer preference, while passenger cars fade further into the background. Electric vehicles (EVs) remain a niche segment, with Tesla holding the only two spots in the top 25 best-selling vehicles.
Ford’s Reign, GM’s Technical Victory
The Ford F-Series once again topped individual sales charts, moving 801,525 units — a 9.5% increase year-over-year. This confirms its status as the nation’s best-selling vehicle for decades. However, a closer look reveals a different picture.
The Chevrolet Silverado sold 577,434 units, securing second place. Crucially, when combined with its GMC Sierra sibling, General Motors (GM) collectively outsold Ford in the full-size truck category, reaching 925,656 units – a margin of over 120,000 vehicles. This highlights a strategic advantage for GM, leveraging two brands to dominate the most profitable segment of the US market.
SUVs Hold Steady, EVs Slow Down
The Toyota RAV4 remained the top-selling SUV, with 479,288 units delivered (up a modest 0.9%). The Honda CR-V followed closely in fourth place with 403,768 sales, showing minimal growth. The Ram 1500 pickup held fifth, while the GMC Sierra secured sixth, with a strong 7.8% increase.
Tesla’s Model Y retained its position as the best-selling EV (317,800 units), though sales dropped by 15%. The Tesla Model 3 ranked 21st, also experiencing a 9% decline. This slowdown in EV growth suggests that while demand exists, it’s not yet enough to challenge traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.
Sedans Struggle to Stay Relevant
Only four passenger cars made it into the top 25, including the Tesla Model 3. The Toyota Camry was the best-selling sedan, ranking eighth with 316,185 deliveries. The Toyota Corolla (11th) and Honda Civic (12th) followed, but their numbers are dwarfed by trucks and SUVs.
Midsize Trucks Surge
The Toyota Tacoma midsize pickup saw a massive 42.4% jump, selling 274,638 units. The Chevrolet Equinox compact SUV nearly matched it with a 32.1% increase, selling 274,356 units. These gains indicate growing consumer interest in more versatile, smaller vehicles.
The overall trend is clear: American buyers overwhelmingly prefer trucks and SUVs. While GM may technically lead in full-size trucks, Ford still dominates individual nameplate sales. EVs, while growing, haven’t yet disrupted the mainstream market. The future will depend on whether automakers can shift consumer preferences, or if these trends will continue for years to come.
