15:12 - 2.04.2025

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April 2, Fineko/abc.az. Sales of General Motors Co. (GM), Hyundai Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in the United States grew in the first quarter ahead of Washington's imposition of duties on car imports.

ABC.AZ reports that thus, sales of GM vehicles for Jan-Mar grew by 17%, which was the best dynamics for the first quarter since 2018, to 693,400 cars. All four brands of the company showed double-digit growth rates: Chevrolet sales increased by 14%, Cadillac - by 21%, GMC - by 18%, Buick - by 39%.

Sales of Hyundai vehicles in the first quarter increased by 10% to a record of 203,600 vehicles for Jan-Mar, with an increase of 11% in March. Kia's quarterly sales jumped 11% to 198,850, which was also a record for the first quarter.

Analytical companies Edmunds and Cox Automotive predicted a rise in car sales in the U.S. in the first quarter due to the expected increase in import duties, which is likely to trigger higher prices.

Duties of 25% on car imports will begin to take effect in the U.S. this week.

Sales of Japanese automaker Toyota in the U.S. increased less than by 1% in the first quarter, but grew by 7.7% in March. Sales of Lexus luxury brand cars increased by 14% and 5.8%, respectively.

Ford Motor Co. recorded a 1.3% drop in sales in the first quarter (to 501,291), which was expected, given the large stocks of the company's vehicles at dealers.