Here’s the latest in automotive sales and strategy:
Nissan’s turnaround efforts in North America are roughly 60% complete, according to Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier, who spoke last month at the New York Auto Forum. Meunier, who joined the company 15 months ago, said he encountered dealers who were “very upset” and a company that had lost momentum in vehicle sales. He said improving dealer profitability is now the company’s top key performance indicator. Since his arrival, Nissan has increased its share of U.S.-built vehicles from 44% to 65% and reduced tariff exposure from $4 billion to $1.5 billion.
Toyota is continuing to expand its battery-electric vehicle lineup in the U.S., even as demand slows and some competitors scale back their investments in the segment. The automaker currently sells four imported electric vehicles in the U.S. and plans to introduce a fifth model this month. Production of a new U.S.-built EV is scheduled to begin later this year at its Kentucky facility, with another model expected in 2027. That would bring Toyota’s total EV lineup in the U.S. to seven vehicles. According to Cox Automotive, EVs accounted for 10.5% of U.S. new vehicle sales in the third quarter of last year but declined to 5.8% by the end of 2025.
Stellantis reported a 4% increase in U.S. sales during the first quarter of 2026, driven by gains across several of its brands, including Jeep, Ram and Dodge. The automaker sold 305,902 vehicles in the U.S. during the period, according to The Detroit News. Ram led the growth with a 20% increase in sales, while Jeep sales rose 3% and Dodge sales increased 4%. The results suggest early signs of a turnaround for the company in the U.S. market under new leadership. Stellantis has struggled in recent years, with overall sales declining 3% in 2025, marking its seventh consecutive annual drop.
The U.S. light-vehicle market slowed in March and throughout the first quarter, with many major automakers reporting declining sales amid continued volatility. Q1 sales fell at General Motors, Toyota Motor, Honda Motor and Nissan Motor, according to Automotive News, which attributed the declines in part to comparisons with unusually strong sales in March 2025. Severe winter weather and persistent consumer concerns about near-record vehicle prices also weighed on demand. GM reported a 9.7% drop in deliveries during the quarter. Sales declined 8.1% at Chevrolet, 0.2% at GMC, 33% at Buick and 26% at Cadillac.
Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Adam Chamberlain says that 2026 is shaping up to be more challenging than expected, pointing to early-year market conditions and broader economic uncertainty. Chamberlain told CNBC during a visit to the automaker’s manufacturing plant in Vance, AL, that market conditions in the early months of the year have proven to be more challenging than expected. He added that various distractions, including geopolitical issues, are contributing to the tougher environment.
