General Motors Co. on Wednesday reported it sold nearly 10% fewer vehicles in the past three months compared to the same time last year, when sales boomed ahead of anticipated tariffs from President Donald Trump.

Spokesperson Jeff Bennett in an email said GM "expects a similar decline for the industry" and noted that "year-over-year comparisons were significantly skewed by an exceptionally high selling rate in March of 2025, when industry-wide sales soared."

Slowed sales of GM vehicles come as experts predict overall fewer U.S. sales this year compared to an unexpectedly good 2025, when total new vehicle sales hit nearly 16.2 million despite up-and-down tariffs and abrupt electric vehicle policy changes under Trump.

Cox Automotive has projected closer to 15.8 million vehicle sales this year, a 2.4% drop from last year.

The expected overall sales drop "doesn't reflect a significant downgrade in consumers' health but rather demonstrates the unusual strength of the prior year leading into the tariff announcements," Deutsche Bank researchers wrote in a March sales preview.

GM sales in the first three months of 2025 boomed as buyers raced to dealerships to avoid anticipated price markups because of tariffs, which Trump announced on what he deemed "Liberation Day" on April 2, 2025.

The start of 2026 was less forgiving. Severe weather dampened sales, according to GM, but traffic picked up in 18% March.

“We saw showroom traffic and sales steadily improve after January’s storms and March was a much stronger month,” said Duncan Aldred, GM vice president and president of North America. “We are well positioned for the future because of our operating discipline and the compelling value we offer, from affordable SUVs to premium vehicles and trucks.”

The light-duty Chevrolet Silverado pickup remained a top seller in the quarter, with more than 84,000 sold between January and March, a roughly 8% increase compared to the same time last year. Other big performers were the light-duty GMC Sierra truck, as well as the Chevy Trax and gas-powered crossover SUV Equinox, which are among GM's least expensive offerings with starting prices at less than $30,000.

©2026 www.detroitnews.com. Visit at detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.