Who Is the #1 Selling Car Company in the US? Latest Rankings and How to Check

TL;DR / Key takeaways

• Quick answer: General Motors (GM) is the #1 selling car company in the US by total light‑vehicle sales based on the latest full-year results available from manufacturers.
• Make sure you mean “company” (automaker group) and not “brand” (Toyota, Ford) or “model” (F‑Series). The #1 answer changes with the metric.
• Expect quarterly shuffles, but GM has led the US market in recent years on full‑year totals.
• To check today’s standing, look at each automaker’s quarterly/annual US sales release and compare totals-no special tools needed.
• Watch the fine print: retail vs fleet, brand vs group, and whether Tesla estimates are included. These can flip rankings in headlines.

You want a simple, current answer, not a rabbit hole. Here it is: the number 1 selling car company in the US, by total light‑vehicle sales on a full‑year basis, is General Motors. That’s using the standard industry view-automaker group totals reported by the companies. If you meant the top brand or top model, the answer is different. I’ll show you the exact differences, give you recent numbers, and a two‑minute way to confirm the latest position any time of year.

Who’s #1 right now-and what “#1” actually measures

When people ask “Who’s #1?”, they usually mean the biggest automaker by total US sales. On that basis, GM holds the top spot based on the most recent full‑year results reported by automakers. That’s Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick combined. It’s the cleanest apples-to-apples number the industry uses.

But here’s where confusion sneaks in: headlines and ads don’t always use the same yardstick. Three common yardsticks exist, and each can crown a different winner:

• Automaker group (company): This bundles all the brands under one parent in the US. Example: GM (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick). This is the metric behind “largest automaker.”
• Brand: A single badge like Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Honda. The brand that wins in retail-only sales is not always the brand that wins in total sales.
• Model line: A single nameplate like F‑Series, Silverado, RAV4. This is where truck lines usually dominate.

So, if you want a clean, defensible answer to the original question-company totals-GM is on top in the US on the latest full‑year company-reported results. If a friend insists it’s Toyota or Ford, they might be talking about “brand” rankings, a single quarter, or retail-only sales (no fleet). All can be true under certain definitions.

Quick credibility note: carmakers publish their US sales in quarterly and year-end press releases. For hard numbers, go straight to primary sources like GM’s US sales releases, Toyota’s USA newsroom, Ford’s media site, and the other OEM press rooms. For Tesla, US-only numbers are estimates because Tesla reports global deliveries, not a US breakdown.

Why GM stays on top (and when it doesn’t)

GM’s edge comes from big, consistent volume across pickups, SUVs, and crossovers-plus a healthy fleet business. Chevrolet and GMC trucks do a ton of work here, and crossovers like Equinox and Tahoe keep the baseline high even when trucks swing. Cadillac and Buick round out the mix but the heavy lifting is Chevy and GMC.

There are years when another company grabs the crown-especially in unusual supply years. You might remember when Toyota jumped to #1 in 2021 after the chip shortage hit GM particularly hard. But when supply normalized, GM regained the lead on annual totals and has held that position since.

Let’s ground this in real numbers from the latest full year most readers have top‑of‑mind. Here are US light‑vehicle sales by automaker group for a recent full year (rounded, from company press releases and US media rooms):

Two important footnotes on those figures:

• They’re rounded, pulled from automaker releases for a recent full year so you can see the scale and the margin. GM’s lead isn’t a rounding error-it’s hundreds of thousands of units.
• Tesla’s US sales are widely estimated by analysts; Tesla doesn’t report US-only deliveries. That’s why some rankings leave Tesla out of the “official” table or present a separate estimate table.

What can flip the headline?

• Quarterly timing: One company can win Q2 and still lose the full year.
• Retail vs fleet: If you strip out rental/commercial fleet, brand rankings can change. Toyota brand often touts retail strength; Ford brand benefits from strong fleet, especially trucks and vans.
• Brand vs company: Ford brand might top Toyota brand in a quarter, but Toyota Motor North America (Toyota + Lexus) might still edge Ford Motor Company-or not. Same with Chevrolet vs Toyota brand vs Ford brand.
• Model lines: Pickup families (F‑Series, Silverado/Sierra) are so big they can distort the “vibes.” A model can be #1 while its parent company is #2 or #3 overall.

In plain English: GM tends to hold the annual throne because it stacks volume across several big sellers and runs large fleet channels. Others might win a quarter or a brand‑only list, but the full‑year, all‑in math usually lands back on GM.

How to verify today’s #1 in under 2 minutes (and avoid bad takes)

If you’re checking mid‑year or want the freshest number, here’s a simple, repeatable way to get the answer without arguing on social.

1. Pick your metric first. Company total? Brand only? Retail only? Write it down so you’re comparing like with like.
2. Grab the latest sales releases. Go to each automaker’s US media site or newsroom: GM, Toyota (USA), Ford, Stellantis, Hyundai and Kia, Honda, Nissan, Subaru. Download or skim their “US Sales” press release for the quarter or year.
3. Note the total line. Find the line that says “Total US sales” for the period. Ignore global figures. Jot the totals for the same period (Q1, H1, Q3 YTD, or full year).
4. Sort the list. The biggest number is your #1 for that period and metric. Screenshot your notes if you’re sharing online.
5. Check for asterisks. Look for labels like “retail only,” “excluding fleet,” or “deliveries.” If one release excludes fleet and the others don’t, that’s not a fair comparison.

That’s it. No paywall. No subscriptions. Straight from the source.

Pro tips while you do this:

• Stick to consistent periods. Don’t compare Brand A’s Q2 to Brand B’s H1. Apples to apples.
• Quarterly data moves. If you’re not using full‑year totals, expect rankings to swing. It doesn’t mean someone “lost the crown”-it means you’re looking at a slice of the year.
• Watch “deliveries” vs “sales.” They usually mean the same thing in US press releases, but Tesla uses “deliveries” as a global metric and not by country.
• Remember parent groups. Hyundai and Kia are separate US companies but share a parent group; some analysts list them combined, some don’t. Know which list you’re reading.

Cheat sheet you can save:

• Largest automaker by annual US sales (company): GM leads on recent full‑year totals.
• Top brand by annual US sales: Often Toyota or Ford; it can flip depending on fleet and the year.
• Top model line: Ford F‑Series often wins; Chevrolet Silverado (plus GMC Sierra if combined as GM full‑size pickups) is right there too.

Why this matters if you’re shopping: market share isn’t a verdict on quality, but it hints at parts availability, dealer presence, and incentives. A high‑volume brand usually means easier servicing, more inventory choice, and more negotiation leverage. That said, always check reliability data and safety ratings model by model.

Mini‑FAQ

Is “#1 selling car company” the same as “#1 brand”?

No. Company totals combine all a parent’s brands. Brand totals look at one badge. GM can be the largest company while Toyota or Ford might be the largest single brand in a given period.

Who is the #1 selling brand in the US?

It depends on the year and whether you include fleet. Toyota brand and Ford brand often trade places. Check each brand’s full‑year US release for the final call.

Which model sells the most?

Most years, Ford F‑Series leads models by volume. Chevrolet Silverado and Ram pickups are close. Among SUVs, Toyota RAV4 has been a frequent leader.

Why don’t some lists include Tesla?

Tesla doesn’t publish US‑only sales. Analysts estimate, but because there’s no official US breakdown, many tables leave Tesla out or mark it as an estimate.

Why do some headlines say one company “wins” even when the numbers look close?

Headlines often use a narrower metric-like retail‑only sales, one quarter, or a single segment. Always check the footnotes to see what was counted.

Quick checklist: read any auto sales claim like a pro

• Am I looking at company totals, brand totals, or a single model?
• Is this full‑year, year‑to‑date, or one quarter?
• Does it include fleet sales?
• Are two companies being grouped (e.g., Hyundai + Kia) while others aren’t?
• Is the number US‑only or global?

If you need the numbers for a report or a purchase decision

Here’s a simple decision path you can use whether you’re a buyer, student, or reporter.

• If you’re buying a car: use the brand-level data, not just company totals. High market share can help with inventory and parts, but quality and safety are model‑specific. Cross‑check with crash tests (IIHS, NHTSA) and dependability studies (J.D. Power, Consumer Reports testing) before you sign anything.
• If you’re writing a piece: define the metric in your first sentence. “By full‑year company totals,” “by brand retail‑only sales,” or “by Q2 deliveries.” Readers will trust you more when you spell it out.
• If you’re comparing incentives: market leaders often have more inventory, which can mean stronger discounts at the end of the month or quarter. Check manufacturer incentive bulletins and local dealer inventory for leverage.

Data table: context from a recent full year

One more table so you can see how the leaders stack up in a recent full year. These numbers are rounded and compiled from automaker US press releases. They’re here to give scale, not to settle a debate down to the last unit.

Primary sources you can cite with confidence: automaker quarterly and year‑end US sales releases (GM, Toyota USA Newsroom, Ford Media, Stellantis Media, Hyundai and Kia US media sites). If you need industry‑wide totals, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) publishes national light‑vehicle sales, but not by company.

Next steps / Troubleshooting

• If you want the freshest ranking today: pull the latest quarterly US sales press releases from the top five companies and sort the totals. Takes two minutes.
• If a headline contradicts this page: check if it’s quoting a single quarter, brand‑only, or retail‑only leaderboard. Different question, different winner.
• If you’re comparing brands for a purchase: market share is just step one. Add safety ratings, reliability scores, warranty terms, and dealer service reputation in your zip code.
• If you’re a student or analyst: save a spreadsheet and append each quarter’s totals by company. Mark whether fleet is included. You’ll spot trends fast.
• If you see Tesla missing: that’s normal in US‑only tables. Most lists won’t include estimated US splits unless clearly labeled.

Bottom line: if you mean the biggest automaker in the United States by total light‑vehicle sales on a full‑year basis, GM is your answer. If you mean something else-brand, model, quarter, or retail‑only-the winner can change. Define your metric, grab the latest releases, and you’ll always have the right #1.