WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:07.760 Through my research I found that Americans bought 16.2 million new vehicles last year and nearly 80 00:07.760 --> 00:14.560 of them were trucks and SUVs. Apparently freedom in America now comes with cup holders. The U.S 00:14.560 --> 00:23.440 auto market grew by about three percent year over year in 2025 driven almost entirely by light trucks 00:23.440 --> 00:29.760 and crossovers while traditional sedans continued their long quiet retreat into irrelevance. Toyota 00:29.760 --> 00:37.640 sold about 2.15 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, reclaiming the sales crown. Reliability 00:37.640 --> 00:44.860 remains undefeated. Toyota's success came largely from SUVs like the RAV4 and the Highlander 00:44.920 --> 00:50.460 plus hybrid models that represent nearly one in four Toyota sales nationwide. Ford followed 00:50.460 --> 00:57.640 closely with roughly 2.9 million vehicles sold, anchored by one product line, the F-Series again 00:57.640 --> 01:13.160 Ford's F-Series alone moved approximately 829,000 units in 2025, outselling several entire brands and reaffirming pickup trucks as America's emotional support vehicle 01:13.420 --> 01:21.480 Chevrolet placed third with about 1.82 million sales, largely thanks to trucks doing truck things, consistency 01:21.480 --> 01:28.800 Silverado and Equinox volumes carried Chevrolet's lineup while EV models contributed marginally 01:28.800 --> 01:35.360 compared to traditional combustion offerings. Honda finished fourth with roughly 1.3 million 01:35.360 --> 01:45.160 sales mostly on the strength of two nameplates CR-V and Civic. The CR-V alone sold 400,000 units 01:45.160 --> 01:51.500 proving that dependable crossovers remain the safest bet in uncertain economic climates 01:51.760 --> 01:57.560 Hyundai cracked the 900,000 sales in 2025, marking another record year quietly 01:57.920 --> 02:08.440 Hyundai's growth came from refreshed SUVs like the Tucson and Palisade, plus competitive pricing that undercuts rivals without feeling bargain bin 02:08.440 --> 02:16.320 Kia followed closely with about 852,000 sales which felt impressive until you remember their 02:16.320 --> 02:37.778 brands once sold cars like the Sophia Kia benefit from bold design and long warranties Practicality with Sportage and Telluride continue to outperform expectations Subaru slipped roughly to 644 sales a decline of about 4 Even all drive 02:37.778 --> 02:44.638 can't fight gravity forever. Subaru's aging lineup and limited electrification options contributed 02:44.638 --> 02:50.938 to a softening demand, despite the brand's strong loyalty in colder climates. Jeep landed 02:50.938 --> 02:59.958 around 593,000 sales, proving heritage only gets you so far. Nostalgia doesn't tow boats 03:00.238 --> 03:06.018 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee remain strong, but quality concerns and pricing pressure 03:06.018 --> 03:12.098 limited broader growth. Now to the vehicles themselves, and yes, the Ford F-150 series 03:12.098 --> 03:19.658 still reigns supreme. Predictability is comforting. The F-Series extended its decade-long run as 03:19.658 --> 03:28.138 America's best-selling vehicle with sales volumes exceeding the next best competitor by over 250,000 03:28.138 --> 03:35.418 units. The Chevy Silverado followed closely with about 559,000 sales and that silver medal still 03:35.418 --> 03:42.378 pays the bills. Silverado sales were bolstered by fleet demand and refreshed interiors though 03:42.378 --> 03:50.698 it trailed forward significantly in retail shares. Toyota's RAV4 sold roughly 479,000 units 03:51.178 --> 03:59.578 making it America's best-selling SUV. Beige never dies. The RAV4 hybrid variant accounted for a 03:59.578 --> 04:06.778 growing share as buyers saw efficiency without charging cables. Honda CR-V crossed the 403,000 04:06.778 --> 04:13.978 sales mark quietly dominating suburban driveways nationwide. Its success stems from strong fuel 04:13.978 --> 04:21.498 economy, excellent packaging and resale values that embarrass luxury brands. Now Ram sold about 04:21.498 --> 04:30.218 374,000 pickups down slightly year over year. You know even rebels age. Ram's demand reflected 04:30.218 --> 04:37.498 reduced fleet sales and increasing competition despite the strong powertrain options. GMC Sierra 04:37.498 --> 04:45.178 delivered roughly 356,000 sales which is impressive for Silverado in a tuxedo 04:45.898 --> 05:00.777 GMC premium position allowed higher transaction prices especially with Denali trims dominating the sales mix And the Chevrolet Equinox moved about 332 units proving rental fleets still matter 05:01.557 --> 05:14.237 Equinox success came from aggressive incentives and widespread availability, rather than excitement or innovation. Now the Toyota Camry sold approximately 316,000 units 05:14.237 --> 05:21.577 holding the sedan torch bravely and stubbornly. Despite a market decline, Camry remains America's 05:21.577 --> 05:28.557 best-selling passenger car, aided by its strong hybrid presentation. Tesla Model Y sold an estimated 05:28.557 --> 05:37.357 300,000 units, still the top EV, but it's slowing. Model Y demand softened amid increasing competition 05:37.357 --> 05:45.077 price volatility and reduce federal incentives. Toyota Tacoma rounded out the top 10 with about 05:45.077 --> 06:00.257 275,000 sales, midsize max loyalty. Tacoma's redesign sparked renewed interest, practicality amongst off-road enthusiasts and loyalty buyers. Now let's discuss the brands that struggled 06:00.257 --> 06:11.637 Starting with VinFast selling under 3,000 vehicles. Ambition is not volume. VinFast faces limited dealer reach, brand awareness challenges 06:12.077 --> 06:19.237 and skepticism around long-term visibility. Polestar sold roughly 7,000 vehicles in the US 06:19.557 --> 06:28.297 This Scandinavian minimalist brand met American indifference. Polestar's narrow lineup and premium pricing and limited appeal 06:28.297 --> 06:34.057 was the problem outside the coastal markets. Lucid delivered about 10,000 vehicles, which is 06:34.057 --> 06:40.597 impressive engineering-wise. Financially, though less so. Lucid's Air remains one of the most 06:40.597 --> 06:47.217 efficient EVs sold, but pricing and brand scale remain big hurdles for them. Rivian sold approximately 06:47.217 --> 06:54.797 42,000 vehicles down year over year, and this startup is growing fast, but still has growing 06:54.797 --> 07:03.357 pains. The Rivian R1T and the R1S remain popular but production costs and market saturation slowed 07:03.357 --> 07:10.397 their momentum. Jaguar sales remained in the low five figures which feels poetic for a brand in 07:10.397 --> 07:25.016 transition Jaguar continues its pivot towards an all future leaving current sales in a holding pattern EVs overall lost momentum in 2025 with growth slowing to a low single digit 07:25.456 --> 07:32.676 Reality has arrived quietly. Now, high interest rates, charging concerns and incentive reductions 07:32.676 --> 07:41.156 reshaped buyers' behavior, and they moved towards hybrids instead. Hybrids gained significant traction, especially Toyota 07:41.156 --> 07:50.836 whose vehicles average over 40 miles a gallon. Boring yet brilliant. Hybrid sales increased across multiple segments 07:50.836 --> 08:02.296 and offer efficiency without a lifestyle disruption. Trucks and SUVs now account for nearly four out of every five vehicles sold across America 08:02.296 --> 08:11.116 The dominance reflects consumer priorities around their space, safety perceptions and multi-role utility vehicles 08:11.116 --> 08:25.516 Now, luxury brands struggled collectively with flat or declining volumes, champagne tastes, tap water budgets, high transaction prices and limited electrified offerings constrain growth for premium marquees 08:26.036 --> 08:33.276 The market favored proven platforms over experimental in 2025. Risk aversion actually won 08:33.276 --> 08:40.016 Buyers prioritize reliability, resale value and monthly payments over novelty and cutting-edge tech 08:40.236 --> 08:47.716 Looking ahead, automakers investing in flexible powertrains appear best position. Adaptability obviously sells 08:48.116 --> 08:55.456 Platform supporting gas, hybrid and EV options offer reliance amid regulatory uncertainties 08:55.456 --> 09:06.056 In short, 2025 rewarded familiarity over fantasy. Spreadsheets beat dreams. The winners sold what people wanted when they wanted it 09:06.256 --> 09:13.076 At the prices, they could actually tolerate. Losers promised an interesting future while forgetting the present 09:13.856 --> 09:22.936 Timing actually matters in the auto industry. As the market moves into 2026, success will hinge on balance, not extremes 09:23.396 --> 09:32.016 Trucks still rule, hybrids are rising, and vehicles that can manage the Costco run are the ones that people actually want to buy 09:32.016 --> 09:38.916 because it turns out practicality is timeless and trends, well they're just trends and they disappear 09:39.696 --> 09:44.236 With a look at what's happening in the auto market, I'm Nick Miles and I love my job