With each passing month, OEM sales reports highlight the same pattern: hybrid scale, light truck consistency, and inventory discipline are winning, regardless of market noise, and without relying on heavy discounts.
Here’s what we mean: In May, brands with strong hybrid lineups kept momentum even after a massive spike in sales recorded in March and April, driven by buyers looking to beat tariffs. In June, hybrids, light trucks, and familiar nameplates kept demand steady, while pure EVs continued to lag.
And in July, that same pattern held.
Let’s break it down: Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota kept sales alive in July thanks to each brand’s strong hybrid line-up and inventory discipline, according to OEM reports.
In July, Honda led the pack with 123,150 units sold, up 6.2% YoY. Light trucks rose 14%, electrified volume surged 68%, and Civic Hybrid sales hit 4,960 units in its second month on sale. Acura also chipped in with 10,439 units, up 2.3% YoY.
Hyundai sold 66,527 units, up 1% YoY. Electrified sales (hybrid, PHEV, and EV) climbed 13%, helped by a 103% spike in Santa Fe Hybrid, 11% growth in Tucson Hybrid, and increased Kona EV volume.
Kia delivered 66,485 units, up 12% YoY, continuing a nine-month streak of YoY growth.
The electrified lineup jumped 112% YoY, with the Sportage HEV and Sorento PHEV leading that climb.
And Toyota led in total volume with 200,401 units, up 0.4% YoY, with hybrids accounting for nearly half of all sales. That’s up from around 37% a year ago, per Automotive News.
Worth noting: None of these brands leaned heavily on discounts to drive demand. And while Ford’s tariff-driven summer promotions are making headlines (understandably so), July’s results are proof that OEMs don’t have to discount their way into a good month.
Speaking of which: Ford sold 173,639 units in July, up 5.6% YoY.
The Maverick posted 13,646 units, nearly 60% hybrid, per Yahoo Finance.
F-Series climbed 5.9%, and Bronco Sport saw a 42% lift.
Ford’s hybrid sales were up 43%, with the Escape and F-150 hybrids leading the charge.
On the other hand, Ford’s fully electric sales were mixed.
The F-150 Lightning dropped 27%, while Mach-E (+46%) and E-Transit (+75%) posted gains.
Lincoln was down overall, but the Corsair climbed 44%, and Aviator followed with a 21% gain.
July also brought steady gains for Subaru and Mazda, even as momentum cooled from earlier in the year.
Subaru sold 55,329 units in the month, up 4.5% YoY, extending its streak to 32 straight months of YoY growth.
The Crosstrek and Forester led, while the Outback and Ascent declined.
Mazda, meanwhile, delivered 31,323 sales in July, up just 0.5% YoY.
The CX-50 remains Mazda’s top mover, but overall growth has cooled since Q1.
Volvo was one of the few automakers to post a sales decline, with 10,804 units moved, down from 2024 by 5.4%.
That said, its electrified mix grew to 28.5% (up from 25.3% in July 2024), suggesting its powertrain transition is holding up even if volume isn’t.
Bottom line: July rewarded the brands that stayed focused on product mix, pricing discipline, and inventory that matched where demand actually is.
What we’re watching next: The industry’s current “hybrid moment”… and whether it will hold once EV lease credits start winding down after Sept. 30.
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