April sales reports are rolling in, and early signals tell us March Madness is behind us—both on the court and in the showroom.
Driving the news: Car sales in April showed a cooler, more measured vibe to the auto market. That’s not code for weak demand—it just means the wave of buyers chasing refund-season deals and the tariff-induced rush is starting to moderate.
Let’s talk records: Hyundai and Kia just posted their best April to date.
Hyundai moved 81,503 vehicles—up 19% YoY, but down 6.3% from March.
Kia also kept its streak alive with 74,805 units sold—up 14% YoY, but 4.8% lower than March.
That makes seven straight record-setting months for both brands.
Mazda was close behind, celebrating its second-best April yet.
The brand sold 37,660 vehicles—up 21% compared to April 2024, but down 12.6% from March’s surge.
And for Honda—it wasn’t the best April to date but it was a record month for the CR-V, Passport, Odyssey, and HR-V.
April sales hit 123,637 units—up 16.6% from last year, down 8.5% vs. March.
The outlier: Acura beat the odds in April, with sales coming in at 14,019 units—up 33% from a year ago and 10% from March.
It was also the brand’s best April since 2021 thanks to a record sales of the ZDX, a strong ADX launch, and a 49% jump in SUV sales.
Detroit’s story? Also strong—just less splashy.
Ford sold 208,675 vehicles in April, up 16.2% from last year and 4.5% from March.
Ford also sold 28,190 electrified units, up 8.4% vs ‘24.
GM reported 267,051 vehicles sold in April, up 20% from a year ago and 8.2% from March—with a hefty bulk of sales coming from the 82,537 Silverado and Sierra units moved, according to GM spokesman Jim Cain.
Subaru on the other hand saw the sharpest reset…
April sales came in at 56,011 units—flat vs last year and down 21.6% from March, which was its strongest month since 2019.
Still, core models pulled their weight: Forester rose 8.3% vs ‘24, and Crosstrek notched a record 14,935 units sold (+23.2%).
Between the lines: With the urgency gone, April offered a better read on what’s working right now: hybrids, refreshed nameplates, and lineup consistency. Incentives and headlines may shift, but product fit pulls buyers in.
What we’re watching: March’s rush is over, but the noise hasn’t cleared. And in a market sorting itself out—clear product positioning and consistent execution seem to be cutting through the noise.
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