Top 10 Largest Automobile Companies in USA 2026
GM, Toyota and Ford lead our 2026 ranking of the largest automobile companies in USA by January-September US sales, followed by Hyundai Motor Group, Honda, Stellantis, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen Group and Tesla.
Americans still buy millions of new cars every year. They just buy them differently now.
Hybrids are getting more popular. Pickup trucks still make the money. And EV sales have cooled since the federal EV tax credit went away. Still, the market hasn’t shrunk much: GM counts about 4.17 million new vehicles sold in the US in the third quarter of 2026 alone.
So who sells the most? We ranked this list on a single measure: US new-vehicle sales from January through September 2026, as each automaker group reported in its third-quarter sales release. Tesla doesn’t publish its US sales, so we used Cox Automotive’s estimates instead. The Volkswagen Group number is our own tally of the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche reports. Every company here sells its own brands in America, and most of them build vehicles here as well.
Also Read: Top 10 AR VR Companies in USA
This guide covers the top 10 largest automobile companies in USA for 2026: who they are, what they sell, what their latest numbers look like, and which buyers each one suits best.
Why the Largest Automobile Companies in USA Matter in 2026
A small group of automakers sells most of the new vehicles on American roads. Here’s what that means if you’re a buyer or a fleet manager.
A Few Groups Shape the Whole Market
GM alone took 16.1% of US sales in the third quarter of 2026. The top five groups on this list each sold more than 1.1 million vehicles in the first nine months of the year. Their prices and model choices set the tone for everyone else.
Hybrids Are Having a Moment
Buyers want to spend less on fuel without changing how they fill up. Electrified models made up 55.3% of Toyota Motor North America’s sales through September. Ford, for its part, sold a record number of Maverick Hybrid pickups in the third quarter.
Trucks and SUVs Still Pay the Bills
Ford’s F-Series is on track for its 50th straight year as America’s best-selling truck. GM held about 42% of the full-size pickup market in the first half of 2026. And Ford’s truck and van sales of 891,400 through September made it America’s best-selling truck maker.
Big Money Is Going Into US Plants
Automakers are pouring billions into US factories. Stellantis has a $13 billion, four-year US investment plan. Hyundai plans to invest $26 billion in the US through 2028. And Toyota opened its 11th US factory, a battery plant in North Carolina, in November 2025.
Top 10 Largest Automobile Companies in USA at a Glance
| Rank | Company | Core segment | Key 2026 figure (US sales, Jan-Sep) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Motors | Pickups, SUVs, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac | 2,012,299 vehicles |
| 2 | Toyota Motor North America | Hybrids, SUVs, Lexus | 1,876,614 vehicles |
| 3 | Ford Motor Company | F-Series trucks, Ford Pro, Lincoln | 1,516,279 vehicles |
| 4 | Hyundai Motor Group | Hyundai, Kia, Genesis | 1,364,850 vehicles (Hyundai and Kia brands) |
| 5 | American Honda | Honda, Acura | About 1.15 million vehicles |
| 6 | Stellantis | Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler | 958,463 vehicles |
| 7 | Nissan Group | Nissan, Infiniti | 716,283 vehicles |
| 8 | Subaru of America | All-wheel-drive SUVs and cars | 475,878 vehicles |
| 9 | Volkswagen Group | Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche | About 398,000 vehicles (our tally) |
| 10 | Tesla | Electric vehicles | About 54% of US EV sales in Q3 2026 (Cox estimate) |
Top 10 Largest Automobile Companies in USA (2026)
Here are the biggest automakers in America, ranked by their US sales for the first nine months of 2026.
1. General Motors
General Motors was founded on September 16, 1908, by William C. Durant. It’s based in Detroit, and in January 2026 it moved its global headquarters into Hudson’s Detroit. Mary Barra is chair and CEO. GM sells vehicles under the Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac brands.
GM is still the largest automaker in the US. It sold 2,012,299 vehicles in America from January through September 2026, down 6.4% from a year earlier, as EV demand slowed and some models were phased out. Its share of US sales was 16.1% in the third quarter. In that quarter, GM reported revenue of $50.0 billion and net income attributable to stockholders of $3.3 billion. It also approved a new $20 billion share buyback.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Full-size pickups: Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra
✔ SUVs from the Chevrolet Trax and Equinox to the Traverse
✔ Cadillac luxury vehicles, including electric models
✔ A growing fleet business, with fleet sales up 10% in Q3 2026
Best for: Buyers who want the widest choice of trucks and SUVs from one American company.
2. Toyota Motor North America
Toyota Motor North America runs Toyota’s US business from Plano, Texas. Its parent, Toyota Motor Corporation, was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda and is based in Toyota City, Japan. Kenta Kon took over as president and CEO in April 2026, and Akio Toyoda is chairman.
Toyota sold 1,876,614 vehicles in the US through September 2026, up 0.6%. The Toyota brand alone accounted for 1,613,846 of them, more than any other single brand in America, while Lexus added 262,768. Hybrids and other electrified models made up 55.3% of Toyota’s US sales. In November 2025, Toyota opened a $13.9 billion battery plant in North Carolina and confirmed it would invest up to $10 billion more in the US over the next five years.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ America’s best-selling brand through September 2026
✔ RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, both up sharply in September
✔ Strong SUV and truck demand, with 4Runner sales up 61.2%
✔ Lexus luxury lineup
Best for: Buyers who want a proven hybrid from America’s best-selling brand.
3. Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford on June 16, 1903, and is based in Dearborn, Michigan. Jim Farley is president and CEO, and Bill Ford is executive chairman. The company sells vehicles under the Ford and Lincoln names and had about 169,000 employees in 2025.
Ford sold 1,516,279 vehicles in the US through September 2026. Its third-quarter sales fell 6.6%, which Ford put down to dropping the Escape and Corsair. F-Series sales of 561,508 so far this year have it on track for a 50th straight year as America’s best-selling truck, the company says. Ford posted record revenue of $187.3 billion in 2025 but a net loss of $8.2 billion. In July 2026, it raised its full-year adjusted EBIT forecast to $10 billion to $11 billion.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ F-Series pickups and Super Duty trucks
✔ Ford Pro, the No. 1 US commercial vehicle brand
✔ Maverick Hybrid, America’s best-selling hybrid pickup
✔ Bronco, Explorer and Expedition SUVs
Best for: Truck buyers and businesses that run work vans and pickups.
4. Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group is based in Seoul, South Korea, and is led by Executive Chairman Chung Eui-sun. In America, it sells the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands. Hyundai Motor America has been selling cars here since 1986 and is based in Fountain Valley, California. Its plant in Montgomery, Alabama, has been building cars since 2005.
Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1,364,850 vehicles in the US through September 2026, and that’s before counting Genesis. Hyundai sold 697,464, up 3%, and had its best third quarter ever. Kia sold 667,386 and posted its best quarter ever, with third-quarter sales up 8%. The group’s $7.6 billion Metaplant America in Georgia is set up to build hybrid and electric vehicles for all three brands, and Hyundai plans to invest $26 billion in the US through 2028.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Value-packed SUVs such as the Kia Sportage and Telluride
✔ Kia hybrids, with sales up 152% in September
✔ Genesis luxury sedans and SUVs
✔ US production in Alabama and Georgia
Best for: Buyers who want lots of features for the money.
5. American Honda
American Honda Motor Co. was set up in 1959 as Honda’s first subsidiary outside Japan. In 1982, Honda started building cars in Marysville, Ohio, which made it the first Japanese automaker to assemble cars in America. It sells the Honda and Acura brands.
Honda and Acura together sold about 1.15 million vehicles in the US through September 2026. The Honda brand sold 1,045,593, up 4.7% and its best January-to-September total since 2021, while Acura added 103,667. Honda brand sales rose 9.3% in the third quarter. The CR-V keeps selling well: 336,844 so far this year, including its best third quarter ever with 110,730 units.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ CR-V, one of America’s most popular SUVs
✔ Civic and Accord sedans
✔ Acura premium models
✔ Long history of US manufacturing
Best for: Buyers who want reliable, efficient family cars and SUVs.
6. Stellantis
Stellantis was formed in January 2021, when PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merged. Its legal headquarters is in the Netherlands, but CEO Antonio Filosa, who took over in June 2025, works out of Auburn Hills, Michigan. In the US, it operates as FCA US and sells Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler vehicles.
Stellantis sold 958,463 vehicles in the US through September 2026, up 3%. Ram is the bright spot, with brand sales up 20% this year and Ram 1500 sales up 73% in the third quarter. Jeep sales, on the other hand, are down 8% so far this year. In October 2025, Stellantis announced a $13 billion, four-year US investment plan, the largest in its history. That includes $600 million to reopen the Belvidere, Illinois plant to build the Jeep Cherokee and Compass starting in 2027.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Ram 1500 pickup
✔ Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee Hybrid and Grand Wagoneer
✔ Chrysler Pacifica minivan
✔ Dodge Charger and Durango
Best for: Truck, off-road and muscle-car fans.
7. Nissan Group
Nissan North America was founded in 1960 in Gardena, California, and moved its headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2005. Its US plants include Smyrna and Decherd in Tennessee and Canton in Mississippi. It sells vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands.
The Nissan Group sold 716,283 vehicles in the US through September 2026, up 0.6%. Retail sales are doing better, up 8.1% this year, as Nissan sells fewer vehicles to less profitable rental fleets. It has now had 19 months in a row of retail sales growth. In the third quarter, Rogue sales rose 26.3%, Frontier sales were up 37.5%, and Infiniti sales climbed 20.4%. The 2027 Rogue Hybrid is due at dealers in November.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Rogue compact SUV, its best-selling model
✔ Frontier midsize pickup
✔ Armada and Infiniti QX80 full-size SUVs
✔ US plants in Tennessee and Mississippi
Best for: Value-focused buyers who want a well-equipped SUV or midsize truck.
8. Subaru of America
Subaru of America was founded in 1968 and moved its headquarters to Camden, New Jersey, in 2018. It’s owned by Japan’s Subaru Corporation. Subaru builds vehicles at its Subaru of Indiana Automotive plant in Lafayette, Indiana, which opened in 1989.
Subaru sold 475,878 vehicles in the US through September 2026, down 1.5% from last year. September was a strong month, though, with sales up 13.2%. The Forester had its best September ever with 15,989 units sold, and Forester sales are up 17.6% so far in 2026. The Crosstrek and Outback round out Subaru’s main lineup, and they were its second- and third-best sellers in September.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Forester, Crosstrek and Outback SUVs
✔ Solterra electric SUV
✔ WRX performance sedan, with sales up 47.8% this year
✔ US production in Indiana
Best for: Buyers who want practical, outdoorsy SUVs.
9. Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group of America was founded in 1955 and is based in Reston, Virginia. It sells the Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini brands, while Porsche Cars North America sells Porsche. Volkswagen has built vehicles at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant since 2011, and the Atlas SUV is one of them.
By our tally of each brand’s reports, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche sold about 398,000 vehicles in the US through September 2026. The third quarter was slow for all three, with combined sales down 12.4% to 133,956. Volkswagen sold 78,179 vehicles in the quarter, down 10.9%, after a strong first half in which its sales rose 2.3% to 162,961. Audi’s third-quarter sales fell 15% to 39,751. Porsche sold 49,038 vehicles through September, down 14.1%.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Volkswagen Atlas, Tiguan and ID. Buzz
✔ Audi premium sedans and SUVs
✔ Porsche sports cars and SUVs
✔ US production in Chattanooga
Best for: Buyers who want European driving feel, from everyday SUVs to luxury sports cars.
10. Tesla
Tesla was founded in 2003 and moved its headquarters to Gigafactory Texas in Austin in December 2021. Elon Musk is CEO. Tesla builds vehicles in the US at its Fremont, California factory and at Gigafactory Texas, where it makes the Model Y and Cybertruck.
Tesla doesn’t publish its US sales. Cox Automotive estimates it sold 144,094 electric vehicles in the US in the third quarter of 2026. That’s down 19.7%, but it’s still about 54% of all US EV sales. Worldwide, Tesla delivered 486,532 vehicles in the third quarter, a 2.1% decline, but that beat the analyst consensus Tesla compiled. It delivered 1,324,681 vehicles in the first nine months of 2026, up 8.8%.
Key Vehicles and Strengths
✔ Model Y and Model 3, its high-volume EVs
✔ Cybertruck electric pickup
✔ Tesla Semi electric truck
✔ US production in Fremont and Austin
Best for: Buyers who are ready to go fully electric.
How to Choose the Right Automaker in the USA
The biggest company won’t always be the right one for you. Keep these points in mind when you shop.
Start With How You’ll Use the Vehicle
A contractor needs something different from a city commuter. Ford, GM and Ram lead in trucks. If you want a family SUV or a hybrid, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are strong choices.
Check Safety Ratings and Recalls
Look up the model on NHTSA’s website before you buy. You can check its 5-Star Safety Ratings and see whether it has any open recalls.
Pick the Right Powertrain
If fuel costs worry you, a hybrid is an easy middle ground. A full EV makes sense if you can charge at home, but keep in mind the federal EV tax credit is no longer available.
Think About Service and Dealer Access
The largest automakers have the most dealers and the most parts on hand. That matters if you live far from a big city or run a fleet that can’t sit idle.
Look at Total Cost, Not Just Price
Fuel, insurance, warranty length and resale value all add up. A lower sticker price can still cost you more over five years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Automobile Companies in USA
Which is the largest automobile company in the USA?
General Motors. It sold 2,012,299 vehicles in the US from January through September 2026, more than any other automaker group. Toyota was second with 1,876,614.
Why are Toyota, Honda and Hyundai on a list of US automobile companies?
They’re among the biggest sellers in America, and they build vehicles here too. Toyota’s North Carolina battery plant is its 11th US factory, Honda has built cars in Ohio since 1982, and Hyundai has plants in Alabama and Georgia.
Isn’t Tesla the biggest US automaker?
By stock market value, Tesla is far bigger than any other carmaker. By US sales, it ranks 10th on this list, based on Cox Automotive’s estimates. Even so, Cox says Tesla sold more EVs in America than all other brands combined in the third quarter of 2026.
Which automaker is best for me?
It depends on what you’re looking for, so there’s no single best choice. Truck buyers usually start with Ford, GM or Ram. Hybrid shoppers tend to look at Toyota and Honda. If you’re buying an EV, Tesla will likely be on your list, along with brands such as Cadillac and Hyundai.
Conclusion
The largest automobile companies in USA in 2026 are a mix of Detroit giants and global brands with deep American roots. GM leads in total sales, Toyota is the top-selling single brand, and Ford is still America’s best-selling truck maker.
The bigger story is change. Hybrids are taking off, EV growth has slowed, and billions of dollars are flowing into US factories. Pick the company whose vehicles fit the way you drive, and check the latest safety and cost numbers before you buy.
Related Reading:
Chirag Thakur
Editor, Business News · CEO Review Magazine
Chirag Thakur covers business news for CEO Review Magazine, along with markets, technology and industry explainers and the magazine's Top 10 rankings of companies and leaders.
