GM delivered 714,896 vehicles during the second quarter of 2026, representing a 4.2% decrease from the 746,588 vehicles sold during the same period in 2025. Through the first half of the year, the automaker sold 1,341,325 vehicles, down 6.8% from the 1,439,951 units delivered during the first six months of 2025.
General Motors said the reduction in sales was not caused by a single factor but reflected a smaller electric vehicle market after the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. The company stated that the market contraction was particularly noticeable among lower-priced electric models.
Overall Sales Declined While GM Retained the Top Position
General Motors remained the highest-selling automaker in the United States during the second quarter despite lower delivery volumes.
The company reported 714,896 vehicle sales for Q2 2026 compared with 746,588 during the same quarter a year earlier, a decline of 4.2%. For the first six months of the year, GM delivered 1,341,325 vehicles, compared with 1,439,951 during the first half of 2025, representing a 6.8% decrease.
According to GM, lower electric vehicle demand contributed to the decline in overall sales. The automaker said the expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit resulted in a major contraction of the EV market, particularly affecting more affordable electric vehicles.
Most of GM’s Electric Vehicle Lineup Posted Lower Sales
GM’s electric vehicle lineup currently consists of 11 models, including the discontinued BrightDrop. Only four models recorded year-over-year sales increases during the first half of 2026: the Cadillac Optiq, Cadillac Vistiq, Chevrolet Bolt, and GMC Sierra EV.
The Cadillac Escalade IQ/IQL recorded 3,203 sales, down 14.9% from 3,766. Cadillac Lyriq sales fell 18.7% to 7,578 units from 9,317. The Cadillac Optiq increased 43.4% to 7,083 units from 4,940, while the Cadillac Vistiq rose 123.7% to 3,903 units from 1,745.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV posted one of the largest declines, dropping 75.1% from 12,736 units to 3,166. Chevrolet Bolt sales increased from 123 to 4,224 units, a gain of 3,334.1%. BrightDrop 400 and 600 deliveries fell 39.9% from 1,592 to 956 units. Chevrolet Equinox EV sales declined 41.4% to 16,249 from 27,749, while Chevrolet Silverado EV sales decreased 32.5% to 3,672 from 5,439. GMC Hummer EV deliveries fell 54.9% from 7,987 to 3,601, whereas GMC Sierra EV sales increased 9.8% from 2,773 to 3,044 units.
Launch Timing and Discontinued Models Affected Some Results
Some of the reported percentage changes were influenced by product timing rather than sustained sales trends.
The Chevrolet Bolt sold only 123 units during the first half of 2025 because it was effectively off the market, contributing to the reported 3,334.1% increase in 2026. The Cadillac Vistiq also launched during the second quarter of 2025, which partially explains its 123.7% year-over-year increase.
Production of the BrightDrop electric delivery van ended in October 2025, yet GM still delivered 956 BrightDrop 400 and 600 vans during the first half of 2026, compared with 1,592 units during the same period in 2025.
GM said it remained the second-largest seller of electric vehicles in the United States during 2026, with 56,679 EVs sold through the first half of the year. That total was down by 27,477 units, or 32.6%, compared with the previous year.
