Automakers Report Mixed Q4 Sales, Warn of Price Hikes Ahead

The auto industry is bracing for a bumpy 2026, with several major automakers reporting fourth-quarter sales declines and warning that prices could climb in the months ahead.

General Motors announced Monday that its Q4 sales dropped 7% compared to the same period last year, even as its full-year numbers finished up 6 percent. Honda and Hyundai also reported slumps during the final quarter of 2025.

Toyota bucked the trend with an 8% Q4 increase, but the company cautioned that vehicle prices may rise this year.

The culprits: new tariffs and persistent consumer concerns about inflation. Both factors are squeezing automakers as they try to balance production costs with buyer demand—a combination that could mean higher sticker prices and slower sales through 2026.