GM’s EV Sales Spiked 94% in Q1 2025

• GM’s EV sales jumped 94% in Q1 2025, reaching 31,887 units.
• Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV were top drivers of growth.
• Tariffs on Mexican-made vehicles could raise EV prices by thousands.

Did you see this coming? General Motors (GM) just reported a 94% increase in electric vehicle (EV) sales for Q1 2025. Yes, you read that right – 94%! That is not a typo. GM delivered 31,887 electric vehicles between January and March, making them the second-largest EV seller in the U.S., just behind Tesla.

What is behind this spike in EV sales? And is it sustainable?

Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick Deliver Their Best Q1 in Years

Chevrolet was the clear frontrunner in GM’s EV climb. The brand reported its best first quarter since 2019, with total sales up 14%. More importantly, Chevy has become the fastest-growing EV brand in the country. Sales of the Equinox EV reached 10,329 units, while the Blazer EV sold 6,187 units. The Silverado EV contributed with 2,383 units sold.

On the luxury side, Cadillac posted a 21% jump in retail sales and a 37% increase in EV sales. That included the first deliveries of the all-electric Optiq and a strong performance by the Escalade IQ, with 1,716 and 1,956 units sold, respectively.

GMC also reported its best-ever Q1, with sales up 18% and EV sales growing by an astonishing 183%. Denali and Sierra models hit record highs, and the Yukon lineup saw its best first quarter since the mid-2000s.

Buick? Also on fire. The brand posted its best quarter since 2006, with a 39% rise in sales.

According to GM, the company led the U.S. automotive industry in total, retail, and fleet sales this quarter.

Rory Harvey, GM’s Executive Vice President and President of Global Markets, summed it up by saying, “GM’s sales growth outpaced every other major automaker, and the driving force is our portfolio. We’re the industry leader in trucks and affordable small SUVs. Cadillac is growing significantly in luxury, and we have the broadest portfolio of EVs in the industry.”

Tariff Threat Could Add $8,750 to GM EVs Overnight

Before we all break out the champagne, there is a looming issue that could put the brakes on this momentum.

A 25% tariff on electric vehicles imported from Mexico is expected to go into effect on April 3. Since several GM EVs, including the Equinox EV and Blazer EV, are manufactured in Mexico, the new tariff could add as much as $8,750 to the price of a base Equinox EV. That is not exactly pocket change.

This could make GM’s affordable EV strategy a lot harder to execute. Buyers who have been holding out for a deal might need to act fast. After April 3, those savings could disappear overnight.

So, What Does This Mean for You?

If you are thinking about buying an electric vehicle, particularly a Chevrolet EV like the Equinox or Blazer, you may want to move quickly. With tariffs looming, prices are likely to go up, possibly by thousands of dollars.

And for the industry as a whole? GM’s performance proves that EV sales are not slowing, despite online speculation. With 693,363 total deliveries and market share expected to grow to around 17%, GM’s momentum is undeniable.

But the next quarter will be the real test. Will buyers still flock to GM’s battery electric vehicles once tariffs kick in? Or will the price hikes push people to look elsewhere?

Only time, and maybe Congress, will tell.

IMAGES: GENERAL MOTORS, ELECTRIFY EXPO

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