Americans Rushed to Buy New Vehicles in March

Industry sales data indicate that new and used vehicle sales shot up as buyers prepared for anticipated automotive tariff related price increases.

Vehicles are lined up for sale on a dealership lot in City of Industry, Calif., on April 12, 2025. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Americans are heading to dealerships to buy cars ahead of projected price hikes caused by a series of new tariffs affecting the automotive industry, according to new sales data.

In an April 15 presentation, Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke said sales of both new and used automobiles increased sharply at the beginning of 2025 compared with prior years.