Global Auto Sales Winners and Losers Through Q3 2026

Automakers have published monthly and third-quarter sales figures as the industry moves into the final quarter of 2026, producing a clear list of winners and losers. According to Motor1, legacy models and renewed V8 demand boosted Mazda and Ram, while Cadillac's electric portfolio and several European brands posted notable declines.

Notable winners: Mazda, Ram and Mustang momentum

Mazda 3 posted a sharp rebound, with last-month sales up 146.9 percent to 3,704 units. Sedan deliveries accounted for the majority of demand, while the hatchback rose 99.1 percent to 910 units in September. Year-to-date Mazda 3 sales are up 42.3 percent, totaling 32,486 units so far in 2026. The Mazda MX-5 Miata, despite its age, recorded a 31.5 percent increase last month; its year-on-year gain is a more modest 4.1 percent.

Ram's renewed focus on Hemi V8 powertrains coincided with a large jump in Ram 1500 sales. Ram sold 76,650 units in the third quarter, a 73 percent increase, and has sold more than 200,000 Ram 1500s year-to-date, a 41 percent rise versus the prior period. Special-edition demand illustrated the Hemi's appeal: the new Ram Rumble Bee allocation sold out in 90 minutes.

Ford Mustang sales are trending upward in 2026 after declines over the previous two years. Ford reported 9,960 Mustang sales in Q3, a 7.5 percent increase; year-to-date Mustang sales through nine months are 38,685, up 17.9 percent. To exceed 50,000 Mustangs for the year, Ford would need to match or exceed its Q4 2025 total of 12,515 units. The last time annual Mustang sales topped 50,000 was 2023, with 53,159 units.

Notable losers: Cadillac, Fiat and Alfa Romeo

Cadillac experienced a weak quarter. Motor1 reports Cadillac's overall sales fell 30 percent in Q3, with the brand down 25 percent year-to-date. Cadillac's electric models all declined in the quarter, with the Lyriq seeing the steepest drop. At the same time, the internal-combustion Escalade also fell 15.4 percent. The CT5 sedan was the clearest bright spot, rising 4.1 percent in the quarter; the CT5 Blackwing recorded its best Q3 sales in history and the V-Series family may post its best annual performance.

• Escalade EV: down 29.2 percent
• Lyriq: down 50.5 percent
• Optiq: down 6.9 percent
• Vistiq: down 34.1 percent

Fiat continues to struggle in the United States. Fiat sold just 54 vehicles in the past quarter in the US market; 52 were Fiat 500e units and two were Fiat 500X models. Production of the 500X ended at the end of 2023, and its sales are down 83 percent. Fiat's year-to-date US sales have fallen 76 percent to 291 units. Fiat introduced the Topolino to US dealerships in Q3, but did not disclose sales. The Topolino is listed with only 8 horsepower and a top speed of about 31 km/h, an attribute the report says makes it more similar to a golf cart than a conventional street-legal car.

Alfa Romeo's US sales remain under pressure. The brand sold just 569 vehicles in the quarter, a 65 percent decline, with the Stelvio the top seller. Alfa Romeo's year-to-date US sales have fallen 52 percent to 2,316 units. Alfa plans to show concept models called "buzz" based on the 2027 Stelvio and 2027 Giulia at the Paris motor show this month, but current figures indicate a difficult path to regain US buyers.

Infiniti and Nissan: modest recovery signs

Infiniti posted a 20.4 percent sales increase in Q3, the brand's largest seasonal gain in the 2000s and its best quarter since 2020, according to Motor1. Nissan's Q3 sales were nearly flat, rising 0.2 percent to 210,635 units. The Nissan Rogue (X-Trail) remained the brand's top seller and recorded approximately a 26.3 percent sales increase ahead of the model's new hybrid variant for 2027. While Nissan has not yet delivered a large-scale turnaround, Infiniti's improvement and Rogue growth offer early, encouraging signals.