Between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, car stocks have rarely been far from the news this year. In March, Trump announced 25% tariffs on cars made outside the US, to kick in from April. South Korea and Japan are respectively the second- and third-biggest suppliers of cars to the US market (after Mexico), with Germany coming in fifth. So not surprisingly, stocks including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi and BMW all dipped. Trump has previously called out the EU specifically on the matter: ‘They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products, they take almost nothing and we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products.’
Car stocks offer investors the chance to back companies with international renown. But the global performance of this industry can be inconsistent and isn’t immune to market-impacting events. Here’s how you can get involved.
| Stock | Icon | 1-year performance (to Apr. '25) | 5-year performance (to Apr. '25) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin Lagonda (AML) |  |
-54.54% | -84.04% | Buy on SoFi |
| Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMW) |  |
-28.27% | 49.06% | Buy on SoFi |
| Ferrari NV (RACE) |  |
9.08% | 190.73% | Buy on SoFi |
| Ford Motor Company (F) |  |
-21.50% | 94.20% | Buy on SoFi |
| General Motors Company (GM) |  |
2.77% | 109.84% | Buy on SoFi |
| Li Auto Inc (LI) |  |
-6.23% | 11.02% (3 years) | Buy on SoFi |
| Mercedes-Benz Group AG (MBG) |  |
-26.59% | 136.50% | Buy on SoFi |
| Nio (NIO) |  |
-10.24% | 24.38% | Buy on SoFi |
| Nikola Corp (NKLA) |  |
-99.36% | -99.97% | Buy on SoFi |
| Polestar Automotive (PSNY) |  |
-10.17% | -70.88% (2 years) | Buy on SoFi |
| Rivian Automotive (RIVN) |  |
39.60% | -59.58% (3 years) | Buy on SoFi |
| Stellantis NV (STLA) |  |
-61.92% | -29.12% (3 years) | Buy on SoFi |
| Tesla (TSLA) |  |
69.32% | 7.02% | Buy on SoFi |
| Toyota Motor (TM) |  |
-16.98% | 51.54% | Buy on SoFi |
| Volkswagen AG (VWAPY) |  |
-13.46% | -12.53% | Buy on SoFi |
Some of the stocks listed above are parent corporations with a few brands in their fold.
Most carmakers have relatively thin profit margins, but have been considered a reliable investment for decades. Car and auto stocks are considered to be cyclical stocks, which means they generally rise and fall as consumer confidence changes.
When the economy is doing well, people are more likely to buy new vehicles, which can have a positive impact on auto share prices. When the economy is doing poorly, people are unlikely to buy new cars, and auto stocks may suffer as a result.
The rise of electric and hybrid vehicles has also had a huge impact on car stocks, with companies like Tesla (TSLA) reaching huge valuations due to investor confidence in the future of electric cars. Most of the world’s largest car manufacturers now produce electric vehicles, and this is likely to have a significant impact on the price of car stocks in future.
The UK has a proud automotive tradition, and there are a number of popular UK car stocks that are listed on the London Stock Exchange, including:
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of luxury sports cars in the United Kingdom, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, rest of Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company also engages in the sale of parts; sale of vehicles; servicing and restoration of vehicles; and brand licensing and motorsport activities. In addition, it provides engineering, and sales and marketing services.
Aston Martin Lagonda Global stock opened the day at £68.00 after a previous close of £67.35. The latest price was £69.05 (25-minute delay). Aston Martin Lagonda Global is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around GBP1.6 billion and employs 3,006 staff. All prices are listed in British Pound.
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft develops, manufactures, and sells automobiles and motorcycles, spare parts, and accessories worldwide. It operates through Automotive, Motorcycles, and Financial Services segments. The company offers automobiles under the BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands.
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft stock opened the day at €75.48 after a previous close of €74.80. The latest price was €76.32 (25-minute delay). Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft is listed on the XETRA, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around EUR£142.4 billion and employs 159,104 staff. All prices are listed in Euros.
Ferrari N. V. , through its subsidiaries, engages in design, engineering, production, and sale of luxury performance sports cars worldwide. The company offers sports, track, one-off, and road cars, as well as supercars.
Ferrari stock opened the day at $458.27 after a previous close of $456.82. The latest price was $460.80 (25-minute delay). Ferrari is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD€6.7 billion and employs 5,435 staff.
Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro, and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers, as well as develops software.
Ford Motor Company stock opened the day at $10.05 after a previous close of $10.06. The latest price was $10.04 (25-minute delay). Ford Motor Company is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$185 billion and employs 171,000 staff.
General Motors Company designs, builds, and sells trucks, crossovers, cars, and automobile parts worldwide. The company operates through GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial segments. It markets its vehicles primarily under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Baojun, and Wuling brand names.
General Motors Company stock opened the day at $46.54 after a previous close of $46.88. The latest price was $47.11 (25-minute delay). General Motors Company is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$187.4 billion and employs 162,000 staff.
Hyundai Motor Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes motor vehicles and parts worldwide. The company operates through Vehicle, Finance, and Others segments. It offers cars under the ELANTRA, SONATA, AZERA, i30, ACCENT, i20, and i10 names; eco vehicles under the IONIQ 9, INSTER, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, KONA Electric, NEXO, TUCSON Hybrid, SANTA FE Hybrid, SONATA Hybrid, AZERA Hybrid, i30 Hybrid, and STARIA Hybrid names; SUVs under the TUCSON, SANTA FE, KONA, PALISADE, CRETA, and VENUE names; and MPVs under the STARIA name; and commercial vehicles under the STARIA, H-1, and H-100 names, as well as N series and N Line series vehicles under various names.
Hyundai Motor stock opened the day at ₩191,000.00 after a previous close of ₩188,800.00. The latest price was ₩188,800.00 (25-minute delay). Hyundai Motor is listed on the KO and has a trailing 12-month revenue of around KRW$175.2 trillion. All prices are listed in Korean Won.
Honda Motor Co. , Ltd. develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, automobiles, power, and other products in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally.
Honda Motor Co Ltd ADR stock opened the day at $30.01 after a previous close of $30.14. The latest price was $30.21 (25-minute delay). Honda Motor Co Ltd ADR is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD₩21.8 trillion and employs 194,993 staff.
Li Auto Inc. operates in the energy vehicle market in the People's Republic of China. It designs, develops, manufactures, and sells premium smart electric vehicles.
Li Auto Inc stock opened the day at $23.59 after a previous close of $23.82. The latest price was $23.82 (25-minute delay). Li Auto Inc is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$144.5 billion and employs 32,248 staff.
Mercedes-Benz Group AG operates as an automotive company in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mercedes-Benz Vans, and Mercedes-Benz Mobility segments. The company develops, manufactures, and sells cars and vans under the Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, G-Class brands, as well as related spare parts and accessories.
Mercedes-Benz Group stock opened the day at €54.32 after a previous close of €53.81. The latest price was €54.59 (25-minute delay). Mercedes-Benz Group is listed on the XETRA, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around EUR$145.6 billion and employs 163,132 staff. All prices are listed in Euros.
NIO Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells smart electric vehicles in China, Europe, and internationally. It offers five and six-seater electric SUVs, as well as smart electric sedans.
Nio Inc Class A ADR stock opened the day at $4.11 after a previous close of $4.18. The latest price was $4.03 (25-minute delay). Nio Inc Class A ADR is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD€65.7 billion and employs 45,635 staff.
Nikola Corporation operates as a technology innovator and integrator that develops energy and transportation solutions in the United States and internationally. The company operates in truck and energy units. It commercializes battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) to the trucking sector.
Nikola Corp stock opened the day at $0.12 after a previous close of $0.12. The latest price was $0.12 (25-minute delay). Nikola Corp is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$75.5 million and employs 870 staff.
Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC manufactures and sells premium electric vehicles. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. . . . . .
Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC Class A ADS stock opened the day at $1.05 after a previous close of $1.06. The latest price was $1.06 (25-minute delay). Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC Class A ADS is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2 billion and employs 2,515 staff.
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Porsche stock opened the day at €46.89 after a previous close of €46.72. The latest price was €46.83 (25-minute delay). Porsche is listed on the XETRA, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around EUR$40.1 billion and employs 39,463 staff. All prices are listed in Euros.
Renault SA engages in the design, manufacture, sale, repair, maintenance, and leasing of motor vehicles in Europe, Eurasia, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and the Americas. It also engages in the design and production of parts and equipment used for manufacturing and operation vehicles. The company operates through Automotive, Sale Financing, and Mobility Services segments.
Renault stock opened the day at €47.00 after a previous close of €46.92. The latest price was €46.79 (25-minute delay). Renault is listed on the PA, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around EUR€56.2 billion and employs 98,636 staff. All prices are listed in Euros.
Rivian Automotive, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles and accessories. The company offers consumer vehicles, including a two-row, five-passenger pickup truck under the R1T brand, a three-row, seven-passenger sport utility vehicle under the R1S name.
Rivian Automotive stock opened the day at $12.04 after a previous close of $12.09. The latest price was $12.62 (25-minute delay). Rivian Automotive is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD€5 billion and employs 14,861 staff.
Rolls-Royce Holdings plc develops and delivers mission-critical power systems in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, and New Markets. The Civil Aerospace segment develops, manufactures, markets, and sells aero engines for large commercial aircraft, regional jet, and business aviation markets, as well as provides aftermarket services.
Rolls-Royce stock opened the day at 744.00p after a previous close of 735.20p. The latest price was 755.40p (25-minute delay). Rolls-Royce is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), has a trailing 12-month revenue of around $18.9 billion and employs 42,400 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.
Stellantis N. V. engages in the design, engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of automobiles and light commercial vehicles, engines, transmission systems, metallurgical products, mobility services, and production systems worldwide. It provides luxury and premium vehicles; global sport utility vehicles; American and European brand vehicles, as well as parts and accessories.
Stellantis stock opened the day at $9.25 after a previous close of $9.33. The latest price was $9.42 (25-minute delay). Stellantis is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD£156.9 billion and employs 248,243 staff.
Tata Motors Limited designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various automotive vehicles. The company offers passenger cars; sports utility vehicles; intermediate and light commercial vehicles; small, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles; defense vehicles; pickups, wingers, buses, vans, and trucks; and electric vehicles, as well as related spare parts and accessories. It also manufactures engines for industrial applications, and aggregates comprising axles and transmissions for commercial vehicles; and factory automation equipment, as well as provides information technology and vehicle financing services.
Tata Motors stock opened the day at INR668.35 after a previous close of INR668.35. The latest price was INR655.25 (25-minute delay). Tata Motors is listed on the NSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around INR$4.4 trillion and employs 91,496 staff. All prices are listed in Indian Rupee.
Tesla, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, leases, and sells electric vehicles, and energy generation and storage systems in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Automotive; and Energy Generation and Storage.
Tesla stock opened the day at $261.69 after a previous close of $259.51. The latest price was $284.95 (25-minute delay). Tesla is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USDINR95.7 billion and employs 125,665 staff.
Toyota Motor Corporation designs, manufactures, assembles, and sells passenger vehicles, minivans and commercial vehicles, and related parts and accessories in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East. It operates through Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other segments. The company offers subcompact and compact cars; mini-vehicles; mid-size, luxury, sports, and specialty cars; recreational and sport-utility vehicles; pickup trucks; minivans; trucks; and buses.
Toyota Motor Corporation ADR stock opened the day at $188.07 after a previous close of $186.61. The latest price was $188.21 (25-minute delay). Toyota Motor Corporation ADR is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$46.7 trillion and employs 384,338 staff.
Volkswagen AG manufactures and sells automobiles in Germany, other European countries, North America, South America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles, Commercial Vehicles, Power Engineering, and Financial Services. The Passenger Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles segment engages in the development of vehicles, engines, motors, vehicle software, and batteries; produces and sells passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, and related parts; and offers motorcycles.
Volkswagen AG Pref 1/10 ADR stock opened the day at $10.97 after a previous close of $10.95. The latest price was $11.10 (25-minute delay). Volkswagen AG Pref 1/10 ADR is listed on the PINK, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$324.7 billion and employs 679,472 staff.
AB Volvo (publ), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines in Europe, the United States, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The company provides heavy-duty trucks for long-haulage and construction work and light-duty trucks for distribution purposes under the Volvo, Renault Trucks, Mack, Eicher, and Dongfeng Trucks brands; and city and intercity buses, coaches, and chassis under the Prevost and Volvo Bus brands. It offers road construction machine, haulers, wheel loaders, excavators, and compact equipment.
Volvo AB ADR stock opened the day at $27.12 after a previous close of $26.97. The latest price was $27.35 (25-minute delay). Volvo AB ADR is listed on the PINK, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$526.8 billion and employs 89,680 staff.
The industry is in the middle of a period of flux, transitioning from vehicles that rely on petrochemicals and humans to electric and potentially autonomous vehicles. Who knows… hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles could change everything! Electric vehicle sales have been steadily climbing since 2013, averaging a sizeable 25% growth rate year over year.
Some brands are proving better at adapting than others, and new players are entering the fray as the tech evolves. So it’s realistic to expect that we’re going to see winners and losers, and that means the opportunity for canny investors to speculate.
We’re likely to depend on cars for the foreseeable future, but they’re changing fast. As well as pioneering and/or resilient manufacturers, speculators are finding opportunities for equity growth in linked “nuts and bolts” stocks, like battery or chip makers. As the landscape changes, we may see the survival of the fastest-to-adapt.
As ever, a diverse portfolio is usually safest, and putting all your money into car stocks could be a risky game.
Why these brands? We took the 8 largest publicly-traded car stocks by market cap at the start of 2024, where the stock is a brand rather than an unheard-of parent corporation. We excluded Ferrari beacuse, well, it's Ferrari.
Response | % of respondents |
|---|---|
| Volvo | 10.42% |
| Volkswagen | 8.33% |
| Toyota | 14.58% |
| Tesla | 18.75% |
| Mercedes | 14.58% |
| Honda | 0.00% |
| Ford | 20.83% |
| BMW | 12.50% |
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