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How do car companies make money?

Carmakers sell vehicles to dealers (or, like Tesla, straight to buyers), and big trucks and SUVs carry most of the profit. Together, Ford, GM and Tesla took in $467 billion in their latest years and kept -$1.7 billion in profit, $-0.36 of every $100.

From each company's latest Form 10-K. Page updated November 8, 2026.

Carmakers sell vehicles to dealers (or, like Tesla, straight to buyers), and big trucks and SUVs carry most of the profit. Their finance arms also earn interest on car loans and leases.

CompanyRevenueNet profitKept per $100Biggest line
Ford$187B-$8.2B$-4.36Ford Blue
GM$185B$2.7B$1.46GM North America
Tesla$94.8B$3.8B$4.00Car sales

Where each company's money comes from.

Ford
Ford Blue$101B54% of total
Ford Pro$66.3B35% of total
Ford Credit$13.3B7% of total
Model e$6.7B4% of total
How Ford makes money
GM
GM North America$154B83% of total
GM Financial$17.1B9% of total
GM International$13.4B7% of total
How GM makes money
Tesla
Car sales$65.8B69% of total
Energy storage and solar$12.8B13% of total
Service and other$12.5B13% of total
Credits sold to other carmakers$2.0B2% of total
Car leasing$1.7B2% of total
How Tesla makes money

Sources: Ford Form 10-K, GM Form 10-K, Tesla Form 10-K on SEC EDGAR.

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