Automakers are reporting mixed US sales in the first quarter of 2026 following severe weather, and the war in the Middle East is clouding the industry outlook

Automakers are reporting mixed US sales in the first quarter of 2026 following severe weather, and the war in the Middle East is clouding the industry outlook

Carmakers reported mixed first-quarter US sales Wednesday pointing to a hit from winter storms, as the Middle East war clouds the industry's outlook compared with unusually favorable dynamics a year ago.

The US-Israeli offensive against Iran, launched on February 28, has boosted oil costs by more than 50 percent, sending gasoline prices to more than $4 per gallon in the United States.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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