G.M.’s and Toyota’s U.S. first-quarter sales fell sharply as a chip shortage persisted.

Normal Motors and Toyota Motor suffered important drops in automobile and truck gross sales in america within the first three months of the 12 months as the worldwide scarcity of pc chips continued to disrupt manufacturing and depart sellers with naked tons.

G.M. reported on Friday that its gross sales declined 20 p.c to 512,846 gentle vehicles and light-weight vans. Toyota, which is the world’s largest automaker, bought 514,592 autos within the first three months of the 12 months, a drop of 15 p.c. The corporate’s sluggish gross sales worsened later within the quarter, declining 24 p.c in March from a 12 months earlier.

Edmunds, an automotive information supplier, forecast complete trade gross sales of three.2 million autos within the quarter, down from 3.9 million a 12 months in the past.

“Skyrocketing gasoline costs had been prime of thoughts for customers in March, however the lack of stock is what in the end depressed new automobile gross sales within the first quarter,” Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’s government director of insights, mentioned. “Automakers are nonetheless grappling with ongoing disruptions to produce chains and manufacturing created by the chip scarcity and Covid-19. On prime of that, they’re doubtless dealing with new challenges on account of the invasion of Ukraine.”

Rivian, an electrical automobile producer that just lately started promoting a pickup truck, additionally pointed to the conflict in Ukraine in its annual report on Thursday, saying the battle has impacted a number of aspects of its enterprise and operations.

Ms. Caldwell predicted automaker and sellers can be grappling with stock shortages for the remainder of this 12 months.

G.M. mentioned its sellers had 273,760 autos in stock or in transit to their tons. That was an enchancment from the second half of final 12 months however fewer than on the finish of March 2021, when its sellers had 334,628 autos in inventory.

Nonetheless, firm officers mentioned they had been assured that chip provides would enhance quickly. “Provide chain disruptions should not absolutely behind us, however we anticipate to proceed outperforming 2021 manufacturing ranges, particularly within the second half of the 12 months,” Steve Carlisle, an government vp who can be president of G.M. North America, mentioned in a press release.

G.M. mentioned a powerful labor market, greater manufacturing and pent-up demand ought to assist enhance its complete gross sales of latest vehicles and vans in america this 12 months, above the 15 million bought in 2021.

“Ordinarily, a U.S. economic system this robust would translate into gentle automobile gross sales within the 17-million vary,” G.M.’s chief economist, Elaine Buckberg, mentioned. “Enhancements within the provide chain ought to carry auto gross sales because the 12 months progresses, regardless of headwinds from greater inflation and gasoline costs.”

G.M.’s gross sales of electrical autos, the quickest rising phase of the auto market, remained very low within the first quarter. The corporate bought fewer than 500, 99 of them Hummer pickup vans.

Toyota, which doesn’t but promote a totally electrical automobile in america, mentioned it had robust demand for hybrid fashions, gross sales of which fell simply 4 p.c within the first quarter.

Honda, Stellantis and different automakers are anticipated to report their gross sales totals in a while Friday. Ford Motor plans to launch its gross sales figures on Monday.