General Motors reported spending nearly $11.4 million on federal lobbying expenses during the first three months of 2026, more than the company has ever spent in a single quarter, according to new federal lobbying disclosures.

For comparison: The automotive giant spent about $8.2 million during the first quarter of 2025, then a record-breaking quarter for the company, when President Donald Trump took office and Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress.

Only the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Realtors and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America — all trade associations — spent more on federal lobbying than General Motors during the first quarter of 2026. These were also the only four entities to spend more than $10 million on federal lobbying last quarter.

General Motors, which includes the Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC brands, historically spends more money on federal lobbying during the first quarter than it does during the second, third or fourth — just never to this degree.

A spokesperson for General Motors declined to comment on the record when asked what was driving the notable increase in federal lobbying expenses.

But in General Motors’ mandatory quarterly lobbying report to Congress, the company cited tariffs, autonomous vehicles and competition with China among its legislative priorities during the first three months of 2026.

General Motors also disclosed lobbying on a range of issues including legislation related to autonomous vehicles, including a House bill that would require manufacturers and dealers to provide a “clear and conspicuous” notice of automated driving systems.

And amid the United States’ war with Iran, General Motors also lobbied the Department of Defense on several matters, including “propulsion programs,” “infantry squad vehicle authorization” and “armored vehicle procurement” — all issues the company lobbied on prior to 2026.

In addition to both the U.S. House and Senate, General Motors reported lobbying a range of executive branch offices including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Executive Office of the President.

Last year was an especially challenging one for automakers, whom Trump hit with a 25% tariff on imported cars and car parts.

Tariffs have cost automakers at least $35 billion since 2025, according to an Automotive News analysis of companies’ financial reports.Lobbying expenses include compensation for in-house lobbyists and non-lobbyist employees, including executives, who make or support direct contacts with certain government agencies and officials.

That total also includes payments to outside lobbying firms and consultants, trade-association or coalition payments and other costs directly related to lobbying contacts and activities.

Since January 2025, when Trump took office, General Motors has hired four new outside lobbying firms, including Miller Strategies, a firm run by Trump ally Jeff Miller.

Miller Strategies — which has seen federal lobbying revenue skyrocket since Trump took office — lobbied on General Motors’ behalf on “general issues related to automotive industry.”

Former Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder of Venture Government Strategies also registered to lobby on “economic and tax policy impacting U.S. auto manufacturing and jobs” for General Motors starting in April 2025.

Federal lobbying expenses do not include contributions to political campaigns or grassroots or state lobbying expenses.

General Motors’ peers Ford and Stellantis, often referred to as the “Big Three,” did not make major changes to their own federal lobbying expenses during the first three months of 2026.

Ford reported more than $696,000 on federal lobbying during the first quarter of 2026, up from around $967,000 during the same period in 2025, according to federal lobbying data.

Ford also hired two separate outside lobbying firms last spring: Ryan Costello Strategies, led by former Republican Rep. Ryan Costello, and a team at Michael Best Strategies that includes Alexander Angelson, a former special assistant to Trump.

FCA US LLC, which does business as Stellantis, disclosed spending just over $1 million during the first three months of 2026 — a small decrease from the nearly $1.1 million it spent during the same period in 2025. Stellantis’ domestic brands include Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler.

All three companies disclosed lobbying federal policymakers on trade and tariff issues, among others, this year. Tariffs have pitted the automotive giants against each other on issues including potential tariffs on medium- and heavy-duty trucks, Bloomberg reported.