New Delhi, Feb. 7 -- Automakers are largely absent from Super Bowl advertising this year amid uncertainty in the US automotive industry, including sales, tariffs, and regulations, according to a report by CNBC.

Auto companies, historically among the biggest buyers of ads during the big game, have shown inconsistent advertising efforts in recent years, with only a few releasing commercials each Super Bowl.

"It's definitely been on the decline," Sean Muller, CEO of ad data company iSpot, told the news portal. "Autos are tightening their belts, and they're probably pulling back on their budgets, and certainly that's reflected. I think the Super Bowl is a good barometer for all of this."

Accounting for 40% of Super Bowl ad minutes in 2012,...