Quarterly Summary
The final sales results for the third quarter of 2025 confirmed that this period was one of the most important for the electric vehicle market in recent years. The cancellation of the federal tax credit for electric vehicles by the Trump administration triggered a final surge in purchases, sharply boosting sales figures.
As expected, two Tesla models retained their leading positions, but several other models also showed significant demand growth.
Scale of Growth
According to Kelley Blue Book, electric vehicle sales in the US reached a record 438,487 units for the quarter, which is 40.7% more than in the second quarter and 29.6% higher than last year. This result exceeded the previous record from the fourth quarter of 2024 by almost 20%.
The share of electric vehicles in total car sales also reached a record 10.5%, compared to 8.6% for the same period last year.
The Tesla Model Y remained the most popular electric vehicle in the USA: 114,897 units were sold in the quarter, which is 29% more than last year. However, Tesla’s overall market share fell to 41% compared to 49% a year earlier.
In second place was another Tesla model — the Model 3, with sales of 53,857 units. This result actually decreased by 7.8% compared to last year, which may indicate a shift in buyer attention to the updated Model Y.
Top 10 Most Popular Electric Vehicles in Q3 2025
Model — Sales
Tesla Model Y — 114,897
Tesla Model 3 — 53,857
Chevrolet Equinox EV — 25,085
Hyundai Ioniq 5 — 21,999
Honda Prologue — 20,236
Ford Mustang Mach-E — 20,177
Volkswagen ID.4 — 12,470
Audi Q6 e-tron — 10,299
Ford F-150 Lightning — 10,005
Rivian R1S — 8,184
Other Models
The first non-Tesla car in the sales leaders list was the Chevrolet Equinox EV. 25,085 units were sold in the quarter, which is 156.7% more than last year.
Not far behind were the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with sales of 21,999 units, the Honda Prologue with 20,236 sales, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 20,177 sales. The Volkswagen ID.4 also showed good results: 12,470 units, which is 176% more than in the third quarter of 2024.
An unexpected participant in the list was the Audi Q6 e-tron. 10,299 crossovers were sold in the quarter, which is an impressive result for a premium model that even surpassed the Ford F-150 Lightning with 10,005 units sold.
Among other successful models are the Rivian R1S with 8,184 sales, the Chevrolet Blazer EV (8,089), the Kia EV9 (7,510), and the Cadillac Lyriq, which found 7,309 new owners.
However, fewer than 10 models were able to exceed the 10,000 sales mark per quarter, highlighting how much the market remains concentrated around a few leaders. For most automakers, electric vehicle sales volumes remain below the level needed to achieve profitability.
Year-to-Date Summary
According to year-to-date results, total electric vehicle sales in the USA exceeded 1.04 million units, which is 11.7% more than last year.
Tesla continues to lead with 451,160 units sold, despite a slight decrease in performance compared to last year. Chevrolet is in second place with 87,137 units, Ford is third with 69,600, and Hyundai is fourth with 57,167.
Among individual models, the Tesla Model Y leads with 265,085 units sold, the Model 3 is in second place with 155,180, and the Chevrolet Equinox EV is third with 52,834 sales. The Ford Mustang Mach-E showed a result of 41,962, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 — 41,091, the Honda Prologue — 36,553. The Tesla Cybertruck took seventh place with 25,973 sales, ahead of the Ford F-150 Lightning (23,034) and Volkswagen ID.4 (22,125). The Chevrolet Blazer EV closed the top ten with 20,825 units.
Market Outlook
After the expiration of federal incentives, analysts expect the market to cool down.
“The training wheels are coming off. The federal tax credit was a key catalyst for EV adoption, and its cancellation marks a pivotal moment,” noted Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive.
Cox Automotive forecasts a temporary decline in electric vehicle sales towards the end of 2025 and into early 2026, before growth stabilizes in the long term.
Overall, the electric vehicle market has demonstrated significant resilience, but it will now have to adapt to new conditions without government support. Many manufacturers have already announced new models and strategies aimed at sustaining demand, including expanding the charging station network and offering their own incentives for buyers. These steps may help smooth the transition period and ensure continued growth in interest in electric vehicles among American consumers.