Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the United States are showing signs of recovery, with the third quarter of 2026 delivering the strongest results in a year, despite sales remaining well below last year’s record levels.
According to new data from Cox Automotive, there were an estimated 266,630 EVs purchased in the U.S. between July and September, an increase of 7.7% compared to Q2.
While sales were down 38.6% year-over-year, that comparison comes against Q3 2025, when buyers rushed to purchase EVs before federal tax credits expired.
EVs accounted for 6.5% of all new vehicle sales during the quarter, up from 5.8% in Q2. Including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, electrified vehicles represented nearly one-quarter of the U.S. market.
Tesla Maintains Commanding Lead
Tesla remained the clear market leader, selling an estimated 144,094 vehicles and capturing 54% of all U.S. EV sales. That was down 19.7% from a year earlier, but Tesla still outsold every other EV manufacturer combined.
The Model Y continued to dominate, with 99,037 sales, accounting for 37.2% of the entire EV market. The Model 3 followed with 40,346 sales and a 15.1% market share.
Those two vehicles accounted for nearly 97% of Tesla’s U.S. sales, with the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Rivian’s commercial devliery van, and Toyota’s refreshed bZ following in the distance.
Source: Cox Automotive / Kelley Blue Book
Rivian and Toyota Buck the Trend
While most manufacturers reported declining sales, Rivian stood out with 19,239 vehicles sold, an increase of 45.7% year-over-year. That growth was thanks to the introduction of the R2 SUV earlier in the summer.
Toyota also posted impressive growth, with EV sales climbing 328% to 12,904 units, while Lexus sales jumped 442% to 8,464.
Meanwhile, traditional automakers struggled. Ford’s EV sales fell 80.2%, Chevrolet declined 74.6%, and Volkswagen dropped 90.5%.
Source: Cox Automotive / Kelley Blue Book
The latest figures suggest the U.S. EV market is finding its footing after the federal tax credit ended. However, with sales still nearly 39% below last year’s peak, a full recovery remains some distance away.
Related Articles:
- Ford EV Sales Sink 80% in Q3 as Mach-E and Lightning Struggle
- GM’s U.S. EV Sales Plunge 61.7% in Q3 2026
- Lucid Q3 2026 deliveries fall as automaker draws down inventory
- Canadian EV sales climb in Q3 as GM, Hyundai and Toyota post strong growth
Always get the latest - make Drive Tesla your preferred source on Google
Are you buying a Tesla? If you enjoy our content and we helped in your decision, use our referral link to get three months of Full Self-Driving (FSD).Drive Tesla uses affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
