The latest Q1 2026 sales data paints a mixed picture for the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market, with overall demand cooling sharply—but one trend remains unchanged. Tesla continues to dominate the space, delivering more vehicles than the rest of the industry combined.
According to the latest figures from Cox Automotive, total EV sales in the U.S. fell 27% year-over-year to 216,399 units. Despite that decline, Tesla once again stood far above the competition, delivering 117,300 vehicles in Q1 alone—more than all other automakers combined, which totaled 99,099 units.
That performance gave Tesla a commanding 54.2% market share, up significantly from 43.2% during the same period last year.
Leading the charge were the Model Y and Model 3, which together accounted for more than half of all EV sales in the country. The Model Y remained the top-selling EV by a wide margin, with 78,591 deliveries, while the Model 3 added another 31,672 units.
Combined, the two vehicles represented roughly 51% of the entire U.S. EV market in Q1. While Tesla maintained its dominant position, the broader leaderboard revealed growing momentum from competitors across multiple segments.
Toyota emerged as one of the biggest winners of the quarter, with its revamped bZ electric SUV climbing into third place overall. Sales surged nearly 79% year-over-year, surpassing 10,000 units. Lexus also posted one of the most significant gains, with the RZ seeing a 207% increase, pointing to strong demand in the premium EV segment.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 continued to show steady growth with a 13.7% increase, while General Motors saw mixed results. The Chevrolet Equinox EV secured a top-five position with 9,589 units sold, and Cadillac’s Optiq posted a 65.9% gain, highlighting growing traction in the luxury space.
Rivian also held firm, with the R1S landing in sixth place overall, and the Cybertruck maintained its position as the best-selling electric pickup in the U.S., but only 3,519 were delivered during the quarter.
However, not all automakers fared well. Several legacy brands saw steep declines in EV sales, including Ford, Volkswagen, and Nissan, each experiencing significant year-over-year drops.
Despite the overall decline in sales, the data suggests the EV market is becoming more competitive, not less. New models are gaining traction, and legacy automakers are beginning to carve out meaningful share in specific segments—even as Tesla continues to lead by a wide margin.
You can read the full report from Cox Automotive below.
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