Tesla dominated the US electric vehicle (EV) market in the third quarter, but its Cybertruck failed to impress. The EV industry as a whole saw a surge in sales as the $7,500 EV tax credit expired, prompting consumers to rush to showrooms to take advantage of the incentive.
According to Cox Automotive’s Q3 Electric Vehicle Sales Report, Tesla led the market with its Model Y and Model 3 securing the top two spots, with 114,897 and 53,857 sales, respectively. Other manufacturers, such as Chevrolet, Honda, and Ford, also saw significant sales, with two vehicles each in the top 10.
The top 10 best-selling EVs in Q3 were:
1. Tesla Model Y – 114,897
2. Tesla Model 3 – 53,857
3. Chevrolet Equinox EV – 25,085
4. Hyundai Ioniq 5 – 21,999
5. Honda Prologue – 20,236
6. Ford Mustang Mach-E – 20,177
7. Volkswagen ID.4 – 12,470
8. Audi Q6 e-tron – 10,299
9. Ford F-150 Lightning – 10,005
10. Rivian R1S – 8,184
Notably, the Tesla Cybertruck was not among the top 10, despite selling 5,385 units in Q3. While this made it the second-best-selling EV pickup, behind the Ford F-150 Lightning, it was still a disappointment given the hype surrounding its release.
The Cybertruck’s pricing has been a major issue, with the initial price points of $39,990, $49,990, and $69,990 no longer applicable. The vehicle’s sales have not lived up to expectations, despite having between one million and two million reservations.
The Q3 sales data also revealed that electric vehicles accounted for 10.5% of total US automotive sales, a new record surpassing the 8.6% share in Q3 2024.
In related news, Teslarati highlighted five reasons why Tesla might thrive without the EV tax credit. [link to article]
Twitter user Teslarati also shared the Q3 sales data, noting that the Cybertruck was outsold only by the Ford F-150 Lightning among EV pickups.
