What Occurs With The 6 Finest Promoting Electrical Automobiles In The USA Now?

Help CleanTechnica’s work by way of a Substack subscription or on Stripe.

So, we’re right here. The US tax credit score for electrical autos is gone. Objectively, many electrical automobile fashions nonetheless compete very effectively with the gas-powered competitors. Nevertheless, the stimulus of a tax credit score means fewer folks will likely be instructed “hey, you need to think about an EV — you may get a tax credit score from it,” one thing that individuals with private or enterprise accountants have been usually instructed. And, in fact, EVs do now value greater than they did a month in the past. However there are additionally some constructive issues.

As I wrote beforehand, the surge in EV purchases that resulted from the tax credit score getting killed raised general consciousness about EVs, elevated the variety of completely happy EV house owners who will rave about their vehicles to household and buddies, and will result in much more word-of-mouth gross sales. Or not. Who is aware of?

Naturally, it is a subject I preserve questioning about. What occurs within the US electrical automobile market now? What’s going to the subsequent a number of quarters appear like? After all, a big portion of EV gross sales — the overwhelming majority — are from only a handful of prime promoting fashions. So, to contemplate the general query, I figured it made some sense to discover the query with these fashions. I picked out the 6 fashions that had greater than 20,000 gross sales within the final quarter.

Tesla Mannequin Y: Sadly for the Tesla Mannequin Y, this electrical crossover has been preventing a decline in gross sales for the previous couple of years. Increasingly more entrants in its class, the gross sales impact of Elon Musk’s political actions, and the mannequin merely getting older and older have sometimes meant year-over-year gross sales declines from the peaks the Mannequin Y reached when it was the highest promoting automobile mannequin on the earth. For instance, within the US, gross sales of the Mannequin Y went from 96,729 in Q1 2024 to 64,051 in Q1 2025, and went from 101,301 in Q2 2024 to 86,120 in Q2 2025. The Mannequin Y was not too long ago upgraded with a brand new look, higher tech, and an general refresh that was purported to make it appear to be a brand new mannequin once more. Although, that was at the start of the 12 months, so the increase in gross sales from the refresh has doubtless worn off by now.

On the constructive facet, there’s a brand new cheaper trim of the mannequin. It’s really costlier than the (higher) base mannequin was earlier than the tax credit have been eradicated, however on the floor — trying on the upfront value — it appears like a decrease entry level for buyers. Like I mentioned above, different electrical crossovers have come onto the scene in recent times and brought a number of the Mannequin Y’s gross sales, however maybe these different fashions will likely be pushed much less as legacy automakers step off the electrical pedal (in spite of everything, gas economic system requirements have additionally been all however eradicated by the Trump administration), making it simpler for Tesla to search out extra prospects once more?

All issues thought-about, I’m having a tough time seeing Tesla’s developments reversing. At the same time as the general US EV market was up considerably, Tesla gross sales have been down, so I do count on the Mannequin Y might proceed drifting downward within the subsequent few quarters. May it get down to only 50,000 gross sales 1 / 4? Even decrease? The final time it was down in that territory was within the third quarter of 2021 when about 49,900 models have been offered within the USA.

Tesla Mannequin 3: The Mannequin 3 is going through most of the similar points because the Mannequin Y, besides it’s even older than the Mannequin 3, its refresh occurred final 12 months, and most of the people who used to purchase sedans now purchase crossovers. Alternatively, there isn’t loads of competitors within the sedan market within the US. Prior to now 12 months, the Mannequin 3 has gotten round 50,000–60,000 gross sales 1 / 4. Can it maintain that? I’m skeptical. If it may’t, are we speaking a few drop all the way down to round 30,000, like its Q1 2024 whole, or might it go down to twenty,000–25,000 gross sales 1 / 4, like within the first half of 2021?

Chevrolet Equinox EV: That is an fascinating one. The Chevy Equinox EV has develop into the most effective promoting non-Tesla EV in the US. It reached 25,085 gross sales in Q3 2025, effectively above its earlier report from This fall 2024 of 18,089 gross sales and Q2 2025’s 17,420 gross sales. After all, it was boosted by the expiring tax credit, nevertheless it has solely been in the marketplace since Q2 2024, it rapidly received to a fairly first rate quantity and consciousness of the EV has absolutely risen an amazing deal, and it competes fairly effectively with its gas-powered twin!

The Equinox EV begins at $33,600, whereas the gasoline Equinox begins at $28,700. And the Equinox EV stands out with a bigger infotainment display (17.7 inches versus 11.3 inches) and a sharper, extra futuristic or fashionable frontend. Throw within the comfort and price financial savings from house charging in addition to the nicer driving expertise, and it’s simple to see why even many mainstream patrons would select the Equinox EV over the kind of boring and rancid gas-powered Equinox. It’s a must to transfer as much as the $33,600 RS or Activ trim simply to get some design tweaks and a bit extra character, which occurs to be proper the place that increased tech Equinox EV begins.

However there are the issues of manufacturing volumes and the way a lot auto sellers will push and even have accessible the Equinox EV. I are likely to suppose, although, that the mannequin has reached excessive sufficient gross sales ranges that many within the old-school auto world will likely be compelled to maintain transferring models. As with all of those fashions, there are loads of elements and it’s anybody’s guess. My thought is that after a reasonable dip in gross sales for 2 quarters, the Equinox EV might come surging again and truly have a robust 2026. Though … there’s one other wildcard that simply hit me. The Equinox EV is not the most cost effective EV in the marketplace. Chevrolet itself simply revived the Bolt at a a lot cheaper price, and the brand new Nissan LEAF can also be just a few thousand {dollars} cheaper. So, somebody searching for the bottom priced new EV now has different choices which can be considerably cheaper. Hmm … the Equinox EV could possibly be in for an fascinating trip.

Honda Prologue: The Honda Prologue is certainly an fascinating one. It’s principally a GM automobile beneath, nevertheless it will get loads of gross sales from individuals who simply swear by Honda, belief Honda, and suppose it’s 100% a Honda. The corporate has a really loyal buyer base, and it appears that evidently there are various individuals who held off on shopping for an EV till Honda had one out — and now they’re fortunately driving round in Prologues. You see them routinely, and Honda offered 22,236 of them within the third quarter. That mentioned, this was an enormous improve from its standard quarterly numbers — 9,561 within the 1st quarter and 6,756 within the 2nd quarter, and even 18,838 within the 4th quarter of 2024.

My concern/hunch is that Honda will battle to achieve 20,000 gross sales 1 / 4 once more with the Prologue. Additionally, right here’s the kicker: the Prologue begins at $47,400, and there are a handful of electrical alternate options on this dimension that appear like a a lot better deal. That mentioned, for the Honda loyal, the midsize Prologue competes effectively towards the midsize Passport ($44,750) and midsize Pilot ($40,200), and Honda patrons do sometimes recognize gas effectivity — which the Prologue wins in fingers down. So, perhaps with 20,000+ extra of those out on the street, many extra mainstream Honda patrons will discover, get intrigued, and go electrical. This can be the toughest mannequin of all from this record to conjecture about.

Hyundai IONIQ 5: The IONIQ 5 completely stormed the shores within the third quarter, almost doubling its gross sales. It went from 10,481 gross sales within the 2nd quarter to 21,999 gross sales within the third quarter, effectively above its earlier report of 14,082 gross sales within the 4th quarter of 2024 (when folks first thought the EV tax credit score could be killed). Now, the IONIQ 5 stands out, as Hyundai is at the moment providing and selling as much as $11,000 in retail bonus money or $0 APR for as much as 72 months. The corporate took the tip of the tax credit score to thoughts and went an enormous leap ahead in providing this monetary incentive. So, one would suppose the IONIQ 5’s gross sales will proceed booming within the 4th quarter. Nevertheless, these incentives are supposed to finish in November, so who is aware of how far they are going to go? And what comes after that?

The IONIQ 5 is so distinctive trying that you could additionally see patrons gravitating to it naturally simply from seeing it on the street, not essentially as a result of it’s electrical. And whenever you get within the automobile, it feels a little bit bit like an “Apple automobile.” Will that mixed with all the additional models out on the street and likewise mixed with the entire pure advantages of electrical vehicles assist to maneuver loads of medal quarter after quarter? Who is aware of? I’m leaning towards optimistic on the IONIQ 5. I believe/hope Hyundai will observe up the $11,000 retail bonus money with different incentives or a giant value minimize, and I believe the visible enchantment, tech, and completely happy proprietor chatter of the IONIQ 5 will preserve pulling in patrons, particularly in EV-happy California the place many patrons at the moment are searching for an alternative choice to Tesla.

Ford Mustang Mach-E: Final however not least, we’ve got the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Much like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Mustang Mach-E almost doubled its gross sales within the third quarter, going from 10,178 the quarter earlier than to twenty,177. Additionally just like the IONIQ 5, one of many Mustang Mach-E’s huge promoting factors is its distinctive, enticing design. As Mustangs at all times have, the Mustang Mach-E stands out on the street, is additional cool and sporty trying, and is simply going to win some base variety of gross sales on its smile. It’s additionally surprisingly low-cost — beginning at simply $37,995. Okay, not low-cost, however effectively under the typical new automobile value and a very good territory for a midsize SUV with aptitude. I’m hopeful that the Mustang Mach-E can return to twenty,000 quarterly gross sales inside a 12 months. If Ford will get a little bit extra aggressive on pricing or comes out with some updates — exterior and/or inside — maybe it might even stimulate one other gross sales surge.

Total, in internet, what can we count on from the 6 finest promoting electrical autos within the US in coming quarters? It’s arduous to guess, however … I’m cautiously optimistic. These are sturdy contenders available in the market even towards prime gas-powered autos. There’s additionally the likelihood that they may get extra value aggressive in coming months and quarters as developments available in the market evolve.

This text can also be being printed as our weekly column on Substack. You possibly can subscribe there to assist help CleanTechnica’s years of labor within the cleantech media trade.