US Q3 EV Sales Report: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Electric vehicle sales in the US took a hit in the third quarter of 2026, even as EVs keep gaining ground elsewhere in the world. GM's electric models were especially hard hit: Chevy Equinox EV sales fell 92 percent, Blazer EV sales dropped 84 percent, and the new second-generation Bolt has sold so poorly (just 8,090 units this year against a planned 150,000) that GM may cut its production run short. Ford's Mustang Mach-E fared little better, down 72 percent for the quarter. Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis electric models also slid, and even Tesla's US sales fell for an eighth straight month, though its share of a shrinking EV market actually grew.

Not every automaker struggled. Toyota's bZ electric SUV has become the fourth-best-selling EV in the country, and hybrids and plug-ins now make up more than half of Toyota's US sales. Rivian had its best quarter yet, driven by its new R2 midsize SUV, which starts just under $60,000. The company expects to deliver up to 25,000 of them by year's end.

Behind the numbers is a shift in what buyers want. Higher gas prices are pushing some shoppers away from big trucks and SUVs toward smaller, more efficient vehicles, a pattern that echoes the 1970s oil-shock years. For homeowners weighing an EV purchase alongside other energy upgrades, this means more competition and new models on the market, but also fewer guarantees about which specific vehicles will stick around long term.