What happens to the 6 best-selling electric cars in America now?

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So, here we are. The US tax credit for electric vehicles has ended. Objectively, many electric vehicle models still compete very well with the gas-powered competition. However, the stimulus of the tax credit means that fewer people will be told “Hey, you should consider an EV – you can get a tax credit on that,” which is what people with personal or business accountants are often told. And, of course, EVs cost more now than they did a month ago. But there are some positives as well.

As I wrote earlier, the increase in EV purchases resulting from the tax credit has increased overall awareness of EVs, increased the number of happy EV owners who will tell family and friends about their cars, and can lead to more word-of-mouth sales. Or not who knows?

Naturally, this is a topic I keep thinking about. What happens now in the US electric vehicle market? What will the next several circles look like? Of course, a huge portion of EV sales – the vast majority – are from only a handful of models sold. So, to consider the overall question, I thought it made some sense to explore the question with these models. I selected the 6 models that sold more than 20,000 in the last quarter.

Tesla Model Y: Unfortunately for the Tesla Model Y, this electric crossover has been battling declining sales for the past two years. More entries in its class, the sales impact of Elon Musk’s political activities, and the model simply getting older and older meant that sales generally declined year-over-year until the Model Y was the world’s top-selling vehicle model. For example, in the US, the Model Y went out of business 96,729 in Q1 2024 from 64,051 in Q1 2025, and 101,301 in Q2 2024 to 86,120 in Q2 2025. The Model Y was recently upgraded with a new look, better tech, and an overall refresh that was supposed to make it look like a new model once again. It was early in the year, though, so the possibility of a sales boost from the refresh has just finished.

On the plus side, the model has a new cheaper trim. It’s actually more expensive than the (improved) base model before the tax credit ends, but on the surface – given the upfront cost – it looks like a low entry point for buyers. As I said above, other electric crossovers have come on the scene in recent years and have outsold the Model Y, but perhaps those other models will be pushed less as legacy automakers move away from electric (after all, fuel economy standards have also been scrapped by the Trump administration), making it easier for Tesla to find more customers?

All things considered, I have a hard time seeing Tesla changing trends. Even as the overall U.S. EV market grew significantly, Tesla’s sales were low, so I expect the Model Y to continue to drift downward for the next few quarters. Can it only go to 50,000 sales in a quarter? Even less? The last time it was down in this area was in the third quarter of 2021 when it was about 49,900 units were sold in the United States.

Tesla Model 3: The Model 3 has many of the same problems as the Model Y, except it’s even older than the Model 3, it was refreshed last year, and most people who used to buy sedans now buy crossovers. On the other hand, there is not much competition in the sedan market in the US. In the past year, the Model 3 has achieved about 50,000 to 60,000 sales a quarter. Can it keep it up? I’m skeptical. If it can’t, are we talking about it falling to around 30,000 like in Q1 2024, or could it go to 20,000-25,000 sales a quarter, like the first half of 2021?

Chevrolet Equinox EV: This is an interesting thing. The Chevy Equinox EV has become the best-selling non-Tesla EV in the United States. It arrived 25,085 sales in Q3 2025, 18,089 sales in Q2 2025 and 17,420 sales in Q2 2025, higher than its previous record from Q4 2024. Sure, it’s boosted by the expiring tax credit, but it’s only been on the market since Q2 2024, it’s quickly grown to a pretty decent volume and EV awareness has certainly picked up a great deal, and it’s quite competitive with its gas-powered twin!

The Equinox EV starts at Rs 33,600, while the petrol Equinox starts at Rs 28,700. And the Equinox EV stands out with a larger infotainment screen (17.7 inches vs. 11.3 inches) and a sharper, more futuristic front end. Throw in the convenience and cost savings from home charging as well as the improved driving experience, and it’s easy to see why even many mainstream buyers choose the Equinox EV over the boring and stale gas-powered Equinox. You have to go up to Rs 33,600 or so for the Active trim, which is where the high-tech Equinox EV starts, to get some design touches and a bit more character.

But there are issues with production volume and how much pressure auto dealers will push or even make the Equinox EV available. I do think, though, that the model has reached enough sales levels that many in the old-school auto world will be compelled to continue with the dynamic units. As with all these models, there are a lot of factors and it’s anyone’s guess. My view is that after two quarters of moderate sales declines, the Equinox EV could bounce back and actually have a strong 2026. Although… there is another wild card that just struck me. The Equinox EV is no longer the cheapest EV on the market. Chevrolet itself resurrected the Bolt for much less, and Nissan’s new Leaf is even a few thousand dollars cheaper. So, anyone looking for the lowest priced new EV now has other options that are significantly cheaper. Hmmm… the Equinox EV might make for an interesting ride.

Honda Prologue: The Honda Prologue is definitely an interesting one. It’s basically a GM vehicle underneath, but that makes a lot of sales to people who just swear by Honda, trust Honda, and think it’s 100% Honda. The company has a very loyal customer base, and it seems like there are plenty of people who held off on buying an EV until Honda did — and now they’re happily driving away. You see them routinely, and Honda sold 22,236 of them in the third quarter. That said, this is a big increase from its usual quarterly numbers — 9,561 in the first quarter and 6,756 in the second quarter, or an even higher 18,838 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

My concern/hunch is that Honda will struggle to reach 20,000 sales a quarter again. Also, here’s the kicker: The Prologue starts at $47,400, and there are a handful of electric alternatives in that size that seem like a much better deal. That said, for the Honda faithful, the midsize Mute competes well against the midsize Passport (£44,750) and the midsize Pilot (£40,200), and Honda buyers generally appreciate the fuel efficiency – making the Mute a hands-down winner. So, with maybe 20,000+ more of these on the road, many mainstream Honda buyers will take notice, be intrigued, and go electric. This may be the most difficult model to infer from this list.

Hyundai Ioniq 5: The Ioniq 5 took the coast by storm in the third quarter, nearly doubling its sales. It went away 10,481 sales in the second quarter rose to 21,999 sales in the third quarter, surpassing the previous record of 14,082 sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 (when people thought the EV tax credit might be killed). Now, the Ioniq 5 stands out, as Hyundai is currently offering up to $11,000 or $0 APR in retail bonus cash for up to 72 months. The company took note of the elimination of the tax credit and took a giant leap in offering this financial incentive. So, one would think that the sales of the Ioniq 5 will peak in the fourth quarter. However, these incentives are set to expire in November, so who knows how far they’ll go? And what comes after that?

The Ioniq 5 looks so unique that you can even see buyers naturally just by looking at it on the road, it doesn’t necessarily have to be electric. And when you get into the car, it feels a bit like an “Apple Car”. Will this, combined with all the extra units on the road and all the natural benefits of electric cars, help move a lot into the middle quarter quarter after quarter? Who knows? I’m leaning towards optimism on the IonQ5. I think/hope Hyundai will follow suit 11,000 retail bonus cash along with other incentives or big price cuts, and I think the Ion Q5’s visual appeal, tech, and happy owner chatter will continue to draw buyers, especially in EV-happy California where many buyers are now looking for alternatives to Tesla.

Ford Mustang Mach-E: Last but not least, we have the Ford Mustang Mach E. Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, The Mustang Mach E nearly doubled its sales in the third quarter, going from 10,178 to 20,177 the quarter before. Like the Ioniq 5, one of the Mustang Mach E’s big selling points is its unique, attractive design. As Mustang always is, the Mustang Mach-E stands out on the road, looks extra cool and sporty, and is going to win some major sales on its smile. It’s also surprisingly affordable – starting at just Rs 37,995. Well, not cheap, but less than the average new car price and a good territory for a midsize SUV with filler. I hope the Mustang Mach E can return to 20,000 quarterly sales within a year. If Ford gets a little more aggressive on pricing or comes out with some updates — exterior and/or interior — perhaps that could trigger another surge in sales growth.

Overall, what can we expect from the 6 best-selling electric vehicles in America in the coming quarters? It’s hard to predict, but… I’m cautiously optimistic. It is a strong contender in the market even against high gas mileage vehicles. There is also a possibility that they may face higher costs in the coming months and quarters as market trends evolve.

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