It’s electric, EVs captured 11% of Q3 U.S. auto sales, who was the leaders

Americans purchased 438,500 electric vehicles in the third quarter, setting a new quarterly record as buyers rushed to secure federal incentives before they expired on September 30.

Electric vehicles made up 11% of all new car sales during the period, surpassing the previous high of 8.7%, according to data from Cox Automotive.

While Tesla remains the dominant player in the US electric vehicle market with a small sales increase in the third quarter following months of declining results, its market share has significantly decreased. Tesla now holds 41% of the EV market, down from 80% four years ago as competitors rapidly gain ground.

General Motors has emerged as a strong competitor, capturing 15% of EV sales in the quarter, up from 10% in the same period last year. The company’s growth was driven largely by its new Chevrolet Equinox, which ranked as the third best-selling electric vehicle.

According to Bloomberg NEF data, nearly half of US electric vehicle purchases in the first half of 2025 were completed without any federal incentives.