These are the top 10 best-selling EVs in the US through Q3 — SkimNews
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- US EV sales totaled 266,630 units in Q3 2026, up 7.7% from Q2 and the strongest quarter since EV sales peaked in Q3 2025, per Kelley Blue Book estimates
- Tesla Model Y and Model 3 held the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the year-to-date best-selling EV rankings, maintaining the brand's dominant lead
- Toyota and Lexus led growth with EV sales surging 328% and 442% respectively from the prior year, continuing to buck the broader market decline
- Hyundai IONIQ 5 ranked third with 31,112 units sold through September, remaining the best-selling non-Tesla EV at a starting price around $35,000
- Chevrolet Equinox EV dropped 65% from a year ago with 18,154 units sold yet still held fifth place, despite starting under $30,000 according to commenters
- Rivian sales jumped 46% in the quarter and Subaru posted 31% growth driven by its trio of new electric SUVs, both outperforming the overall market
- EVs captured 6.5% of all new car sales in Q3, up from 5.8% in Q2 but still far below the 10%+ market share reached in Q3 2025 before the tax credit expired
Why it matters: The US EV market's recovery is real but fragile — sales are up sequentially yet still 38.6% below the credit-fueled Q3 2025 peak, and Tesla's top-two lock is increasingly challenged by Toyota's 328% surge and Hyundai's affordable IONIQ 5, while the Equinox EV's 65% collapse despite aggressive pricing hints at brand-specific demand problems worth watching.
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