CARS · MARKET ANALYSIS
Electric cars in the US: sales, prices and best sellers in 2026
By S. Dahani and the RealDigitalTech editorial team
New EV sales in the US are down almost 47 % in a year since the federal tax credit ended, while used EVs are booming. Here are the figures and the ten best-selling models.
Quick Take
Key figures
Why sales have fallen
The $7,500 US federal tax credit for electric cars ended in September 2025. Since then, new EV sales have dropped sharply compared with a year earlier, although they rose slightly in August 2026. Buyers are turning to used EVs, which are cheaper: their average listing price is $37,441.
August 2026 in figures
| Indicator | New EVs | Used EVs |
|---|---|---|
| Sales, month on month | +2.5 % | +25.9 % |
| Sales, year on year | −46.9 % | +14.7 % |
| Average price | $54,754 | $37,441 |
| Premium over petrol equivalents | $4,847 | 7.8 % |
| Top brands | Tesla, Toyota, Rivian, Hyundai, Cadillac | Tesla, Ford, Hyundai, BMW, Chevrolet |
Toyota stands out: its sales rose about 35 % in a month, led by the bZ, up 39.6 %.
The ten best-selling EVs in the first half of 2026
| Rank | Model | Sales (H1 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 163,454 |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 | 66,616 |
| 3 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 20,730 |
| 4 | Toyota bZ | 17,553 |
| 5 | Chevrolet Equinox EV | 16,249 |
| 6 | Rivian R1S | 11,677 |
| 7 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 11,632 |
| 8 | Honda Prologue | 8,407 |
| 9 | Lexus RZ | 7,814 |
| 10 | Cadillac Lyriq | 7,578 |
Verdict
The US electric car market has shrunk since the end of the federal incentive, but it has not collapsed, and the used market is growing fast. For buyers, this means more discounts and more choice in used EVs. Outside the US, prices, incentives and best sellers are very different: check the rules and offers in your own country.
This article analyses figures published by other outlets, in our own words.
Sources
How this article was made: our editorial team selected and read the reviews listed above, compared their results and wrote this synthesis, with AI tools assisting the research and drafting. Every figure was checked against the sources, and the article was approved by the publication director. Our AI Disclosure · Our methodology · Report an error: editorial@realdigitaltech.com