Many say it is the future. Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly reshaping the U.S. automotive landscape, with some brands leading the charge more than others.
For the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, Tesla ranks top.
TL;DR
- Tesla leads the U.S. EV market with 143,535 units sold in Q2 2025, capturing 48.5% market share.
- The following three brands — General Motors (GM), Hyundai, and Volkswagen — hold approximately 15%, 8%, and 3.7% market share, respectively.
- Globally, EV sales are surging, expected to outsell petrol cars by 2030, with EVs projected to reach 13 million annual sales in 2025 compared to 42 million for gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Data for this explainer is gathered from CleanTechnica.
Top EV Brands by Sales Volume in the US (Q2 2025)
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Brand | EV Sales (Units) | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Tesla | 143,535 | 48.5 |
| 2 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | General Motors | 44,400 | 15.0 |
| 3 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Hyundai | 23,700 | 8.0 |
| 4 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Volkswagen | 18,200 | 3.7 |
| 5 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Ford | 12,500 | 5.5 |
| 6 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Nissan | 9,800 | 3.3 |
| 7 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | BMW | 8,900 | 3.0 |
| 8 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Mercedes-Benz | 7,500 | 2.5 |
| 9 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Kia | 6,800 | 2.3 |
| 10 | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Monica Ebunoluwa | 27/05/2026 01:32 PM | Audi | 5,900 | 2.0 |
Note: Figures are approximations based on aggregated data from CleanTechnica and industry reports.
The second quarter of 2025 shows that the EV market in the United States has continued to grow rapidly and is becoming increasingly competitive.
Nearly 300,000 electric vehicles were sold during this period, a significant increase over the year before.
More Americans are choosing EVs as they become more affordable, with improved range and charging options, and government tax credits make them easier to buy.
U.S. EV Market Still Dominated by 3 Giants
The top three brands, Tesla, GM, and Hyundai, now make up over 70% of all U.S. EV sales, showing that while the market is opening up, it’s still concentrated among a few major players.
Tesla remains the undisputed leader in the US EV market, with nearly half of all EV sales in Q2 2025. The Model Y and Model 3 continue to be the best-selling EV models, thanks to their blend of range, performance, and brand appeal.
Despite a slight dip from previous quarters, Tesla’s 48.5% market share underscores its stronghold on the EV segment.
The rise of General Motors EVs
Still, the competition continues to rise, as General Motors surged to second place, becoming Tesla’s strongest US competitor with about 44,400 sales and a 15% market share.
The company’s success is driven by the popularity of its Chevrolet Bolt and its new electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV and the Cadillac Lyriq, which use its new “Ultium” battery system.
In third place, Hyundai continues to do very well, with aggressive expansion and competitive pricing, making around 23,700 sales, or 8% of the market.
While Volkswagen’s ID series and Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning contribute to their growing market share, they came next with a 6% share.
Brands like Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, and Audi each hold between 2% and 3% of the market. These companies play important roles in specific segments.
Finally, a mix of smaller brands, such as Rivian, Lucid, and Polestar, accounts for just over 5% of the market. They are growing more slowly, but they add diversity and innovation to the EV space.
From a Global Perspective…
EV adoption is growing worldwide, but the U.S. is still behind many other countries in terms of market share and overall adoption rates.
While countries like Norway and China have very high percentages of new-car sales being electric, the US EV market is expanding steadily but remains relatively small compared to theirs.
This means the U.S. is an emerging market in this area, with lots of room to improve and expand.
This is seen in the data provided by S&P Global Mobility: the US EV adoption rate by market—12 months through June/July 2025 —stands at 7.5% of new sales.
And still, other countries can learn from the U.S. experience as it develops its EV industry, especially how it balances innovation, infrastructure growth, and consumer interest.
At the same time, the U.S. can learn from countries further along in EV adoption to accelerate its progress and make electric vehicles more accessible and practical for everyone.
ELI5
EVs are electric cars that don’t need petrol or other fossil fuels to run. And in the US, Tesla sells the most, almost half of all electric cars bought between April and June 2025.
While GM, Hyundai, Volkswagen, and others are catching up, they are still far behind.
Around the world, more and more people are choosing electric cars over gas cars, and soon they will be the most popular.
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