Business · Energy & Commodities · 5 hrs ago
US EV Sales Rebound to a One-Year High in Q3 2026
US electric vehicle sales rose in the third quarter of 2026, reaching their highest level in a year.
Kelley Blue Book estimates that 266,630 EVs were sold, up 7.7% from the second quarter; another account gives a lower estimate and a smaller increase.
The prior year’s sales rush came as buyers moved to purchase vehicles before the federal $7,500 tax credit expired at the end of Q3 2025.
Sales in Q3 2026 were still down sharply from a year earlier, and EVs made up 6.5% of new car sales, compared with more than 10% in Q3 2025.
Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 led year-to-date sales, while Toyota and Lexus recorded strong growth and Rivian sales rose from a year earlier.
More models and competitive prices could support further growth, and new vehicles may reshape the rankings by year’s end.
US electric vehicle sales reached their highest quarterly level in a year in Q3 2026, according to the articles.
Cox Automotive reported a 6.1% rise from Q2, while Kelley Blue Book estimated a 7.7% increase.
Kelley Blue Book estimated 266,630 EVs were sold in the quarter, 38.6% fewer than a year earlier.
The articles link the year-on-year decline to buyers rushing to purchase before the federal tax credit expired at the end of Q3 2025.
Electric vehicles made up 6.5% of new car sales in Q3, up from 5.8% in Q2.
- Who
- US electric vehicle buyers and automakers.
- What
- EV sales rebounded in Q3 2026 to their highest quarterly level in a year.
- When
- Q3 2026.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- Sales rose from the previous quarter as the market recovered from a correction after the federal EV tax credit expired. The articles also point to new models, competitive prices and high fuel costs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The federal EV tax credit expired, after which buyers rushed to purchase before the quarter ended.
EV sales reached a record high, with more than 437,000 vehicles sold, according to InsideEVs.
EV sales accounted for 5.8% of all new car sales, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates.
Kelley Blue Book estimated 266,630 EVs were sold, the highest quarterly total since Q3 2025.
- Q3 2026 EV sales
- 266,630, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates
- Quarter-on-quarter change
- Up 7.7%, according to Kelley Blue Book
- Year-on-year change
- Down 38.6%, according to Kelley Blue Book
- Share of new car sales
- 6.5% in Q3 2026
- Top-selling model through Q3
- Tesla Model Y, with 262,491 sales
- Federal EV tax credit
- $7,500; expired at the end of Q3 2025
What people are saying
The third quarter was the highest EV sales volume in a year, and improvement through 2026 suggests the reset phase is largely behind us.
With gas prices well above $4 a gallon, electric vehicles look better than ever.
Sources
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