The US electric vehicle market delivered its strongest performance in a year in the third quarter. Here are the top 10 most popular so far this year.
US electric vehicle sales bounce back in Q3 2026
The “reset phase” following the expiration of the federal $7,500 tax credit last September is largely behind us, according to Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of insights at Cox Automotive.
A total of 266,630 electric vehicles were sold in the US in Q3, Kelley Blue Book estimates, up 7.7% from the second quarter, and the highest since EV sales peaked in Q3 2025.
While EV sales were down 38.6% from a year ago, it was due to the tax credit expiring at the end of Q3 2025, which led to a rush of buyers before the quarter ended.
Beyond that, the third-quarter results suggest the market is finding its footing again and continuing to recover from the expected correction. Electric vehicles accounted for 6.5% of all new car sales in the third quarter, up from 5.8% in Q2, but still far from the over 10% achieved in Q3 2025.
Although most automakers posted lower EV volume than the year prior when the credit expired, several brands bucked the trend.
Toyota and Lexus continued leading the growth, with EV sales surging 328% and 442% from the prior year.
Rivian delivered a strong third quarter, with sales jumping 46%, while Subaru posted 31% growth driven by its trio of new electric SUVs.
The top 10 best-selling EVs through Q3 2026
Through Q3, Tesla remains the dominant leader, with the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 holding the No. 1 and No. 2 spots.
| Rank | Model | YTD 2026 Sales | YTD Segment Share | YTD YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 262,491 | 36.0% | -1.0% |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 | 106,962 | 14.7% | -31.1% |
| 3 | Hyundai Ioniq5 | 31,112 | 4.3% | -24.3% |
| 4 | Toyota BZ | 24,944 | 3.4% | +103.4% |
| 5 | Chevrolet Equinox | 18,154 | 2.5% | -65.6% |
| 6 | Rivian R1S | 17,259 | 2.4% | -12.3% |
| 7 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 17,206 | 2.4% | -59.0% |
| 8 | Rivian EDV500/700 | 15,685 | 2.1% | +130.4% |
| 9 | Honda Prologue | 13,289 | 1.8% | -63.6% |
| 10 | Kia EV9 | 12,429 | 1.7% | -0.2 |
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 remained America’s most popular EV not named Tesla, ranking third with 31,112 units sold through September.
The Toyota bZ ranked fourth after sales doubled to nearly 25,000 units. Toyota’s electric SUV continues winning over buyers after the updated 2026 model went on sale late last year.
In fifth was the Chevrolet Equinox EV, despite sales dropping 65% from last year with 18,154 units sold.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5, Toyota bZ, and Chevrolet Equinox EV are among the most affordable electric vehicles, starting at around $35,000.
The Rivian R1S ranked sixth, followed by the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Rivian EDV, Honda Prologue, and Kia EV9.
With several new models now on sale, such as the Kia EV3 and Rivian R2, the list could look very different by year’s end.
Looking ahead, the next stage of growth will come from “great products, competitive pricing, and automakers that continue to give consumers compelling reasons to make the switch,” Valdez Streaty said, adding, “With gas prices well above $4 a gallon, electric vehicles look better than ever.”
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