Latest sales figures reveal obvious winners and losers in the messy electric car market
A chaotic picture of the U.S. electric vehicle market was drawn in the second quarter of 2025. While GM enjoyed a breakout quarter, most other automakers, especially Tesla and Ford, stumbled into trouble. Electric vehicle sales are now a combination of breakthrough and failure.
All of this happens under the White House, which decisively opposes green subsidies.
General Motors stands out from backpack
Despite the political environment hostile to clean energy, GM’s sales rose by 111% compared to the same period last year, which increased sales of 46,280 electric vehicles. Detroit automakers’ investment in new models appears to be paying off.
- Chevrolet Equinox EV sales soared 1,600% to 17,420 units.
- GMC Hummer EVs increased by 54%, with 4,508 units sold.
- Cadillac Optiq and Cadillac Lyriq have also released a lot of profits.
General Motors now accounts for about 13% of the U.S. electric vehicle market (EV Market) and becomes a true contender for Tesla’s long-standing dominance. Many analysts attribute this interest to product quality and opposition to the polarized political activity of Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Tesla lost motivation
Tesla, a market leader for years, is now clearly retreating. The company delivered 384,122 vehicles worldwide in the second quarter, a year-on-year decrease of 13.5%. U.S. sales are estimated to fall by 16.7% to 125,000 units.
Industry experts say Tesla’s troubles surpass competition. Musk, who has been involved in Donald Trump’s administration, served as head of the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has alienated many liberal and progressive buyers who once formed the key to Tesla’s customer base.
Ford’s EV lineup is also struggling
Ford’s electric vehicle division is not doing well. The company’s electric vehicle sales fell 31.4% in the second quarter, with a total of only 16,438 units. Key models such as F-150 Lightning and E-Transit Van fell 26% and 88% respectively.
Even Ford’s best-performing electric car, Mustang phones fell by 20%. Parking orders were made this quarter due to the safety recall, involving 317,000 vehicles, further masking Ford’s electric vehicle power.
Toyota, Hyundai and Kia: Hyundai
Toyota continues to get the ground, but is primarily on the back of hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars. It sold 320,817 “electric vehicles” in the second quarter, up nearly 30% from the same period last year. However, only a small portion consists of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Hyundai and Kia report sharp decline
- Hyundai IONIQ 5: 12% drop
- Hyundai IONIQ 6: 8% drop
- Kia EV6: 69% drop
- Kia EV9: 79% drop
Both companies refuse to share sales data for other electric models, such as the Kona EV and the Niro EV.
Mixed pictures are also used in destructive electric cars
The ever-changing landscape also expands to newer “destructive” electric car manufacturers. Rivian, known for electric trucks and SUVs, delivered 10,661 units in the second quarter, down 22% from the same period last year. While the decline seems to be worrying, Rivian said its production is intentionally limited during this period, preparing for the 2026 model vehicle launch in late July.
By contrast, delivery of luxury electric vehicle maker Lucid increased significantly, soaring 38% to 3,309 units in the second quarter. This marks a new record for Lucid’s quarterly delivery and a seventh consecutive quarter handover.
The upcoming surge: How to get tax credits to the cliff
In this turbulent market, the real wildcard is federal policy. A “large bill” signed by President Trump’s law signed on July 4 will end on September 30 of $7,500 in federal tax credit and $4,000 in used electric vehicles. These subsidies are the cornerstone of the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and help adopt electric vehicles across the country.
The bill also cuts incentives for rooftop solar, heat pumps and other green energy products and eliminates fuel efficiency fines for automakers.
As the expiration date approaches, many industry observers expect to buy it in the third quarter as consumers scramble to lock in discounts. But after September?
That’s the real test.
Our opinion
The electric vehicle market is entering a period of uncertainty. General Motors is on the rise. Tesla fell. Ford is scrambling to come. The federal government is retreating. If the first quarter was a mess, the third quarter could be a fanatical feeding, and the fourth quarter was estimated.
