The key facts

  • EV share of the US market reached 6.1% — the best result since the third quarter of 2025 (Cox Automotive)
  • Toyota, Rivian and Subaru led the growth; Tesla sales fell 20% year over year, but it still sells more than half of all EVs
  • The recovery resembles Germany's dynamics after subsidies were scrapped in November 2023

US EV Market Is Recovering

After the sales collapse caused by the repeal of EV tax credits last year, the US market has been growing for the third consecutive quarter. This comes from a new Cox Automotive report cited by TechCrunch. In the third quarter, EVs took 6.1% of the US market — the best figure since the third quarter of 2025. Stephanie Valdes Streaty, Cox Automotive's director of industry insights, noted that the EV market is "regaining its footing": prices have become more competitive, and high gasoline prices have fueled consumer interest.

Toyota, Rivian and Subaru Lead Growth, Tesla Loses Momentum

Toyota, Rivian and Subaru became the growth leaders. Sales of the Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ roughly doubled after a model refresh that reached dealerships at the end of last year: the cars received Tesla-standard charging ports, larger batteries, more powerful motors and faster charging. Meanwhile, Tesla's sales fell 20% year over year. Despite this, the company retains its first-mover advantage and sold more than half of all EVs for the quarter.

Parallel With the German Market

TechCrunch draws an analogy with Germany, where the government scrapped EV purchase incentives in November 2023 — a year earlier than planned. The following month, sales fell by more than half, but the market then steadily recovered. According to the latest available data, EV sales in Germany in August were the second-highest figure on record.