Tesla sold an estimated 99,037 Model Ys in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2026, more than nine times the volume of the best-selling EV from any other automaker, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates released by Cox Automotive on Oct. 12.
The crossover led a broader recovery. Americans bought 262,649 electric vehicles in Q3, up 6.1% from the second quarter and the highest quarterly total in a year. EVs made up about 6.4% of all new-vehicle sales, up from 5.8% in Q2.
One model, more than a third of the market
The Model Y accounted for 37.2% of all U.S. EV sales in Q3, per Cox’s model-level data. The closest non-Tesla rival, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, sold an estimated 10,382 units.
The Model 3 ranked second overall at 40,346 units. Together the two models made up nearly all of Tesla’s volume: 69% Model Y and 28% Model 3, according to Cox.
Tesla sold an estimated 144,094 EVs in the quarter, more than half of the U.S. market and more than every other EV brand combined. Its lead is narrowing in absolute terms, though. Tesla’s Q3 volume fell 19.7% year over year, and Model Y sales dropped 13.8% from 114,897 a year earlier.
Q3 marked the EV segment’s strongest quarter since the record set in Q3 2025. That quarter saw 434,279 sales and a share above 10% as buyers rushed to beat the expiring federal tax credit. Against that peak, Q3 2026 volume was down 39.5% year over year, a drop Cox called “widely expected.”
Year-to-date EV sales reached 725,888, down 30.3% from the first nine months of 2025. Counting hybrids and plug-in hybrids, nearly 25% of new vehicles sold in Q3 were electrified in some form.
“What we’re seeing now is a market finding its footing again,” said Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive. She said the reset phase is “largely behind us,” and pointed to gas prices “well above $4 a gallon” as a tailwind for EVs.
Rivian, Toyota and Subaru buck the trend
Nearly every automaker posted lower EV volume than a year ago, but new products drove a few standouts:
- Rivian sold an estimated 19,239 EVs, up 45.7%, making it the No. 2 EV brand. Its commercial vans (8,469) and the new R2 (3,456) offset declines in the R1S and R1T.
- Toyota sales rose 328% to 12,904, led by the bZ (7,391), and the new bZ Woodland and C-HR. Lexus climbed 187% to 4,483.
- Subaru grew 31.5% to 4,566 as the Trailseeker and Uncharted joined its lineup.
Detroit fared worse. Ford’s EV sales fell 80.2% to 6,047, Chevrolet’s dropped 74.6% to 10,031, and Honda’s Prologue fell 75.9%. Cadillac held up better, down 32.8% to 12,358.
Cox Automotive revised its report after first publication. Early coverage cited 266,630 EV sales, 7.7% quarterly growth and a 6.5% market share. The updated report, dated Oct. 13, puts those figures at 262,649 units, 6.1% growth and 6.4% share. The Model Y estimate of 99,037 was unchanged. All figures are Kelley Blue Book estimates.
We’ve launched an official Tesla Owners Online Forum. Join early and claim your "Founding Fuel" badge.
