Final sales results for the third quarter are now in, closing one of the most closely watched reporting periods the electric vehicle market has seen in recent years. No doubt, the Trump administration’s move to scrap the federal EV tax credit sparked a final buying spree that sent sales figures sharply upward.

Unsurprisingly, two familiar Tesla models held a commanding lead, but several other notable models experienced significant demand spikes.

How Big Was the Jump?

According to Kelley Blue Book data, U.S. EV sales hit an all-time quarterly high of 438,487 units, up 40.7 percent from Q2 and 29.6 percent higher year over year, surpassing the previous record from Q4 2024 by nearly 20 percent.

Electric vehicles also claimed a record 10.5 percent share of total vehicle sales, up from 8.6 percent in the same period last year.

Read: Federal Deadline Turns EV Into One Of VW’s Hottest Sellers

The Tesla Model Y was still comfortably the most popular EV in the United States, as 114,897 were sold during the period, a 29 percent increase from 89,077 delivered last year. Even so, Tesla’s overall market share slipped to 41 percent from 49 percent a year ago.

In second place was another Tesla, the Model 3, at 53,857 units. That result was actually down 7.8 percent year over year, suggesting some buyers may have shifted their attention toward the updated Model Y.

Top 10 Best-Selling EVs In Q3 2025

What About Non-Tesla Models?

The first non-Tesla entrant on the best-sellers list was the Chevrolet Equinox EV. A total of 25,085 were sold, a huge 156.7 percent rise from 9,772.

Positioned not far behind it were the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with 21,999 sales, the Honda Prologue with 20,236 sales, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E with 20,177 sales. The VW ID.4 was also a strong performer for the quarter, with 12,470 units, a 176 percent increase from Q3 2024.

A surprise inclusion among the best-sellers was the Audi Q6 e-tron. A total of 10,299 SUVs were sold during the quarter, an impressive result considering that model’s premium positioning that allowed it to outsell the Ford F-150 Lightning (10,005 units).

Other strong performers included the Rivian R1S with 8,184 sales, the Chevrolet Blazer EV (8,089), the Kia EV9 (7,510), and the Cadillac Lyriq, of which 7,309 found new homes.

Still, fewer than 10 models managed to exceed 10,000 sales in Q3 2025, underscoring how top-heavy the market remains. For most automakers, EV volume remains well below the levels needed for profitability.

The Best Sellers YTD

Year-to-date figures show total U.S. EV sales surpassed 1.04 million units, up 11.7 percent from about 935,000 a year earlier.

Tesla continued to lead with 451,160 units, down 4.3 percent year over year but still holding a 41 percent market share. Chevrolet followed in second place with 87,137 units, a 113 percent jump, while Ford ranked third with 69,600 (+2.8%) and Hyundai came in fourth at 57,167 (+31.1%).

Among individual models, the Tesla Model Y led the way with 265,085 units, down 8 percent year over year, followed by the Model 3 at 155,180, up 18 percent. Chevrolet’s Equinox EV climbed into third place with 52,834 sales, a massive 390 percent surge.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E posted 41,962, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 reached 41,091, and the Honda Prologue recorded 36,553. Tesla’s Cybertruck ranked seventh at 25,973, edging out the Ford F-150 Lightning’s 23,034 and Volkswagen’s ID.4 at 22,125. The Chevrolet Blazer EV closed the top ten with 20,825 units.

What Happens Next

With federal incentives now expired, analysts expect a cooldown. “The training wheels are coming off,” said Cox Automotive’s Director of Industry Insights, Stephanie Valdez Streaty. “The federal tax credit was a key catalyst for EV adoption, and its expiration marks a pivotal moment.”

Cox Automotive projects a temporary dip in EV sales through late 2025 and early 2026 before growth steadies again over the long term.

John Halas contributed to this story.

BEST SELLING EVs JAN-SEP 2025

EV BRAND SALES USA 2025

EV MODEL SALES USA 2025

Cox Automotive

The Mercedes G-Class has been around since the 1970s, yet it’s never faced a true rival from fellow German heavyweights BMW or Audi, which is surprising considering how often all three companies shadow each other’s every move.

That, however, may be about to change. Both brands are reportedly developing their own rugged SUVs, hinting that the G-Wagen’s long-standing reign could finally meet some proper competition.

A Rugged Dream Revived

Audi has been flirting with the idea of a Quattro-badged SUV positioned above the Q7 and Q8 for years. Back in 2023, former design chief Marc Lichte first hinted at the project, believing there was enough room in the market alongside the Land Rover Defender and the Mercedes G-Class.

Although Lichte has since been succeeded by Massimo Frascella, the concept appears very much alive.

More: BMW Is Planning A Rugged G-Class Rival That May Kill The XM

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner recently spoke to Autocar, adding fuel to the speculation. He confirmed that the brand hasn’t abandoned its ambition for a true off-road 4×4, encouraging enthusiasts to “stay tuned.”

Illustrations: Theottle

While Audi continues to streamline its lineup as part of the Volkswagen Group’s cost-cutting drive, Döllner still believes there’s space for a halo model.

“There is no niche banner,” he said. “It’s just the opposite. It works perfectly to have a more focused line-up in the core, and in addition to that have some niche models to build the brand and to also transfer new ideas from a niche segment into the core products. That works perfectly and this is part of our strategy.”

Concept Hints and Shared DNA

Earlier this year, Audi presented the Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept featuring a raised stance, portal axles, a reworked body kit, and grippy all-terrain tires. While this study could evolve into a production vehicle, any true G-Wagen rival would likely be a standalone model rather than an off-road variant of an existing SUV like the Q6 e-tron Sportback.

More: Audi Says Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept “Gives A Taste Of A Potential Vehicle”

A logical foundation for the project could come from the Scout Traveler SUV and Tera pickup, potentially sharing their ladder-frame chassis, 4WD setup with locking front and rear differentials, and both fully electric and range-extender powertrain options. More importantly, it could help Audi avoid costly R&D investments.

Based on current VW Group resources, an internal combustion version seems improbable, as the only available ladder-frame platform is that of the aging VW Amarok from South America.

Built In America?

The toughest Audi yet could be manufactured in the Scout facility in South Carolina, sparing it from import tariffs. Döllner confirmed that the company is considering U.S. manufacturing for upcoming models, though the final decision will depend on a “stable tariff situation” and other “regulatory boundary conditions.”

He added that while it would be logical for the brand to employ an existing VW Group facility on this side of the Atlantic, a “specific Audi factory” could also happen, depending on how they are “aligned” with the US government.

What It Might Look Like

Shortly after the report came out, independent digital artist Theophilus Chin released renderings of a speculative Audi Q-Wagon, built on the Scout Traveler’s proportions. The design integrates Audi’s cues into a full-size SUV body, balancing squared-off lines with smoother surfacing.

More: Audi A4 Returns As EV With Concept TT Styling To Give BMW Something To Worry About

If Audi does bring such a model to life, it could adopt styling elements from the more recent Concept C, whose slim vertical grille and horizontal headlight arrangement are expected to influence several upcoming models, including the next A4 e-tron.

Sources: Autocar

Update: It’s the weekend, which means time to sharpen our digital pencils and let the imagination run a little wild. We’ve put together a rendering of the next-generation 2028 A4 e-tron, offering a glimpse at how Audi’s design playbook could evolve, shaped by recent remarks from the brand’s CEO.

Borrowing design cues from the latest Concept C and the A5, our rendering imagines a clean, minimalist sedan that ties the classic A4 proportions to Audi’s next generation EV identity. Of course, the final design could take a different turn, particularly in the profile or rear styling, but until test prototypes hit public roads, this remains our most grounded prediction. The original story continues below.

BMW and Mercedes are preparing to roll out electric takes on their best-selling 3-Series and C-Class, known respectively as the i3 and C-Class EQ Tech models. That leaves Audi in an unusual position, with a lineup already heavy in electric crossovers and soon to expand even further with the Q2, yet still lacking an affordable electric sedan.

And as history has shown, when one German premium automaker changes course, the others quickly follow, sparking another round of competition on the autobahn.

More: Audi’s Concept C Previews A Porsche-Linked Sports Car Coming Sooner Than You Think

That’s expected to happen in 2028 with the debut of the all-new A4 e-tron. Besides reviving the classic name, the electric sedan will reportedly bring a new platform and a sharper design influenced by the Concept C, distinguishing it from the more conservatively styled ICE-powered A5 that replaced the previous A4 in the lineup.

VW Underpinnings and Rivian Tech

According to Autocar, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed the A4 e-tron will ride on the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which will also be used on several other Volkswagen Group vehicles. These are said to include the next-generation Golf as well as the Skoda Octavia and Cupra’s flagship crossover.

While little is known about the platform, it should be more advanced than the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture that underpins the Porsche Macan Electric as well as the A6 and Q6 e-trons.

Also: Audi Backtracks On Odd-Even Naming Plan For ICE And EVs

The A4 e-tron could also become the first Audi to use software developed in partnership with Rivian. This is supposed to pave the way for “software-defined vehicles” that become “more intelligent, more sustainable, and more enjoyable over time.”

Döllner told the publication, “We are heavily working on it with the Rivian-Volkswagen joint venture, building up mules right now and working intensively together, so the first cars are already on their way.” He suggested the software will debut in two new vehicles and help to reduce complexity.

More: Mercedes Previews C-Class EV With A Face That’s Bound To Start Fights

Beyond the technical overhaul, the A4 e-tron will adopt the new ‘Audi brand face.’ This means we can expect a minimalist front fascia that features a rectangular grille with a portrait orientation. It will likely be flanked by slender four-element headlights, as Audi has previously said they’ll define their visual identity.

Little else is known about the car at this point, but Döllner suggested we can expect “less virtual buttons” and more dedicated switchgear. As he noted, that’s what customers prefer, and it’s hard to argue with that.

Sources: Autocar

While Audi has steadily built up its electric range, none of its current EVs have really made a breakthrough in Western markets, aside from the occasional seasonal bright spot. In China, though, the brand may have finally found its moment. The new AUDI E5 Sportback pulled in over 10,000 pre-orders within just half an hour after its debut.

A key reason for its popularity? The kind of price tag you’d expect of a Toyota, not a premium German EV.

Bargain With Big Numbers

In China, the AUDI E5 starts at just 235,900 yuan, which is the equivalent of $33,100 or €28,211 at current exchange rates. That’s a heck of a deal for a luxury car that includes a 76 kWh battery pack, a 295 hp rear motor, and has a claimed range of 384 miles (618 km) under local testing standards.

The upper trims go much further, offering up to 776 hp, while buyers also get a wraparound digital cockpit, and software tailored specifically to Chinese buyers. The interior mixes Alcantara with leather, while the tech list is stacked with features usually reserved for higher-end models.

To put that in perspective, Audi’s least expensive crossover in Germany is the Q2, a sub-compact that begins at €29,000 ($34,000 or 242,500 yuan) for the entry-level 116 hp 3-cylinder TFSI, a price that includes Germany’s value-added tax, or standard sales tax.

More: Audi Launches New AUDI Brand Without Four-Ring Logo In China

Unlike Audi models sold elsewhere, the E5 is exclusive to China and even carries a new badge. Instead of the traditional four rings, the grille simply reads “AUDI,” a deliberate break from tradition designed to appeal to younger, tech-oriented buyers.

Speaking to Germany’s N-TV, industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer described the move as “clever positioning” and a “liberating step,” arguing that the traditional rings carried too much baggage from the past.

Why It Costs So Little

While it might be tempting to chalk up the low sticker price to cheaper wages in China, labor costs account for only around ten percent of total vehicle costs, according to the CAR Institute, N-TV reports.

A slew of other important factors come into play that help AUDI keep the E5 so affordable by Western standards. Battery costs in China are lower, energy is much cheaper, and local production operates with far greater efficiency. On top of that, Germany levies a 19 percent sales tax (VAT), while China applies just 10 percent for regular cars and in some cases zero percent for EVs, depending on price and incentives.

Perhaps most telling, though, is that manufacturers there are willing to operate with margins far slimmer than what German brands typically tolerate. That’s something we rarely, if ever, see in the West. Were a vehicle like the E5 to be produced and sold in Europe, it’d likely cost twice as much, if not more.

Storm Clouds At Home

Back in Germany, the contrast could not be starker. The industry’s struggles are well known, with Audi planning to cut around 7,500 jobs by 2029, Mercedes deep in restructuring, and Porsche rolling back its EV plans. BMW has fared a little better, yet it too has shed thousands of temporary positions.

According to a recent study by EY, Germany’s automotive industry lost more than 50,000 jobs last year, erasing roughly seven percent of its workforce. Compared with pre-COVID levels, the sector employs 112,000 fewer people today. No other domestic industry has suffered losses on this scale.

Future Written In Asia

Against this backdrop, Dudenhöffer argued that Audi’s decision to launch a separate brand in China was both brave and instructive. “Competitors BMW and Mercedes are now under pressure,” he said. “If the price difference becomes too large, customers will switch to Audi.”

He also issued a more general warning. “If the price collapse from China reaches Europe and Chinese models take over here, the Germans need a response,” he said.

“If we don’t learn to build cars that interest customers – with the right price and the right costs – Germany has a problem. We can watch China and say: We won’t get involved in this shameless price war. Or we can say: We need a China strategy.”

Dudenhöffer added that the future of the industry will not be decided in Europe but in Asia. “The vehicles must be built for the customers, not for the employees,” he cautioned. “Without a China strategy, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes are finished globally. And without a China strategy, Germany will also lose its status as an automotive nation.”

John Halas contributed to this story.

Audi sells no fewer than 18 different models in the United States, and among them, it was an unexpected contender that claimed the sales crown through the third quarter. Outpacing long-time favorites like the Q5 and Q3, the spotlight landed on the electric Q6 e-tron.

However, that an EV managed to outpace Audi’s long-standing ICE models says less about sudden enthusiasm for electrification and more about the terrible year its combustion lineup has faced that was compounded by buyers rushing to make the most of federal EV incentives before they vanished.

Numbers Behind the Surge

Over the past three months, Audi sold 10,059 Q6 e-trons across the US. This represents a 22,761 percent increase over the third quarter of last year, although that’s somewhat irrelevant, as deliveries hadn’t started in earnest in 2024. Year-to-date, a total of 17,021 Q6 e-trons have been sold.

Read: Audi’s Electrifying Crossover Coupe Arrives With A 509 HP Range-Topper

The reason for the surge in demand is quite simple. The $7,500 federal EV tax credit is no longer available, leading to a rush of shoppers who wanted to benefit from it before it was discontinued. Interestingly, the Q6 e-tron wasn’t eligible for the tax credit when purchased upfront, but customers could receive it when leasing. While Audi hasn’t disclosed how many of the Q6 e-trons it sold in the third quarter were leased, we suspect most of them fell in that category.

With sales of the electric SUV climbing into five figures, the Q6 e-tron edged past the Q5, Audi’s traditional sales leader. In the third quarter, the compact SUV recorded 9,719 units, bringing its year-to-date total to 32,633. It still holds the top spot overall, but that position comes with a caveat: sales are down 17 percent compared with 2024. Looking at just the third quarter, the drop was even sharper, falling 34 percent from the 14,677 sold in the same period last year.

The Q3 was next in line during July through September, logging 5,597 units, a huge 25 percent dip year-over-year. Behind it came the Q7 with 4,281 sold, which marked a steep 24 percent decline compared with the same period in 2024. Even so, its year-to-date tally of 14,256 is actually 5 percent higher than last year’s, showing that while the third quarter dragged, the bigger picture looks better.

The electric Q4 e-tron also carved out its own space in the lineup. Sales rose 32 percent in the third quarter to 2,956 units, although its year-to-date total of 5,194 remains slightly behind last year’s pace.

Sales of virtually all other Audi models fell last quarter. These included the A5 (-34 percent), A6 (-41 percent), A7 (-2 percent), and Q8 (-22 percent). Demand also fell for some of Audi’s EVs, including the e-tron GT (-3 percent), Q8 e-tron (-98 percent), and the Q8 Sportback e-tron (-96 percent).

The Bigger Picture

Looking at the totals, Audi sold 46,758 vehicles in the third quarter, practically as many as it delivered a year earlier (46,752). Year-to-date, the brand has moved 128,709 cars and SUVs in the US, which is 8 percent fewer than in 2024.

Audi US Sales 2025

Additional reporting by John Halas

Anyone who thought that Audi’s foray into ebikes might be a one-and-done better think again. The German automaker is back with a new ebike designed to crush trails with upgraded components and, somehow, a lower starting price. In fact, at just $5,850, it’s more attainable than some traditional ebikes that aren’t connected to luxury cars.

Built in partnership with Italian motorcycle and ebike builder Fantic, the eMTB 2.0 uses the same aluminum frame as the original Audi eMTB. At the same time, there are some key improvements here.

Read: McLaren Unleashes World’s Most Powerful Trail-Legal eBike Ever

The drivetrain now features a SRAM GX Eagle Transmission AXS electronic derailleur paired with a SRAM XX SL Eagle 12-speed 10-52T cassette for crisp wireless shifting. Braking gets a big boost too, thanks to new EPTA STAGE rotors measuring 220 mm up front and 203 mm at the rear. Sunstar F.I.R.S.T. calipers provided improved control when the trail points downward.

What doesn’t change is the electric motor. It remains a Brose S-MAG 250-watt unit good for up to 90 Nm of torque. A 720-Wh battery pack feeds it power while remaining fully integrated into the frame. Riders can pick from four assistance settings, including eco, tour, sport, and boost. It really feels like at least one of those should’ve been RS.

That said, the eMTB will assist riders up to 20 mph and has a range that could be as little as 12 miles or as much as 90, depending on terrain and effort. Having ridden mountain bikes and eMTBs, that range will be plenty for the vast majority of folks. A small digital display keeps tabs on speed, assist level, and battery status.

This is what riders often call a mullet setup with a 29-inch wheel in the front and a 27.5-inch unit in the rear. That helps with managing big obstacles while keeping the bike nimble. An Öhlins RXF38 m.2 fork and TTX22m.2 rear shock provide 180mm of travel on each end, while Audi even offers some accessories to go with the bike, including a helmet and hydration pack. Deliveries are already underway to some lucky customers. 

We’ve heard a lot about VW’s next generation of ID. electric models and their new MEB+ platform. But today we get our first look at what sister company Audi plans to do with the same DNA to create its dinkiest ever EV .

This little monobox electric SUV is designed to slot below the existing ID.4-sized Q4 e-tron in Audi’s lineup starting in 2027, and it would seem logical for it to get the Q2 e-tron name. But some people have suggested it could be called A2, and we can certainly see some similarity between the classic aluminium-bodied A2 subcompact of the early 2000s and this prototype in the profile view.

Related: Audi To Launch An Entry-Level EV In 2027

But the Q2/A2 looks wider, lower, and sportier than the old A2 with a more aggressive windshield rake and roofline that plunges even harder after the C-pillars.

We can also see that the pint-sized EV has a split-headlight treatment and the same style of door handles we’ve seen on prototypes of the upcoming Q7, which look very much like the ones on the front doors of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. And also, strangely, like the little chest-height cigarette shelves you used to get above public urinals in the 1980s, though I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the inspiration here.

There seems to be more A2-inspired detailing at the back though, where a high-level spoiler appears to bisect the rear window. But this being 2025 and not 2000, we also get a transverse LED light bar instead of a stack of vertically-arranged lights in each corner.

Not visible, but almost certainly present beneath the “brake test” sticker on the prototype, is an illuminated four-ring Audi badge.

While the bigger Q4 e-tron uses the older MEB platform shared with cars like the ID.4 and ID. Buzz, the Q2/A2 adopts the newer MEB+ architecture. It places a single motor at the front, driving the front wheels (single-motor MEB cars are rear-mounted, RWD) and, based on what we know of MEB+ VW models like the ID. Polo, could deliver around 280 miles (450 km) of range and 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) for sub-7-second zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) sprints.

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