Even in the land of sunshine and startups, being the poster child of electric cars doesn’t guarantee loyalty. Tesla’s hold on California’s EV market is loosening, and the numbers from the first quarter of 2025 make that clearer than ever.

More: EV Sales Are In And One Best Seller Took A Major Hit In Q1

According to data released by the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), Tesla saw a sharp 15.1 percent decline in Q1 sales, falling from 49,875 units last year to 42,322 this year. The company’s market share in the EV segment not only slipped below 50 percent but plummeted from 55.5 percent in Q1 2024 to 43 percent in 2025.

To put that in perspective, total EV sales in California actually grew by 7.3 percent during the same period, from 89,821 units last year to 96,146 in Q1 2025.

EV Winners and Losers

Several automakers made impressive gains, even if their absolute numbers hardly moved the needle. GMC posted a 318 percent increase over last year, reaching 1,041 units. Jaguar, despite selling through leftover inventory, nearly doubled its sales from 485 to 861 units. Porsche jumped 139 percent from 572 to 1,367 units, and Subaru saw a huge 177.8 percent spike from 333 to 925. On the losing side, Audi’s EV sales dropped 20 percent, while Lexus took a more significant hit, falling 43.7 percent to just 485 units, down from 861.

CA EV BRAND SALES Q1

Top-Selling EVs in California

Tesla still had the two best-selling EVs in the state: the Model Y with 23,314 units and the Model 3 with 13,992. They were followed by Honda’s new Prologue at 4,493 units and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 at 3,762. But Tesla’s declining numbers also dragged on the broader zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) market. California registered its second consecutive quarterly drop in ZEV sales, with market share slipping to 20.8 percent, down from 22 percent in Q1 2024.

That’s important because reaching the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II target of 35 percent ZEV sales for 2026 model year vehicles will require a 14.2 percentage point jump from current levels. It’s a steep, if not unrealistic, climb, especially considering some 2026 models, like the Tesla Model Y, are already on sale.

CA BEST SELLING EVs Q1 2025

More: Tesla’s Q1 Collapse Fueled VW’s Shock Rise In The EV Race

“Dealers sell what customers want to buy. No mandate can force consumers to choose otherwise,” said Robb Hernandez, CNCDA Chairman and President of Camino Real Chevrolet. “Although the manufacturers we represent are increasing EV sales in California, with the substantial decline in Tesla sales, EV market penetration is largely flat. This puts us well short of EV sales mandates that take effect this year.”

Overall Market Trends

Looking at all vehicle sales regardless of powertrain, the California market grew by a healthy 8.3 percent in Q1, with 463,114 units sold. Hybrids had a particularly strong quarter and now account for 17.9 percent of the market, getting closer than ever to EV figures.

Still, the CNCDA cautions that momentum could slow. Upcoming changes to trade policy and potential tariffs may cause prices to rise, cooling demand. “A rush of buying in March and April, likely ahead of anticipated tariffs, may be short-lived if vehicle prices spike,” the association noted.

California’s Top Brands and Models

Toyota was the top-selling brand in California with 76,625 registrations, capturing 16.5 percent of the market. Honda took second place this quarter with 10.8 percent, while Tesla dropped to third, claiming 9.1 percent, down from 11.7 percent a year ago. Toyota also led the light truck market, with Ford and Honda rounding out the top three.

Brands posting strong growth of 30 percent or more in year-to-date Q1 registrations include Buick, Mitsubishi, Genesis, Chrysler, Cadillac, Land Rover, Nissan, and Hyundai. Meanwhile, Tesla wasn’t the only one in reverse. Maserati dropped 60 percent to just 153 units. Alfa Romeo slid 48.6 percent, Audi was down 14 percent, and Dodge fell nearly 59 percent.

The Tesla Model Y was still the best-selling vehicle overall in the state with 23,314 units. It was followed by the Toyota RAV4 with 16,719, the Tesla Model 3 with 13,992, and the Toyota Camry with 13,792. In the used car market, the Camry led among vehicles four years old or newer with 6,026 units sold, while the Honda Civic topped the list for five- to eight-year-old cars with 5,897 units.

Americans bought more electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2025, but it’s not just enthusiasm for clean energy that’s pushing the numbers. Sales of EVs were up 11.4% year-over-year, with some of that bump likely driven by fears of disappearing federal tax credits and looming tariffs. Gas-powered cars even saw some love, as buyers rushed to lock in purchases before incentives or prices changed. Crisis buying: it’s not just for toilet paper anymore.

More: Americans Are Buying Cars Like It’s Black Friday Before Tariffs Hit

For context, the entire new vehicle market (regardless of powertrain) grew 4.3% in Q1 2024, totaling roughly 3.9 million units, according to Auto News. That puts EVs at 7.6% of the market, a noticeable increase from last year, and a sign that electric adoption, while still uneven, continues to inch forward, at least for now.

Brands: Tesla Still Leads, But It’s Not All Good News

You probably guessed it that Tesla still wears the EV crown. The company moved 128,100 vehicles in Q1, capturing a commanding 43.5% share of the EV market. That’s still dominant, but it’s down 8.6 percentage points from last year. Some of that slip can be chalked up to delays in rolling out the updated Model Y. The rest? Probably a mix of market competition and the ongoing Elon Effect, a combo of social media theatrics and questionable business decisions that make both investors and buyers twitch.

Ford continues to hold a firm grip on second place, selling 22,550 electric vehicles in Q1, an 11.5% increase over last year, giving it a 7.7% share of America’s EV market. But the real drama happened just below that. Rivian, which held the No. 3 spot last year, tumbled all the way down to ninth place after a steep 37.1% drop, totaling just 8,553 sales. Hyundai, previously in fourth, slid to No. 6 despite a modest 5.1% gain to 12,843 units. Its Kia sibling dropped from fifth to eighth, as sales fell 24.1% to 8,665.

Taking their places, Chevrolet surged into the No. 3 spot with 19,186 units sold, recording a 114.2% increase, while BMW climbed to No. 4 with 13,858 deliveries, up 26.4% from a year ago. There were other notable shifts as well: Porsche more than tripled its EV sales in Q1, thanks to the Macan Electric. On the flip side, Mercedes took the hardest hit, with sales plunging 58.3%, despite aggressive lease deals and major incentives, as many of our readers have pointed out. For all the numbers and surprises, check out the full brand breakdown below.

BEST SELLING EV BRANDS

Models: The Y Slips But The 3 Soars

Looking at individual models, the Tesla Model Y still tops the US EV sales chart, but its grip on the lead has loosened. It delivered 64,051 units in Q1, marking a steep 33.8% decline from last year. The delayed launch of the standard facelifted “Juniper” version didn’t help matters, as only the pricier Launch Edition was available early in the quarter. We’ll see how the new Juniper performs once the entire range goes on sale.

On the flip side, the Model 3 is having its moment. It saw a huge 70.3% increase in sales, hitting 52,520 units in Q1. For perspective, that’s nearly as many as the next three brands (Ford, Chevrolet, and BMW) sold combined, at 55,274. Tesla’s aggressive sales strategy likely played a role, with improved lease offers and zero-percent financing, though that conveniently wrapped up in April.

More: Tesla Model 3 Performance Vs. BMW 330i xDrive, Which One Deserves Your $47K?

The Ford Mustang Mach-E maintained third place among EV models with 11,607 units sold, a significant 21% increase, helped along by solid discounts and lease incentives. Rounding out the top five were the Chevy Equinox EV (10,329 units), the Honda Prologue (9,561), and the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which saw 8,611 deliveries, a 26.2% jump.

Trucks: F-150 Still Rules But Cybertruck Catching Up

As for electric trucks, the Ford F-150 Lightning remains the best-seller, even though deliveries dropped 7.2% compared to the same period in 2024. Tesla’s Cybertruck, love it or hate it (and many do), is at least moving the needle upwards, with 6,406 units sold, up 128.5% over last year’s laughably small starting numbers.

GMC doesn’t separate sales by body style, but Rivian does, and its R1T pickup moved just 1,727 units this quarter, a massive 47% drop from Q1 2023. For all the flak the Cybertruck catches online, it’s still outselling the R1T by a wide margin. No, it’s not the million-unit-a-year miracle Elon once promised, but it’s still finding more buyers than the R1T and that should be sounding alarms in Rivian’s executive suite.

BEST SELLING EV MODELS USA

The new-generation Outback won’t be the only Subaru making its world premiere at the New York Auto Show later this month. The automaker has just teased another model: the 2026 Trailseeker. So, what exactly is this Trailseeker? Well, Subaru has given us precisely two pieces of solid information: it’s an EV and a photo that shows part of the tailgate and cladded rear bumper. Riveting stuff, right?

Here’s what Subaru did say, though: “Get ready to meet your newest adventure-ready sidekick from Subaru: the all-new 2026 Subaru Trailseeker EV SUV. See it in person at the 2025 New York International Auto Show, coming soon.”

More: First Look At Subaru’s 2026 Outback Before It Breaks Cover In NY

Now, this doesn’t give us a lot to work with—so far, it’s just a whole lot of mystery. We haven’t caught wind of any EV prototypes from Subaru recently, so it’s all a bit speculative at the moment. However, what isn’t speculative is the fact that Subaru has already confirmed it’s working on a compact electric SUV in collaboration with Toyota. Both brands plan to sell it in Japan, Europe, and North America.

Some have speculated that the Subaru version might be a twin to Toyota’s recently revealed CH-R+, which is set to hit the US next year. But, from what we can gather, that’s not the case. Toyota and Subaru have teased separate compact EVs, and the Trailseeker is likely one of those models.

More: Subaru And Toyota Electric Compact SUV Twins Coming In 2026

Expect the two electric SUVs to be related in much the same way that Toyota’s bZ4X and Subaru’s Solterra EVs are essentially twins beyond the styling differences. The teaser image from Toyota’s version of the Trailseeker shows a more traditional SUV shape, with a sharp nose, roof rails, and a more upright rear end—think RAV4. At the very least, the two will have different front and rear designs, but Subaru’s version will likely play up the brand’s off-road image with more cladding and possibly other tweaks to match its name.

The good news? We don’t have to wait long to find out. The New York International Auto Show kicks off next week, April 17, so like they say, stay tuned.

Update: After initial speculation surrounding the image shown here, later confirmed by TechCrunch, which spoke with a source “with direct knowledge of Slate Auto’s vehicle design”, we now know the vehicle pictured is indeed Slate’s EV. The Michigan-based startup has followed up by releasing its first video teaser exclusively to Newsweek. The short clip and a set of new images provide a few more angles and design details of the supposedly “affordable” model. The grille is now more visible, but Slate is still keeping most of the truck out of view.

Given that Slate appears to be ramping up a guerrilla-style campaign around its yet-to-be-named truck, it likely won’t be long before more information and pictures surface. Original story follows below

🔴 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄: A new American electric vehicle company is coming. New automaker Slate shares the first public photos of its upcoming EV, wrapped in Newsweek camouflage. pic.twitter.com/JVfeBzYby4

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 15, 2025

An electric pickup truck has sparked curiosity online after a photo surfaced of a camouflaged two-door truck being offloaded from a flatbed in Los Angeles. The timing couldn’t be more interesting: news also broke that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is quietly backing a Michigan-based EV startup called Slate Auto, which claims it’s developing a $25,000 electric model in the form of a compact, two-door pickup.

More: Jeff Bezos Secretly Backs EV Maker Building A $25K Pickup For The Masses

The image, posted to Reddit by user Discostranger09, shows the pickup truck being unloaded from a shipping container just outside their office. The flatbed truck is marked with the name “Time Towing LLC,” though there may be an additional word obscured at the front of the logo. The original poster didn’t offer much more than that, though commentators said the photo was likely taken somewhere in Los Angeles.

From what’s visible, the vehicle looks like a mashup of an older Range Rover and a Jeep Renegade—boxy, upright, and unapologetically stubby. The absence of a grille opening at the front suggests its electric, reinforced by what appears to be a charging port near the rear corner. A quick image search doesn’t match it to anything currently on the market, though admittedly, that’s far from definitive.

Is This Slate Auto’s First Prototype?

Naturally, Redditors were quick to speculate. The most popular theory is that this mystery truck is Slate Auto’s debut model, possibly caught during testing or transport. Others floated ideas ranging from a Rivian prototype to a one-off custom build, though no solid evidence has surfaced to support any theory just yet.

What We Know About Slate Auto

Slate Auto remains mostly under wraps, with limited information available beyond a recent TechCrunch report. According to that story, the company was quietly formed in 2022 as a spinout of Bezos’ investment in Re:Build Manufacturing. Since then, it’s been building out its team in Detroit, recruiting talent from legacy automakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis, as well as from floundering EV startups such as Fisker and Canoo. Their goal? A $25,000, two-door, two-seat electric pickup aimed at a late 2026 release.

While Slate Auto hasn’t confirmed anything about the vehicle, they’ve announced that more news is coming on April 23. Whether that will include a formal reveal or just more corporate breadcrumbs remains to be seen.

In the meantime, we’ll keep digging to see what else we can uncover about the truck in question. If you recognize it—or if you’re the one who built it in your garage over a long weekend—drop us a line.

Photo Slate / Newsweek

Tesla’s Q1 2025 results are in, and let’s just say, the shine appears to be wearing off. The once-dominant EV leader is starting to show cracks, with numbers that point to deeper issues than just a temporary slowdown.

More: Canada Halts Musk’s $43M Tesla EV Rebate Claim After Rapid-Fire Sales, Bans Future Subsidies

The company reported 336,681 deliveries for the first quarter, a sharp 13 percent drop compared to the same period last year, when it moved 386,810 vehicles. Production figures didn’t look much better: Tesla built 362,615 vehicles in Q1 2025, down from 433,371 a year ago. Overall, it’s a significantly weaker performance than most investors had anticipated, with expectations generally falling between 360,000 and 380,000 deliveries.

Tesla doesn’t break out its numbers by model or region, but it did confirm that 345,454 of those produced were its core breadwinners—the Model 3 and Model Y. Of those, 323,800 made it into customer hands between January and March. That leaves just 12,881 deliveries accounted for by the Cybertruck, Model X, and Model S combined.

Public Backlash and Product Gaps Hit Hard

Part of the drop could be circumstantial. Over the quarter, Tesla faced mounting protests, boycotts, and acts of vandalism targeting showrooms, vehicles, and charging stations around the world, from 80 EVs set on fire in Canada to widespread defacement of Cybertrucks across the USA.

The common denominator? CEO Elon Musk’s political antics and headline-grabbing behavior, including his involvement with DOGE, ties to the Trump administration, and a widely criticized gesture perceived as a Nazi salute, which continue to fuel controversy and alienate broad segments of the market.

On the product side, there’s also the Model Y handoff to blame. Tesla is in the process of phasing out the current version of its best-seller in favor of the facelifted Juniper model. The refreshed version went on sale in China in late January and began reaching markets like Australia and Europe by late February. But the rollout has been piecemeal, as non-limited editions haven’t even made it to North America yet. Worse, Tesla has been out of stock of the old Model Y here in the States for a few weeks now, so that undoubtedly hurt its sales figures.

Stock Drops After Weak Q1 Performance

These lackluster delivery numbers follow a punishing stretch for Tesla’s stock. The company just posted its worst quarterly performance since 2022, shedding 31 percent of its value since the start of the year.

The stock had been riding high on Musk’s alignment with Trump, peaking at $428 on January 15, just days before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. But that momentum evaporated quickly. Following the quarterly results announcement, Tesla shares briefly dropped 13 percent to $256.58 before rebounding slightly to $263 at the time of publishing, down from about $268 the previous day.

TESLA Q1 2025

Turns out Americans still like their muscle cars loud, angry, and slightly outdated. While Dodge is trying to nudge its performance lineup into the electric era, the early numbers show many buyers are in no rush to give up their V8s—or even their V6s. In the first quarter, more people bought the long-discontinued Challengers and Chargers over the shiny new Daytona EV, which says a lot about where Dodge buyers’ heads are.

More: Thousands Of V8 Challengers And Chargers Sitting On Dodge Dealer Lots A Year After Production Ended

From January through March, Dodge sold 1,947 units of the Charger Daytona EV. That might sound decent until you realize they moved 1,052 of the last-generation ICE Charger and 922 Challengers in the same period. Combined, that’s 1,974 old-school muscle cars—just edging out the Daytona EV.

To be fair, that’s two body styles against one, but the comparison still stings considering these vehicles are museum pieces at this point. The Charger traces its roots back to 2005 and the Challenger to 2008, and both were officially discontinued at the end of 2023.

It’s not just that the Charger Daytona EV was outsold by the old duo, it’s also that 1,947 units nationwide in three months works out to just 22 cars per day. Compare that to Ford, which moved 9,377 Mustangs in the same period, even while facing a 32% drop in sales year-over-year. If that’s not painful enough, we’ll remind you that Dodge sold 9,737 Challengers in Q1 2024. That’s more than five times the sales of the new EV this year.

Inventory Hangover

Speaking of discontinued, Dodge is still sitting on a surprising number of 2023 Chargers and Challengers. An inventory check shows 657 Chargers and 691 Challengers still listed for sale across the country. The fact that these cars are still clogging up lots 15 months after production ended suggests that while nostalgia sells, it might not sell fast.

More: Gas Mustang Sales Crash 32% In Q1 But Mach-E And Bronco Are Killing It

Dodge is banking on new additions to the Charger Daytona lineup to help turn things around. The upcoming four-door version, along with new internal combustion variants powered by an inline-six, could give the brand more traction with traditional muscle car buyers. But for now, the numbers aren’t encouraging.

A Disastrous Quarter All Around

Overall, it was a rough quarter for Dodge. The brand’s total sales nosedived from 42,948 units in Q1 2024 to just 21,731 this quarter marking a 49% drop. Every model in the lineup took a hit. The Hornet was down 45%, totaling 4,108 units, while the aging Durango saw a 9% dip, settling at 13,701 units.

DODGE SALE USA Q1 2025

Well, it was inevitable. The first crashed 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona, or at least the first one we know about since customers started getting their hands on them, has made its appearance online. And because the universe has a sense of humor, it’s already up for sale. If you’re one of those people who loves a good gamble and prefers your vehicles with a touch of “character,” this is your lucky day.

More: Someone Already Crashed A 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper After Only 197 Miles

This particular wreck is a 2024 Charger Daytona R/T, which is the base model starting at $59,595, before you start adding options like the $595 Demonic Red seats this one comes with, or deducting the sweet discounts running up to $21,000 some dealers are offering just to move these things off the lot.

Being an R/T, it features a 93.9-kWh nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery powering front and rear motors, delivering up to 496 horsepower and a solid 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds.

What Happened to This Daytona?

Photos IAAI

Now, onto the important stuff—the damage. This one didn’t make it past its first 682 miles (just under 1,100 km) before finding its match. From what we can gather, it either had a mild run-in with another car or maybe just collided with a stationary object. Who can really say?

While the front-end damage doesn’t seem catastrophic at first glance, it was enough to trigger the driver’s airbag, which we all know is usually the kiss of death for a car’s viability in the eyes of an insurance company. So, the insurance folks did what they do best and decided to write it off and call it a day.

More: Dodge Charger Rumored To Get Hemi V8 Power In 2026

On the outside, the damage on the electric Dodge seems pretty concentrated at the front: bumper, LED lights, and hood all took a hit. What lies beneath the sheet metal? Well, your guess is as good as ours. It’s entirely possible there’s more hidden damage under the surface, but for the right price, a skilled repair shop or even someone with some mechanical know-how might be able to bring this Charger Daytona back to life.

Feeling Lucky?

If you’re feeling adventurous and willing to take the risk the insurance company wasn’t, this Charger Daytona R/T is now up for auction at IAAI’s Texas division. You can check out the listing here before it hits the block in a few days. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to take on this crashed Daytona and give it a second chance for a price that won’t make you cry.

Photos IAAI

Tesla’s ongoing battle with vandalism and protests seems to be showing no signs of letting up, and if anything, it’s only getting worse. In what’s possibly one of the largest attacks we’ve heard of so far, at least in terms of the sheer number of vehicles affected, over 80 Tesla cars were damaged at a dealership in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on Wednesday.

Police responded to the scene after receiving reports of vandalism at the Tesla dealership. Upon arrival, officers discovered that over 80 Tesla vehicles parked outdoors had been damaged, including deep scratches, punctured tires, and possibly other forms of destruction.

More: Tesla Under Siege As Multiple EVs Set On Fire And Vandalized Across The US In One Day

“Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage and are asking the public for assistance in solving this crime,” said Hamilton Police in a statement.

This attack is just the latest in a series of incidents that have put Tesla in the crosshairs. Just days earlier, a suspicious fire at a parking lot in London, Ontario, left a 2025 Tesla Model S in flames, according to CBC. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but police estimate the damage at around $140,000.

Tesla Booted From The Vancouver Auto Show

In another blow to the brand in Canada, organizers of the Vancouver Auto Show booted Tesla from the lineup earlier this week, citing security concerns. With the event kicking off today, the organizers feared that Tesla’s presence would attract angry protests and further vandalism. VIAS said it gave the company multiple chances to withdraw voluntarily, but Tesla refused. “The Vancouver Auto Show’s primary concern is the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff,” the show’s organizers said in a statement.

A Global Problem

These incidents are hardly isolated, with attacks against Tesla vehicles and dealerships popping up worldwide—though the US has certainly seen a disproportionate share. In fact, there’s been a troubling surge in vandalism targeting both private Tesla cars and the company’s locations, including dealerships and Supercharger stations, over the past few weeks.

More: Tesla Accused Of Gaming Canada’s EV Rebate Program After 4 Stores Sold 2 Cars Per Minute Wiping Out $43M In Grants

The intensity of the attacks seems to have spiked since former U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department’s aggressive cuts to government spending, which led to widespread layoffs, have likely stoked rising tensions. Musk’s often controversial tweets on his X platform, which continue to stir the pot, certainly haven’t helped calm the situation either.

In Canada, however, the situation is more complex. The Trump administration’s increasingly combative rhetoric, including threats of tariffs and calls for annexation, has strained relations between the neighboring countries. Elon Musk, though not an elected official, has become a lightning rod for much of the criticism due to his prominent role in the administration. And with Tesla being his most visible and accessible venture, much of that frustration is being channeled directly toward the company and its products.