The Rivian R1S and R1T are both great EVs, but it appears the carmaker is starting to learn that there are only so many people willing to spend over $70,000 for one. Recently released sales data show that Rivian’s deliveries of new vehicles declined significantly in the second quarter of the year, and signal that the company needs the smaller R2 and R3 to enter production.

Rivian has stated that during the April-June period, it produced 5,979 vehicles at its plant in Normal, Illinois, and subsequently delivered 10,661 cars. This represents a 22.7 percent decline from the same quarter in 2024. The 5,979 EVs built by Rivian this quarter were also significantly less than the previous year’s 9,612.

Read: Rivian Recalls Thousands Of Cars For A BMW Feature No One Asked For

It must be noted, though, that the company itself cut down production as it prepared its factory to start building the 2026MY R1T and R1S.

Goodbye Tax Credits

Things could get harder for Rivian before they get better. The federal EV tax credit of $7,500 will officially end on September 30, effectively increasing pumping up prices for all eligible EVs by that amount. While Rivian’s had not been eligible for this credit, customers didn’t buy one outright but leased it could benefit from the full $7,500. With the new legislation going into effect, this credit loophole is being closed. In any case, the American EV maker expects to deliver between 40,000 and 46,000 vehicles by the end of 2025.

If there’s a small bit of good news for the brand it’s that on June 30 it received a $1 billion equity investment from the Volkswagen Group. That’s part of their $5.8 billion agreement to collaborate on a joint technology venture and to roll out Rivian systems across the VW range.

The company will hope to grow production and deliveries in 2026. The smaller R2 series is scheduled to hit the production line next year and promises to bring the company’s models within reach of many more shoppers.

While many still expect President Trump’s tariffs and the accompanying price increases to drag down new car sales across the U.S. this year, Ford’s latest data tells a different story. The company posted a strong first half, following the general market trend that saw sales increases across most major car makers.

Ford’s total U.S. deliveries climbed 6.6 percent year-over-year in the first half. However, this upward trend doesn’t extend to Ford’s electric vehicle lineup, which has seen a sharp drop in demand across several key models.

Electric Sales Lose Ground

Through the first six months of the year, Ford sold 21,785 units of the Mustang Mach-E in the States, a 2 percent decline from the 22,234 sold during the same period last year. More concerning is the model’s second-quarter performance. Between April and June, Ford delivered 10,178 Mach-Es, down 19.5 percent from the 12,645 sold in Q2 of the previous year.

Read: Ford Pulls Mustang Mach-E From Sale Over Dangerous Door Lock Flaw

The gas-powered Mustang hasn’t been immune to slowing demand either. Sales fell 14.2 percent in the first half of the year, totaling 23,551 units. However, in the second quarter, it regained some ground, with 14,174 units sold, an increase of 3.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

That uptick allowed the gas-powered Mustang to outsell its electric counterpart in Q2, even though it still trails in year-to-date totals.

Lightning and E-Transit See Steep Declines

Interest in the E-Transit has also dropped off a cliff. In the first half, sales are down 33.8 percent to 4,174, while in Q2, things were even worse. Ford sold just 418 E-Transits during Q2, down 87.7 percent from the year prior. Sales of the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning are also down, with 13,029 units sold this year, a drop of 16.7 percent. Sales declined by 26.1 percent in Q2 to 5,842 units sold, compared to 7,902 last year.

In total, Ford’s electric vehicle sales dropped 31.4 percent in the second quarter and 11.8 percent through the first half of the year. The good news for the company lies with hybrids, which are moving in the opposite direction. Hybrid sales rose 23.5 percent in Q2 to 66,448 units and are up 27.4 percent year-to-date, totaling 117,521.

Lincoln Sees Steady Growth

Lincoln also posted solid gains in the first half of the year, driven by strong demand for its SUV lineup. Total brand sales rose 12.8 percent year-over-year to 55,063 units, with a particularly strong showing in the second quarter, where sales climbed 31 percent to 31,332.

The Navigator stood out with an impressive 114.9 percent jump in Q2 sales, while the Aviator, Nautilus, and Corsair also posted double-digit increases. While Lincoln’s overall volume is modest compared to the Ford brand, its steady upward trend suggests growing interest in its premium offerings.

Strong Combustion and Hybrid Growth Balances Out EV Dip

Despite the sharp drop in EV sales, Ford and its Lincoln brand powered through, selling 1,113,386 vehicles in the US during the first half, a solid 6.6 percent increase over last year. The second quarter stood out with 612,095 new Ford and Lincolns finding buyers, marking a 14.2 percent jump from the previous year’s 536,050.

Ford USA Sales

Honda saw its sales increase in the United States through the first six months of the year. Sales data shows that some of the brand’s long-standing models are continuing to sell well, while some newer additions to the Honda range are also proving popular, including the updated Odyssey, Passport, and the all-electric Prologue.

Starting with the Prologue, a total of 2,799 examples found new homes in June. This represented a massive 237.2 percent spike from the 830 sold in June 2024. Year-to-date sales have also jumped by a huge 963 percent from 1,535 examples to 16,318 through the first half of 2025.

Read: 2025 Honda Prologue Gains Strength And Endurance, Can Now Travel 308 Miles

However, while the Prologue is selling well compared to the same period last year, it’s not smashing monthly sales records. In fact, in November 2024 alone, Honda sold 6,823 Prologues in the United States as shoppers rushed to get their hands on the new model. Additionally, the Prologue has been Honda’s lowest-selling model through the first half of 2025. Evidently, a large proportion of Honda buyers remains uninterested in an electric SUV, but the trend is still positive.

Sales of the Honda Passport are proving particularly strong this year. 4,433 were sold this June, a 67.7 percent rise from the 2,644 sold in June 2024. Year-to-date sales are also up 66.1 percent to 27,068 from 16,293. Honda didn’t break down how many of the Passports sold were the older model, and how many were for the 2026 version, which started to arrive at dealerships in February.

Honda USA Sales

Honda’s Odyssey is also performing well. It was updated roughly twelve months ago, and through the first half, 50,033 were sold, a 27.4 percent rise from last year. Sales soared 38.1 percent in June to 9,542.

In total, Honda managed to sell 670,765 vehicles in the first half of 2025, a 7.1 percent rise. In June, it sold 103,574, a 1.2 percent rise. Over at Acura, its year-to-date sales increased by 6.8 percent to 68,386, while in June, 10,912 new Acura models were sold, equating to a 5.4 percent rise.

Electric models play a growing role in Kia’s global strategy, and the company has built a reputation for crafting some of the most compelling EVs in the business. But in the States, that reputation isn’t quite translating to strong sales this year.

Read: Kia Sold Just 37 EV9s In May, But A Gas Sedan Is On Fire

While Kia’s overall numbers are up, its two flagship electric models are moving in the opposite direction. Both the EV6 and EV9 saw steep drops in sales. The absence of the smaller EV5 and EV3 from North American showrooms may be starting to feel like a missed opportunity.

Electric Sales Hit a Wall

The latest sales data reveal that Kia sold 4,938 examples of the EV9 in the United States in the first six months of the year. That’s a massive drop of nearly 49% from the 9,671 sold over the same period in 2024. Things were no better in June, with just 913 new EV9s finding homes across the country, down 52% compared to the 1,905 sold in June 2024.

The EV6’s performance is also on a downward spiral. Year-to-date, sales are down 46%, with 5,875 units sold compared to 10,941 in H1 2024. Things were particularly bad in June. While 2,171 Kia EV6s were sold in June 2024, only 680 were delivered the same month this year, a devastating decline of 69%.

While we suspect some Kia executives may be worried about these numbers, especially given the looming end of the federal tax credits at the end of September, they can at least celebrate a strong start to 2025 across the rest of its range.

Gasoline Models Pick Up the Slack

Despite the dip in EV sales, Kia’s broader lineup has helped the brand start 2025 on a high note. Total U.S. sales reached 416,511 units through June, up 8 percent from 386,460 in the first half of 2024. That momentum slowed slightly in June itself, with 63,849 vehicles sold compared to 65,929 a year ago.

The standout so far has been the K5 sedan. Kia has moved 34,565 K5s this year, up from 12,807 cars sold in the first half of 2024. That’s a nearly threefold increase, giving the once-overlooked midsize sedan some well-deserved attention.

The Carnival minivan also got a sizable boost. Sales are up 57 percent to 33,152 units, from 21,083 at this point last year. The Telluride, one of Kia’s most in-demand models, has climbed 15 percent to 61,502 units from 53,700. And the Sportage continues to hold its title as Kia’s top seller in the United States, with sales growing 9 percent year-over-year, reaching 87,172 units.

KIA US SALES

Any investors praying Tesla’s awful sales performance in the first quarter of 2025 was merely a blip have just had their hopes dashed. The troubled automaker announced its Q2 numbers and they show an even bigger year-over-year decline than the ones covering January to March.

Also: A Model Y Drove 30 Minutes To Deliver Itself To Its New Owner

Global deliveries declined 14 percent in Q2, falling from 410,244 to 384,122, making the most recent quarter’s performance marginally worse than Q1’s. For that period Tesla recorded a 13 percent drop after sales sunk by 50,000 to 336,681 units.

Sales Still Centered on Model 3 and Model Y

Tesla didn’t offer a complete breakdown of its Q2 numbers by model or region, but it did reveal that the Model 3 and Model Y accounted for practically all of its sales. The automaker delivered 373,728 Model 3 and Y EVs, and only 10,394 of its other cars, which include the Model S, Model X and Cybertruck, combined. The electric automaker also said it produced over 410,000 vehicles of all types.

Although delivery figures aren’t exactly the same as sales numbers, they’re close enough to give us a solid idea of the problems faced by Tesla, and the buying public’s apathy for its cars. Those problems include widespread dislike of Tesla CEO Elon Musk due to his vocal right-wing opinions and association with DOGE and the Trump administration, which is one of the reasons sales have cratered in Europe in recent months.

TESLA Q2 SALES

Intensifying Competition in China and Beyond

And in China, a key market for Tesla, the American brand is battling against a slew of hi-tech rivals that seem intent on pushing prices downwards to the detriment of profitability. Some of those same Chinese rivals are also now causing Tesla problems in other markets. In April BYD sold more EVs than Tesla in Europe, where the Model Y and 3 are struggling to regain their sales form despite recent facelifts.

Although Tesla’s Q2 performance looks dire, the figures aren’t as bad as some analysts had feared. And Deepwater Asset Management’s Gene Munster predicted the quarter represented a bottoming out for Tesla, which could bounce back in future periods, CNBC reports. Tesla will announced its complete Q2 financial results on July 23.

For much of the past year, Tesla sales have been consistently dropping across major European markets. Unsurprisingly, this downward trend is continuing, although there has been some welcome reprieve for Tesla in a handful of markets thanks to the arrival of the heavily updated ‘Juniper’ Model Y.

The good news for Tesla starts in Norway. In June, Tesla sales jumped 54 percent in the country. The arrival of the new Model Y was a major boost, with registrations increasing 115.3 percent to 5,004 units. Similarly, Tesla sales rose by a considerable 60.7 percent in Spain to 2,632 units. This was also largely down to the new Model Y, with its sales rising 127.2 percent to 1,179 units. Sales in Portugal also rose 7.3 percent.

Read: Europe Keeps Buying More EVs Just Not From Tesla

Despite these strong-performing markets, there was a bloodbath in many other countries. In Sweden, things were particularly bad, with Tesla scoring a 64.4 percent decline last month compared to June 2024. As noted by Reuters, sales in Denmark have also collapsed by 61.6 percent. Despite the new Model Y now being available in Denmark, sales of Tesla’s best-selling model still dropped 31.2 percent to 1,155 units.

Other countries followed the same trend. In France, Tesla sales are down 10 percent, while in Italy, they fell by 66 percent.

Schmidt Automotive reports that Tesla has endured six year-on-year losses in quarterly new registration volumes across Western Europe, and is now staring down a seventh. Tesla’s share of the EV market shrank across the region to 7.2 percent in May, down from the 12.6 percent share it had in May 2024.

While Tesla CEO Elon Musk is no longer a special government employee under the Trump administration, it seems his involvement in politics is still having a major impact on European car shoppers. In addition, an ever-growing number of EVs from China are making their way to local shores, stealing market share from Tesla.

The Lyriq has been a bright spot for Cadillac, but it had a dismal second quarter as sales tumbled 31.2% to 5,017 units. This followed a disappointing first quarter and year-to-date sales are down 28.8% to 9,317.

That’s a disappointing showing, but nearly 25% of Cadillacs sold in the first half of the year were electric. That figure was the “highest among full-line luxury brands” and Cadillac was the “luxury EV market share leader” in the second quarter.

Review: Is Cadillac’s New Vistiq The Baby Escalade You’ve Been Waiting For?

While the Lyriq got the short end of the stick, the company pointed to “strong initial demand” for the Optiq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ. The Optiq racked up 3,224 sales, while the Vistiq found 1,744 takers. Cadillac also delivered 1,810 Escalade IQs, which start at $130,090 for 2025.

Despite modest sales, more EVs are coming including the Lyriq-V, Optiq-V, and Escalade IQL. The latter arrives this summer and begins at $132,795. That’s pretty expensive, but the luxury SUV has 460 miles (740 km) of range as well as a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of 4.7 seconds.

Elsewhere in the lineup, the gas-powered Escalade was the biggest seller as consumers snapped up 11,692 units. That was an increase of 16.1% and the boost was likely aided by a rather significant facelift.

The XT4 was off 22.2%, while the XT5 and XT6 saw slight gains. Unfortunately, all three models are getting old at this point and the three-row crossover has a date with the undertaker – at least in North America.

Last but not least, Cadillac sedans saw mixed news. The CT5 was up 9% to 4,187 units, while the CT4 crashed 19.1% to 1,430 units.

Cadillac US Sales

The new-age Leaf might be the spark that Nissan needs to capture public attention again, but it’s not the only model working in the brand’s favor. Another EV has been quietly gaining traction, and it might be an even more immediate success story.

We are, of course, talking about the N7 that was recently launched in China. Built through the Dongfeng-Nissan joint venture, it received more than 20,000 orders within six weeks of its release. Yes, that’s nothing compared to the 289,000 YU7 orders that Xiaomi claims to have locked in within just one hour, but over 20,000 is a respectable figure for Nissan and shows it’s at least done something right with its new EV.

Read: Nissan’s $17K Maxima-Sized EV Took Off In China And Now It’s Going Global

In a social media post, Nissan confirmed that after N7 deliveries began in China on May 17, it’s now celebrating the handover of its 10,000th unit to a customer after 45 days While that number isn’t especially notable for a new EV in China, it does stack up well against Mazda’s EZ-6.

According to Chinese media, Nissan reportedly delivered 3,034 N7s in May, while Mazda moved just 1,821 units of the EZ-6 during the same period.

Part Japanese, Part Chinese, All Successful

One reason the N7 seems to be gaining traction is its approach, which aligns with that of many successful Chinese EVs. It delivers a well-rounded package, combining modern features and everyday usability at a highly accessible price. Depending on the trim, it starts at 119,900 yuan (around $16,800) and tops out at 149,900 yuan (about $25,100), making it a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers who still want a full-featured electric vehicle.

The N7 features a sleek, contemporary exterior that’s likely to resonate with a wide range of buyers. Inside, the cabin takes a minimalist approach, anchored by a large central infotainment screen, a digital gauge cluster, dual wireless smartphone chargers, and a clean, flowing dashboard. The two-spoke steering wheel, fitted with a pair of toggles, mirrors the design language seen in many other EVs currently on the Chinese market.

Encouraged by the strong response in China, Nissan now plans to bring the N7 to global markets. Although specific countries haven’t been officially confirmed, Japan and Australia are expected to be among the first. There’s also a strong possibility the model will be introduced in Malaysia and select European markets, if not across the region.

Even as the global car market continues to shift, one thing remains certain: Toyota knows how to move metal. After a brief detour in second place, the Toyota RAV4 is back on top as the world’s best-selling car, edging out the Tesla Model Y by a sliver.

And it’s not just the soon-to-be-replaced RAV4 doing the heavy lifting, as Toyota has managed to land five models in the global top ten, including the Corolla Cross, Corolla sedan, Hilux, and Camry.

More: New RAV4, See Every Angle And Hidden Detail

This ranking comes from industry analyst Felipe Munoz, who compiled a detailed snapshot of 2024’s global car sales by model. His methodology pulls from a wide mix of sources, including national statistics offices, dealership associations, customs data, specialized websites, blogs, other analysts, and informed estimates. According to Munoz, the ranking covers 153 markets, accounting for roughly 99% of all cars sold globally.

Toyota Retakes the Lead, Barely

Combined sales of the Toyota RAV4 and its China-market twin, the Wildlander, reached 1,187,000 units in 2024. That was just enough to slide past the Tesla Model Y, which landed at 1,185,000 units. It’s a narrow win, but a win nonetheless.

It’s important to note that both the RAV4 and Model Y were refreshed shortly after the period covered by this report. Toyota rolled out a full redesign for the RAV4, that hasn’t gone on sale yet while Tesla introduced its updated Model Y Juniper that’s already available.

That said, the Model Y still holds the title for best-selling EV worldwide by a comfortable margin. Its 2025 numbers, however, are already showing signs of slowing.

Compact Crossovers Keep Climbing

The Toyota Corolla Cross occupied the third place with 859,000 sales, benefiting from the fact it is offered in many different markets around the world. The compact crossover was closely followed by the Honda CR-V/Breeze SUV that sold 854,000 units.

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A post shared by Felipe Munoz | Automotive (@carindustryanalysis)

Toyota’s dominance continues with the Corolla / Levin Sedan (697,000 units) in the fifth place and the Toyota Hilux (617,000 units) in the sixth place.

World’s Best Selling Pickup

The aging Hilux is due for a new generation soon, but that didn’t stop it from becoming the world’s best-selling pickup. Despite not being sold in North America or China, two massive truck markets, it still managed to outpace all competitors. Right behind it in the global rankings is the Ford F-150, which sold 595,000 units and claimed seventh place overall. In the US, the F-150 was the second best-selling vehicle of 2024, coming in just behind the RAV4.

More: Cracks Are Beginning To Appear In China’s Largest EV Maker

Rounding out the top ten are three sedans that continue to hold their ground in a market that increasingly leans toward crossovers and SUVs. The Toyota Camry took eighth with 593,000 sales, followed by the Tesla Model 3 at 560,000 and the BYD Qin at 502,000. BYD’s entry marks the only Chinese brand on the list this year, underscoring the company’s steady rise as a global competitor in both EVs and internal combustion vehicles.

BYD’s growth has been exponential, and last year, it was the sixth-largest carmaker by volume, selling an incredible 4.27 million vehicles. This year, BYD is targeting 30% growth and is pushing to sell as many as 5.5 million cars. However, unnamed sources claim the company’s expansion has slowed in recent months, and it has reduced production at some of its factories.

It’s claimed that BYD has cut night shifts at some of its factories while also reducing output by at least a third. These changes have reportedly been made at four factories, at least. In addition, BYD is believed to have suspended plans to set up several new production lines.

Read: This Country Faces A Cheap EV Invasion That Could Destroy Its Auto Industry

Sources speaking with Reuters did not specify the exact scale of the production reduction, but one said the moves were being made because BYD’s sales have failed to meet its targets, while another suggested the company is looking to reduce costs.

Growing Pains

In April, the growth of BYD’s global output had slowed to 13% year-over-year, and in May, it slowed to 0.2%. These were the slowest growth rates the company has seen since February 2024. In addition, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers’ data has revealed that BYD’s average output in April and May was 29% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2024.

BYD’s incredible expansion has put many legacy car brands on notice in key markets worldwide. With an ever-growing range of competitively priced models, BYD has triggered an industry-crushing price war. While this has helped to drive up sales, it has also increased inventories. In China, BYD dealers held an average inventory of 3.21 months, significantly above the local industry average of 1.38 months, and the highest of all brands in China.

One major BYD dealer was recently forced to close 20 dealerships across the country. Soaring inventories have also prompted the China Auto Dealers Chamber of Commerce to tell carmakers to stop offloading so many cars and to set production targets in line with sales.

A Profitable, Yet Bumpy Ride

In March this year, BYD announced that its annual revenue for 2024 reached 777 billion yuan ($108.3 billion), surpassing Tesla’s $97.7 billion. This marked a 29% increase from the previous year, driven largely by strong hybrid vehicle sales, positioning BYD as the new leader in the electrified market.

European car buyers took Tesla on a few dates these past few years and even uttered the L-word in 2023, making the Model Y their favorite car. But now they’re fully ghosting the American EV brand. New figures show Tesla sales in the region (EU, plus the UK and European Free Trade Association areas) fell 27.9 percent in May, the fifth consecutive month the automaker has posted declining numbers in Europe.

The fall wasn’t as severe as experienced in other months. In January, for example, sales dropped by 45 percent, in February they were down 40 percent, and in April they proved disastrous, with deliveries halving. But the pattern is undeniable, and though the introduction of the facelifted Model Y in the spring lessened the angle of the slide, it couldn’t level it out or reverse its trajectory. Tesla sales are down 37.1 percent since the start of the year, ACEA says.

Related: A Chinese Brand Did The Unthinkable To Tesla In Europe

And it’s not like Tesla can blame its abysmal performance on a declining European EV market. Sales of electric cars in Europe actually jumped by 27.2 percent in May, rising by almost the same amount that Tesla’s have fallen. That gain means EVs accounted for 15.4 percent of the European car market last month, up from 12.5 percent a year prior.

Sales of hybrid cars continue to grow (by 14.2 percent) and now make up the biggest single slice of the car market pie (34.1 percent in May), ahead of petrol vehicles (28.5 percent). Plug-in hybrids are also still making real headway – they were up 46.1 percent, though they’re still in the minority with a 9.4 percent share (up from 6.5 percent).

While Tesla had an awful May, BMW’s Mini brand enjoyed a very different experience, its sales leaping 29.1 percent. Alfa celebrated to the tune of 21.5 percent, China’s SAIC, which owns the MG brand, also grew its sales 22.5 percent, and Cupra was up 32.4 percent. It was a different story at sister brand Seat, though, which suffered a 25.4 percent decline.

European car sales May 2025

European car sales YTD

Lead image Tesla

Everyone shopping for a new car wants a good deal, and right now, there are plenty to be found in the electric vehicle space. That’s partly because new EVs aren’t flying off the shelves as they once were in the States. While sales saw a slight increase from April to May, they’re still down 10.7 percent year over year. As a result, the deals are getting sweeter.

According to data gathered from Cox Automotive, new EV prices are dropping. In May, the average price fell by 2.3 percent to $57,734. On top of that, incentives for these cars jumped 19.4 percent to an average of $8,226. That works out to roughly 14.2 percent of the average transaction price (ATP), which is the highest it’s been since 2019.

Read: 80% Of Car Tariffs Could Be Passed Directly To You

Several notable models, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, and Acura ZDX are available for what effectively ends up being less than $40,000, which the study calculated by subtracting the average model-specific incentives from their ATPs.

New and Used EV Sales May 2025

Interestingly, the used electric vehicle market is going in the opposite direction. The average price rose 0.9 percent from April to May and 2.6 percent year over year. In cold, hard numbers that represents an average transaction price of $36,053. Despite that, sales increased 1.1 percent month over month and a substantial 32.1 percent year over year. Of those, Cox estimates that almost half (49.6%) were Teslas.

The price gap between used EVs and traditional ICE+ vehicles is also shrinking, staying under $2,000. Unsurprisingly, The Tesla Model 3 was the top-selling used electric car in May, with an average selling price of $23,160, which represents a 1.6 percent decrease from April.

New and Used EV Prices May 2025

Supply Shortages for Used EVs

Used EVs up for sale are far less than new ones. Data suggests 40 days of supply available in May, 11 percent less than a year previous and the lowest since June of 2022. That figure is the number of days of inventory a company has before it runs out of product.

“As EV adoption accelerates, ensuring a growing supply of affordable models is essential,” said Cox. “For many consumers, price remains one of the most significant barriers to making the switch to electric.”

In contrast, new EV dealers had an average of 111 days of supply in May. That’s 8 percent more than April, but still 11.6 percent less than May 2024.

The EV market is clearly in a bit of a balancing act right now, with more incentives, lower prices on new EVs, and rising costs in the used market. For shoppers, this creates a window of opportunity to grab some solid deals, but the clock might be ticking, especially with the $7,500 tax credit for new EVs and $4,000 for used ones on the chopping block soon.

New and Used EV Days’ Supply May 2025

Tesla has long been the undisputed king of electric vehicles, but even titans eventually face competition. With a controversial CEO in the mix, it’s not exactly shocking to hear that the company is gearing up to pause production of both the Model Y and Cybertruck at its Texas factory. But before you jump to conclusions about poor sales, there’s actually a different reason behind this production halt.

A new report has revealed that Tesla recently informed workers at its Austin, Texas plant that production will be halted on June 30, before resuming the week after. The pause will allow the company to perform maintenance on production lines and make improvements to enable increased production.

Read: Tesla Wants All Of You To Sell Its Cars For Free

As Business Insider points out, temporarily halting production for upgrades is pretty standard practice across the automotive industry. While this move isn’t earth-shattering, it did rattle the market enough to knock Tesla’s stock down by nearly 4%.

Why Tesla Wants to Ramp Up, But Maybe Not for the Cybertruck

The Model Y, which was recently updated, might see an uptick in sales soon, which is likely why Tesla wants to ensure it’s ready to ramp up production. But the Cybertruck? Well, let’s just say Tesla’s ambitions for the electric pickup truck seem to have cooled off – a lot. Earlier this year, the company lowered its manufacturing targets for the Cybertruck, and current production lines are barely running at full capacity.

Musk had famously predicted Tesla could churn out as many as 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks annually, but reality is proving much less ambitious. As of March, only about 46,000 Cybertrucks had been built and sold, despite the pickup’s promising debut earlier in 2024. So while Tesla may be gearing up for a production boost in some areas, the Cybertruck’s road to mass production is still a questionable one. At least for now.

While EVs have generally been gaining popularity across the United States over the past couple of years, April wasn’t such a good month for them. New EV registrations fell 4.4 percent, marking the first dip after 14 consecutive months of growth. The slide was led by notable declines from several automakers, including Tesla, Ford, and Hyundai.

Read: Kia Sold Just 37 EV9s In May, But A Gas Sedan Is On Fire

According to data from S&P Global Mobility, which excludes gasoline-electric hybrid models, a total of 97,833 new EVs were registered in the US in April. This means that EVs accounted for 6.6 percent of total registrations, falling from the 7.4 percent share they had in April 2024. A number of factors could be at play here.

At the same time, overall light vehicle sales, regardless of powertrain, grew by 7.2 percent in April to approximately 1.5 million units.

Speaking to Autonews, S&P Global Mobility analyst Tom Libby, said that beyond the usual range anxiety and charging concerns, “consumers are seeing media reports that government support for EVs is on the chopping block and automaker investments in the technology are slowing, undermining confidence in a product that doesn’t yet have significant organic demand”.

“The increases in the prior months have been weak, so I think there is an ongoing trend of weakening in the EV market,” Libby told Auto News. “We’ll have to watch where it goes, but there’s a lot of influences working against EVs right now.”

The Winners And Losers

Tesla remains the largest seller of EVs in the United States. In April, 39,913 new Tesla models were registered across the country, representing a 16 percent decline from April 2024. In second place was Chevrolet with a total of 9,160 registrations. It bucked the trend with a massive 215 percent spike, increasing its share of the EV market to 9.4 percent. This was primarily thanks to the Equinox EV with 5,424 registrations, trailing only the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

Ford came in third with 5,534 registrations, down 33 percent from April 2024. BMW edged out Hyundai for fourth place, logging 4,812 registrations, an 8.7 percent uptick. Hyundai fell to fifth after a 25 percent drop, totaling 4,796 units.

A number of other brands saw declines, including Rivian (down 30 percent), Mercedes (down 19 percent), and Kia (down a steep 68 percent). Cadillac and Honda posted big gains, up 104 percent and 2,359 percent respectively, while Volvo jumped 263 percent. Some smaller players, like Porsche and Fiat, also recorded substantial percentage increases, albeit from far smaller volumes.

US EV SALES APRIL 2025

A new requirement for selling electric school buses in New York has school bus dealers there worried about vehicle availability and even higher prices one year before a mandate goes into effect requiring all purchases be zero emissions.

The $254-billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year signed into law May 9 includes a much-needed extension to 2029 for school districts demonstrating their hardships with implementing ESBs to begin purchasing only electric school buses. But provision Article 11-C, while good in theory for its intent to provide better range estimates, is short on detail that the dealers association said could lead to unintended consequences.

The three paragraphs call for independent third-party, real-world ESB range testing to be performed starting Jan. 1, 2026, before the zero-emissions vehicles could be sold to in-state school districts and bus companies. Data must be obtained over 10,000 miles operated in extreme weather conditions and over different terrains to gauge battery degradation and resulting range. The law also wants the testing to account for parking  ESBs outside versus inside. It does not specify how the types of chargers used could affect the battery lifecycle.

The New York School Bus Distributors Association (NYSBDA) opposes the provision.

“New York’s school bus dealers are transparent with their customers about the impact extreme weather conditions, terrain, driver operation, and many other factors have on the range of all-electric school buses,” said Peter Tunny, the organization’s executive director. “School districts rely on school bus dealers to partner with them to ensure more than 2.3 million children safely get to school and back home each day and part of that responsibility is to provide the most accurate data available regarding the capabilities of electric school buses.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which oversees the state’s zero emission school bus initiative, told School Transportation News last month it is aware such testing exists, available from unnamed firms or testing facilities nationwide. Aside from specific testing centers or procedures, the question that remains to be answered is how, especially with just over six months before the law goes into effect.

One student transporter familiar with the legislative negotiations told STN legislators may have added the range testing requirement to counterbalance the additional year extension granted to school districts.

“If you want that, you are going to have to do this,” the source added.

The intent of the range estimates is to bridge the gap between best-case-scenario figures marketed by OEMs and what student transporters are reporting from their operations. The theory is good, added NYSBDA’s Tunny, but school bus dealers are unaware of any such procedures or facilities to perform such tests.

More questions center on a $1,000 fine, ostensibly on school bus dealers, if the real-world estimates are not provided. No mention is made of how this money will be collected or what it would be used for, such as existing funds for school districts to electrify their fleets. The New York State Attorney General’s office oversees the penalties for violations. A spokesperson had not responded to a request for comment at this writing.

There was also no clarity on if the fine would be tantamount to purchasing a carbon credit. Would it be cheaper for a dealer or OEM to take the $1,000 fine and then proceed with the sale? Would that even be allowed? A source familiar with the legislation but who asked to remain anonymous noted the fine would be “a drop in the bucket” for a $450,000 electric school bus.

NYSBDA is seeking clarification.

“With little information regarding entities which provide independent rate estimates for electric school buses, it is impossible to know if it will make more sense to pay for the testing or the $1,000 fine,” said Tunny, a retired director of transportation for South Colonie Central Schools near Albany. “Unfortunately, at the end of the day, any increasing costs by the state will ultimately be passed on to the school district. It might make more sense with the state to conduct the independent testing by working with New York school transportation stakeholders, and utilizing a state entity, like [NYSERDA] in conjunction with the state education department.

He added that NYSBDA continues to analyze the language of the budget to determine if it would be feasible for OEMs to provide the testing or ship the buses from the factory to a testing site.

“The law should be repealed immediately so the school transportation stakeholders can sit down with Gov. [Kathy] Hochul and the legislature to help craft a law that will actually accomplish their goals without creating another obstacle to selling electric school buses in New York State,” he said.

School bus OEMs are also finally attuned to the matter, albeit they had no answers to the issue yet, either. A Blue Bird spokesman told STN the OEM and its dealers are “monitoring related developments and evaluating appropriate steps.” Meanwhile, a representative of Thomas Built Buses said its dealers were meeting with their lobbyists. At this report, no dealers had asked their OEM partners that more accurate range testing be performed before the school buses ship from the factories.

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There are options for collecting the required data, but they could take time. One scenario could utilize telematics data from ESBs and create statistical models for different road conditions, weather and geography through in-use operations. The EV Watts program provides reliable estimates for over 950 electric passenger vehicles based on kilowatt-hours consumed. It is one the largest public datasets available. A source familiar with the program told STN that a school bus version EV Watts had been planned but its funding was cut.

Still, there are far fewer electric school buses in operation to run similar models. And aside from running models in all different temperatures and road conditions, additional challenges arise in more technology and operational variances such as battery capacity and programming, the impact of different wheelbases and tires on fuel economy, and the effect of using electrical heating compared to fuel-fired heaters, to name a few.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory works with a half-dozen school districts nationwide to provide data for its FleetREDI analyzer. But none of the school districts operate in New York, though NREL is actively looking to recruit additional electric bus fleets, a representative told a panel audience at the ACT Expo in April.

Other nonprofit clean energy consultants could potentially perform or facilitate testing. But first, NYSERDA would need to provide guidance.

“Even so, the timeline could be hard to meet,” another EV consultant added.

The post State Budget Calls for Real-world Range Testing for Electric School Bus Sales appeared first on School Transportation News.

General Motors is having a great year when it comes to electric vehicles. Sure, some reports indicate sales might be cooling off in some corners of the market, but for GM, things are hot. The company says its EV sales have jumped 94 percent year over year, and one of its brands, Chevrolet, now ranks second only to Tesla in U.S. EV sales.

That’s not a small gap, though. Tesla still held nearly 44 percent of the U.S. EV market in the first quarter of the year, with 128,100 vehicles sold, or roughly as much as everyone else combined. However, Tesla’s May figures aren’t available yet, making a direct comparison with GM impossible.

Also: US EV Sales Jump In Q1, But The Biggest Losers Might Surprise You

Still, GM managed to sell 62,830 electric cars, trucks, and SUVs between January and the end of May. The first quarter alone saw a 94 percent year-over-year jump, and that momentum hasn’t let up. May turned out to be the company’s second-best month ever for EV sales, pushing GM to a 15.5 percent share of the current EV market.

Chevrolet carried much of that weight, accounting for over half of those numbers with roughly 37,000 deliveries during the same period. Leading the charge was the electric Equinox, which became GM’s best-selling EV with 21,804 units delivered.

Strong Numbers and Stronger Momentum

“Customers are responding in record numbers to our world-class portfolio of electric and gas-powered vehicles,” said Rory Harvey, executive VP and president of global markets. “In the first two months of the second quarter, we more than doubled our EV sales compared to the same period last year.” Lots of those sales are coming from the top EV seller, Tesla.

In fact, according to Scott Bell, vice president of global Chevrolet, over half of the sales GM has this year are conquest sales, meaning customers are switching over from other brands. He told the Detroit Free Press that the Equinox is a major player here.

“It’s certainly the most affordable EV out there with that kind of range. It is by far the leader in the clubhouse; it doubles our Blazer volume easily on a monthly basis,” said Bell. “Once you convert to an EV, you’re not leaving. Especially once you’ve invested in the infrastructure, a home charger, 86% of them will stay.”

Interestingly, General Motors’ figures are even more impressive when compared to Ford’s. The Blue Oval brand delivered 34,132 cars during the first five months of the year, marking an 8.3 percent drop from the same period in 2024. That’s right, Chevrolet outsold Ford, and that doesn’t take into account any of the sales from Cadillac and GMC. No doubt, some of that success comes from GM’s wider range of available EVs.

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At the same time, both GM and Ford are doing just fine when it comes to their combustion-engine businesses. Hybrids are selling great, too. We’ll get a clearer picture of the EV sales landscape soon. GM will announce its second-quarter sales numbers on July 1. Other automakers will no doubt do the same around the same time. 

Rivian was supposed to be the new-age automaker that could finally go toe-to-toe with Tesla. However, while Tesla sold nearly 1.8 million vehicles last year, Rivian managed around 50,000, barely enough to register as a rounding error on Tesla’s sales report. To have any shot at closing that canyon, Rivian needs to get its more affordable R2 and R3 models on the road quickly. But price isn’t the only hurdle.

A Demographic Rivian Can’t Ignore

According to a recent study by S&P Global, Rivian also needs to do a better job connecting with Asian-American buyers in the United States. Through the first quarter of this year, Asian households accounted for approximately 7.2 percent of total new car registrations, but for Tesla, this figure rises to a remarkable 27.2 percent . They also accounted for 12.7 percent of all EV sales, excluding Rivian and Tesla.

That’s a clear pattern. Asian-Americans are buying EVs in significant numbers, and a large share of them are choosing Tesla.

Read: Rivian’s Secret Stockpile Could Be Its Key To Defeating Tariffs

However, according to S&P Global, just 13.7 percent of Rivian’s sales go to Asian households. One possible explanation is that one of Rivian’s only two models currently on sale is a pickup truck. Data shows that Asian buyers account for just 2.3 percent of all full-size pickup sales in the U.S.

Even among those who are shopping for electric pickups, Rivian still comes up short. The Tesla Cybertruck, polarizing as it is, seems to be faring better with this demographic. About 24 percent of Cybertruck sales are to Asian buyers, compared to just 8 percent for the Rivian R1T. So it’s not just about the body style. Tesla’s appeal clearly extends deeper.

Can It Be Done?

Brand perception might be playing a major role here. Asian-American buyers seem to gravitate toward brands with a strong premium or tech-forward image. Just look at the numbers: 28.3 percent of Mercedes EQS SUV sales and 25.5 percent of BMW iX sales go to Asian households. Tesla is in that same league, with Asian buyers making up a full 33 percent of Model X sales.

For Rivian to break through, it’s not enough to be different or electric, as it needs to be desirable in the same way these established brands are. That means competing not just on specs, but on image.

The smaller R2 and R3 will also prove to be extremely important for Rivian’s expansion ambitions in the country, as they’ll appeal to a broader range of buyers. However, Rivian will need to be careful to ensure they remain well-equipped and feel premium, or else they may alienate one of their most important group of customers.

Not every sales jump in the auto industry follows a straightforward narrative, and Kia’s latest numbers are a good example of that. The company had a solid May, moving 5 percent more vehicles than it did in the same month last year. But that top-line figure doesn’t tell the whole story.

While its flagship electric models took a hit, one unassuming sedan, the K5, surged with a 256 percent increase in monthly sales. Kia’s not alone in this EV slowdown, either.

More: Mercedes’ Electric G Flops So Hard It Could Change What Comes Next

It’s worth noting that the K5 has been out for several years. Its huge jump in sales during May doesn’t seem to be an outlier either. For the year, it’s up 220 percent. Put into raw sales figures, the company had sold just 9,036 through May last year. This year, it’s shifted 28,951 of them. Combined with the K4, Kia has already made over 90,000 sales this year.

Electric Models Lose Steam

No doubt, the brand wishes its flagship electric vehicles were seeing even a modicum of that success. The recently refreshed EV6 is great to drive, but buyers aren’t snatching it up with the same vigor they did last year. Through the first five months of the year, it’s down 40.8 percent. The EV9, Kia’s flagship electric SUV is having an even tougher time as it’s down 48.2 percent in that same period.

That trend doesn’t appear ready to change either. In May alone, the EV6 was down 69.8 percent. The EV9 sold just 37 units across the country and, as such, was down a whopping 98.3 percent during the month. It’ll be interesting to see what Kia does to incentivize buyers to return as the new model year version rolls in to dealerships. These are both impressive cars, but consumers seem apt to favor hybrids now more than ever.

To Kia’s credit, this trend away from EVs and toward combustion cars isn’t one isolated to the brand. Ford announced its May sales figures recently and saw a similar trend. While the Mustang Mach-E continues to do well, the F-150 Lightning and E-Transit are dozens of basis points off where they were last year.

KIA USA SALES

We’re approaching the halfway point of the year, and things have already been wild. Tariffs, both the ones in effect and those merely looming, have changed the automotive industry, regulations are changing, and automakers are trying to keep up.

For its part, Ford has managed to have a positive year so far. Sales across the Ford and Lincoln brands are up 6.1 percent in the USA. At the same time, its EV business just took a huge hit during the month of May.

Also: Volvo’s EV Crash Hits Harder Than Expected As Buyers Walk Away From Batteries

It was only a couple of months ago that Ford’s EV sales looked like they were sliding, but not by too much. After April, they were down 2.9 percent year over year. That, though, seemed like it could be an aberration since sales in April alone were down 39.4 percent. With this new sales data in hand, it seems clear that buyers are flocking away from EVs and toward hybrids and gas-powered cars.

Ford doesn’t break up sales figures for its hybrid Lincoln products, but as a group, hybrids were up 28.9 percent in May. They outperformed every other propulsion type by at least ten basis points or more. Internal combustion cars came in second with a 17.2 percent bump over last year’s sales. Electric vehicles were down a whopping 25 percent. Due to the heavy volume of hybrid and internal combustion sales, the group was ultimately up 16.3 percent in May.

FORD AND LINCOLN SALES

Digging a little deeper into the data provides further insights. For example, the Mustang Mach-E continues to be a hit among consumers despite the EV downturn for Ford. It was up 11 percent in May and is still up 2.8 percent year over year. That’s a big rebound after it was down 40.2 percent in April. The big issues for Ford’s EV business seem to be the work vehicles.

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The F-150 Lightning was down 41.7 percent in May and is down 17.3 percent year over year. The E-Transit saw a sales drop in May of 93.3 percent and is down 24.8 percent for the year. It appears that buyers are leaning into the middle ground more than ever at Ford. The automaker’s hybrid business is up 31.2 percent this year. 

The Bigger Picture

Incentives likely helped boost May’s overall results, with employee pricing offers and consumer concerns about incoming tariffs giving shoppers extra motivation. Several models posted standout gains. The Bronco surged 51.1 percent year over year in May and is now up 46.5 percent for 2025. The Ranger also turned in a strong performance, rising 34.4 percent for the month and jumping 157.9 percent for the year.

On the flip side, the Mustang, despite having the ICE muscle car segment to itself, continues its downward trend, slipping 3.2% in May and falling 18% since the start of the year.

Lincoln had a solid month as well, climbing 39 percent in May and 13 percent for the year so far. The Navigator was a key driver of that growth, rocketing 133 percent in May and up 75.5 percent year to date.

FORD US SALES

LINCOLN US SALES

Tesla’s global sales may be slipping, but not every market is turning cold. In a few corners of the world, the brand is still pulling off unexpected wins. In Norway, for example, where a staggering nine out of every 10 new cars sold is an EV, Tesla sales went berserk, jumping 213 percent in May versus the same month in 2024.

A total of 2,600 Tesla EVs were delivered in Norway in May, according to the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV). Unsurprisingly, the boom was led by the launch of the facelifted Model Y, which debuted this spring. The compact SUV has been the country’s best-selling car for three-years running, and this May it took a chunky 16.5 percent market share.

Also: The Once Unthinkable Has Happened To Tesla’s Brand

That was more than double the 7 percent of the second-place finisher, Toyota’s bZ4X, and four times the VW ID.4’s showing (4.2 percent). Tesla’s overall performance in Norway was way beyond the healthy 39 percent sales uplift for all cars sold in the country last month.

The Norwegian government’s pro-climate stance going back 25 years, despite being a huge oil exporter , has helped switch its population on to electric cars even though the country’s winter weather shows off EVs in their worst light. Strong financial incentives and a huge number of available chargers created sufficient demand that Norway is now close to the 100 percent EV goal in 2025 it set out to reach eight years ago. The last few combustion holdouts will be tough to convert, however.

BEST SELLING MODELS NORWAY MAY 2025

Tesla Sales Plunge 67% In France

But other European nations who also had access to the facelifted Model Y and had previously seen the old model become the best-selling car in their country, didn’t replicate Norway’s numbers. In Sweden, which shares a border with Norway, Tesla sales sank by 54 percent to just 503 vehicles. In France, they were down 67 percent to 721 units, data from AAA says.

European sales of Teslas halved as buyers shunned the brand that once dominated sales charts, becoming the first to outperform not just other EVs, but every combustion-engine car. The arrival of stronger competition, both from legacy brands and also Chinese newcomers like BYD is a factor, as is a certain level of disappointment that Tesla’s facelifts to the Model 3 and Model Y don’t go far enough.

But another major reason for Tesla’s weak sales is its declining brand image and public disgust at Musk’s support for right-wing political parties such as Germany’s AfD. In a March poll 94 percent of Germans said they would never buy a Tesla.

BEST SELLING BRANDS NORWAY MAY 2025