Image: Tesla
Tesla continued to dominate the U.S. electric vehicle market in the third quarter of 2025, leading a record-breaking period for EV sales nationwide. According to new data from Cox Automotive, total EV sales in the U.S. hit an all-time high of 438,487 units in Q3, up 40.7% from the previous quarter and 29.6% year over year. Electric vehicles accounted for 10.5% of total new vehicle sales, up from 8.6% during the same period last year.
The sales surge was largely driven by consumers rushing to take advantage of the federal $7,500 EV tax credit before it expired on September 30. As a result, nearly every major automaker saw higher EV deliveries, though the growth was most pronounced among brands like Tesla, GM, Hyundai, and Volkswagen.
Tesla led the U.S. market with 179,525 units sold in Q3, up 7.5% year over year. The Model Y once again topped the charts as the country’s best-selling EV, with 114,897 units delivered (+29% YoY), followed by the Model 3 with 53,857 (-7.8% YoY). The Model X and Model S both saw modest year-over-year increases to 1,794 and 3,592 units, respectively, while Cybertruck sales dipped sharply to 5,385 units (-62.6% YoY).
In total, Tesla accounted for 41% of all EV sales in the U.S. during the quarter — down from 49% a year earlier — as competition from legacy automakers and new entrants continues to grow. Still, the Model Y and Model 3 combined commanded 38.5% of the U.S. EV market. Tesla’s total volume remains unmatched, and the company reported record global deliveries of 497,099 vehicles for Q3 2025.
Tesla also enjoyed strong results in key overseas markets, particularly China. The company’s Shanghai Gigafactory sold 90,812 vehicles in September alone, marking the first month of growth in Q3 and helping Tesla close the quarter on a high note. The strong performance helped Tesla surpass Mercedes-Benz in total global vehicle sales for the first time.
Tesla will release its Q3 2025 financial results on Wednesday, October 22, where it’s expected to share more insight into its record deliveries, global demand trends, and quarterly profitability. Stay tuned for our full coverage of Tesla’s Q3 2025 results later this month.
