Tesla Model 3 and Y: 55% of the US electric vehicle market

I just discovered the 2025 figures, and honestly, I expected Tesla’s dominance, but not to this extent. The Kelley Blue Book (Cox Automotive) Q4 2025 report has just been released, and the results are spectacular: the Model 3 and Model Y alone capture 55.4% of the electric vehicle market in the United States. Yes, you read that right: more than half of the US electric vehicle market relies on two models from a single brand.

What makes these figures even more impressive is the context: in a US EV market slightly down by 2%, Tesla not only holds its ground but continues to dominate with nearly 550,000 vehicles sold for these two models combined. Let’s break down these impressive figures together.

A Model 3 / Model Y Duo Representing 1 in 2 Electric Vehicles Sold in the US

The figures speak for themselves. The Model Y recorded 357,528 units sold in 2025, a 4.0% decrease compared to 2024. Meanwhile, the Model 3 shows 192,440 units, with a positive growth of 1.3%. Combined, these two vehicles represent approximately 550,000 vehicles, or a 55.4% market share of all electric vehicles sold in the United States.

To put that into concrete perspective: for every 2 electric vehicles sold in the United States in 2025, 1 is either a Model 3 or a Model Y. That’s absolutely colossal.

The slight decrease in Model Y sales is mainly explained by the temporary production halts related to the vehicle’s refresh in the Fremont and Texas factories. I own a Model Y myself, and I perfectly understand why this vehicle is a hit: the space, the driving range, the Supercharger network… It’s a complete package that meets the expectations of American families.

The Model Y Remains America’s Best-Selling Electric Vehicle Despite a 4% Drop

With 357,528 units sold, the Model Y retains its crown as America’s best-selling electric vehicle and alone accounts for 39.5% of the US EV market. This 4% drop might seem concerning at first glance, but it’s part of a very specific context.

Production halts related to the rollout of the new Model Y Juniper arriving in 2025 have naturally impacted volumes. This slight decrease is therefore not worrying; it’s simply the price of product renewal and improvement.

To put this dominance into perspective: the third best-selling electric vehicle in the United States, the Chevy Equinox EV, recorded 57,945 units. The Model Y therefore sells 6 times more than its direct competitor. The gap is simply abyssal.

Why Does the Model Y Remain So Popular?

Several factors explain this unwavering popularity:

• The compact SUV format remains Americans’ preferred segment, and the Model Y perfectly meets that need
• An unbeatable value for money in its segment, especially with available tax credits
• The considerable advantage of the Supercharger network which eliminates range anxiety
• Remarkable daily versatility with a generous trunk and solid performance

The Model 3 Growing: The Only Tesla Model Up in 2025

Here’s a figure worth celebrating: with 192,440 units sold, the Model 3 recorded a 1.3% growth year-over-year. It’s the only Tesla model up across the entire lineup in 2025, and that’s no coincidence.

The Model 3 alone accounts for 15.9% of the US electric vehicle market. This performance is explained by the product’s stability: no major refresh planned in the short term, a mature and reliable model that has proven itself over the years.

Furthermore, the refreshed Performance version of the Model 3 has likely helped maintain buyer interest and attract new, sportier customer segments.

The Model 3 proves that a good product doesn’t need an annual revolution to continue to appeal. Its attractive entry price in the Tesla lineup also makes it the ideal gateway to the brand’s ecosystem.

Tesla Captures Nearly 6 out of 10 Electric Vehicles Sold in the United States

If we broaden the perspective to the entire Tesla lineup, the figures become even more impressive. Tesla boasts a total market share of 58.9% of all electric vehicles sold in the United States in 2025.

Concretely, this means that almost 6 out of 10 EVs sold in America bear the Tesla logo. This dominance is all the more remarkable as it persists despite the arrival of serious new competitors from Hyundai, Ford, GM, and other established manufacturers.

What particularly strikes me is the brand’s resilience in the face of controversies surrounding Elon Musk. The figures clearly show that vehicle quality takes precedence over media debates. Buyers separate the product from the CEO’s personality, which is ultimately quite rational.

This performance testifies to one thing: when you have the best ecosystem (vehicle + software + charging infrastructure), consumers follow.

Competition Struggles to Take Off: A Revealing Top 10

Analysis of the top 10 best-selling electric vehicles in 2025 reveals an abyssal gap between Tesla and the rest of the market. The third best-selling vehicle, the Chevy Equinox EV, totals 57,945 units, which is 6.2 times less than the Model Y alone.

Here are some other notable performances from the competition:

• Ford Mustang Mach-E: 51,620 units
• Hyundai Ioniq 5: 47,039 units
• No competitor exceeds 60,000 units sold for the year

I have personally tried several of these competitors, and even if some are good vehicles with undeniable qualities, they simply don’t offer the complete Tesla ecosystem: software integration, regular over-the-air updates, and especially that Supercharger network which truly changes the game daily.

Why Are Competitors Struggling to Establish Themselves?

Several structural factors explain this difficulty:

• Charging Infrastructure: the Supercharger remains the number one advantage, with unparalleled reliability and coverage
• Superior Software Integration: over-the-air updates, the intuitive interface, and the Tesla software ecosystem are light-years ahead of the competition
• Competitive pricing thanks to vertical integration and economies of scale
• Brand Recognition established in the electric vehicle world for over a decade

Tesla’s Premium Models in Trouble: A Worrying Decline?

Let’s now temper this striking dominance with an analysis of the struggling premium models. The Cybertruck, Tesla Model S, and Model X are experiencing significant declines in 2025, even though the Kelley Blue Book report does not precisely detail their individual figures.

My main hypothesis? It’s a pricing issue, not an anti-Musk boycott as some suggest. If it were truly an ideological boycott, why would the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y continue to be so successful? The answer is simple: premium segments are naturally more sensitive to price and established luxury competition.

The Model 3 and Model Y fully benefit from federal tax credits and more accessible prices, which places them in a much larger market segment. Buyers of vehicles over $80,000 or $100,000 have different expectations and more prestige alternatives.

This clear distinction between market segments reveals a reality: Tesla’s dominance is undeniable in the mass-market segment, but it finds its limits in the premium segment where value for money is no longer the sole decision criterion.

Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook remains excellent: the new refreshed Model Y should boost sales, the Tesla Model 3 continues its stable progression, and industry data suggests that Tesla will likely maintain its dominant position in the US electric vehicle market.

As a Tesla owner, these figures only half surprise me. On a daily basis, I perfectly understand why so many Americans choose these vehicles: they work, they are practical, and the infrastructure is there. The real question now is: how long will this dominance last in the face of massively investing competition?