KATHMANDU: Electric vehicle sales in the US rebounded in the second quarter of 2026 as rising gasoline prices encouraged more consumers to choose electric cars.
According to Cox Automotive, around 247,000 EVs were sold during the quarter, up 14.7 percent from the first quarter. However, sales remained 20.5 percent lower than the same period last year, marking the third consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline.
Despite this, the rate of decline has slowed from 27 percent in the first quarter and 36 percent in late 2025, indicating that the market is beginning to stabilize.
Tesla remained the market leader, accounting for about one-third of all EV sales. Chevrolet ranked second, driven by strong demand for the Equinox EV and Blazer EV, while Toyota recorded a 225 percent year-on-year increase in EV sales. Subaru also posted 108 percent growth.
On the other hand, Ford’s EV sales dropped 40 percent year-on-year, while Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan also recorded sharp declines.
Analysts say higher fuel prices and the arrival of more affordable electric models are expected to support further growth in the coming months, despite the expiration of the federal EV tax credit last year.
Upcoming models such as the Rivian R2, Slate Truck and Ford’s planned US$30,000 EV are expected to attract more buyers.
