US EV Sales Rebound to Post-Credit High, Tesla Out Front

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. electric vehicle market is finding its footing again, and Tesla is leading the recovery. Americans bought 247,226 EVs between April and June, a 14.2% jump over the first quarter and the strongest quarter since the federal EV tax credit expired last September, according to new data from Cox Automotive.

The rebound suggests the post-incentive slump may be bottoming out. "The market now appears to be stabilizing after the anticipated correction," Cox said, crediting new product launches, state-level incentive programs, and steady consumer interest. After sales plunged from a record 437,487 units in the final pre-expiration quarter to barely 216,000 in early 2026, the second quarter's gain is the clearest sign yet of a floor.

Tesla keeps a commanding lead

Tesla sold 124,800 vehicles in the U.S. during the quarter, a 6.4% sequential gain that kept it comfortably ahead of the field. The Model Y remained America's best-selling EV of any kind at 84,863 units, up 8% over the first quarter, followed by the Model 3 at 34,944 units, up more than 10%.

To put the lead in perspective, Tesla's single-brand total outpaced the next several automakers combined. Chevrolet placed a distant second at 14,908 units, with Hyundai, Cadillac, and Toyota rounding out the top five. Tesla's two bestsellers alone accounted for nearly half of every EV sold in the country during the quarter.

A market broadening around the leader

The quarter also showed a healthier, more competitive market forming beneath Tesla. Toyota's EV sales surged 225% year-over-year on a refreshed lineup, and brands like Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Subaru posted strong sequential gains. A rising tide is lifting the segment, even as combustion vehicles still dominate overall U.S. sales.

For Tesla, a growing market is an opportunity rather than a threat. Its scale, Supercharger network, and software advantages give it durable strengths as more buyers shop electric, and its global momentum — including a record second quarter of worldwide deliveries — reinforces its position at the front of the pack.

The next phase of growth

Automakers are now pivoting toward more affordable EVs while the public charging network keeps expanding, trends that point to a more resilient market than the past few quarters suggested. As InsideEVs reported, the data hints that the industry's next phase of growth may still lie ahead.

If the second quarter marks the turn, Tesla is exceptionally well positioned to capture it — the brand shoppers reach for first, entering a recovery it helped create.