- EV registrations fell again in April, though the drop was much smaller.
- Tesla regained momentum and captured more than half the EV market.
- New entries from Toyota, Subaru, and Lexus helped lift the segment.
There was no question that when federal tax credits for electric vehicles ran out, the market would see a drop-off. What was a bit surprising was just how brutal the start of 2026 was. Now, though, new sales data suggests that the market is beginning to stabilize.
New registration figures from S&P Global Mobility, first reported by Autonews, show 89,147 electric vehicles were registered in April, down 9.8 percent compared to the same month last year. That might sound bad, but it represents a significant improvement over the first quarter, when EV registrations plunged 41 percent in January, 37 percent in February, and 25 percent in March.
Read: America’s Used EV Market Is Heating Up For One Simple Reason
Overall, April delivered the strongest EV registration total of the year so far. The industry has spent months digesting the loss of the federal $7,500 EV tax credit, which triggered a buying frenzy before it disappeared and left a hangover afterward. Now, analysts say the market is beginning to normalize. “We’re seeing gradual inching up,” S&P Global Mobility analyst Tom Libby said. “From that perspective, I think it’s a more healthy market.”
Tesla played a major role in April’s rebound. Registrations for the brand jumped 13 percent to 45,800 vehicles, giving it a commanding 51 percent share of the U.S. EV market, up from 41 percent a year ago. The star of the show was unsurprisingly the Model Y, which posted a staggering 61 percent increase to 31,001 registrations. Meanwhile, registrations of the aging Model S and Model X also surged despite the end of production for both models.
April 2026 US EV Registrations
Source: S&P Global Mobility / Autonews
Taking a look at the market’s other players reveals some other clear winners and losers. Toyota’s EV registrations surged 225 percent thanks to the bZ and new C-HR EV, while Lexus climbed 107 percent and Subaru nearly doubled its volume. Kia also enjoyed a strong month, boosted by a 225 percent jump in EV9 registrations and an 11 percent increase in EV6 sales.
On the flip side, Chevrolet remained the nation’s second-largest EV brand but saw registrations fall 36 percent. Ford dropped 27 percent, while BMW’s volume slid 49 percent. Further down, the damage got worse: Nissan and Dodge both fell 90 percent, Jeep dropped 94 percent, and Acura all but vanished at -99 percent, down to just 15 registrations.
That performance makes it clear that we’re not looking at a cohesive EV market just yet. Hybrids, PHEVs, and gas-powered cars are all still getting serious market share, and plenty of automakers are slowing EV plans, too. The second half of the year should give everyone a better indication of what to expect in 2027 and beyond.
