Publication Information: Published: December 15, 2024 Last Updated: January 26, 2026
The U.S. automotive industry faced headwinds in the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) during 2025. Full-year EV share of new vehicle sales reached approximately 9-10%, with Q4 2025 falling to 5.8% amid policy shifts and demand softening (Cox Automotive Q4 2025 Report). This guide analyzes the performance of key American car companies—General Motors (GM), Ford, Tesla, Rivian, Lucid Motors, and Stellantis—based on verified 2025 sales, technology advancements, and strategic outcomes. Fisker Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024 and completed liquidation in 2024-2025, ending active operations.
Key Takeaways
– Tesla maintained dominant U.S. EV market share (~45-50% full-year estimate) through software leadership and infrastructure.
– GM achieved the second-highest EV volume with 169,887 units sold in 2025 (up 48% year-over-year), leveraging Ultium platform scalability.
– Ford recorded lower EV volumes than GM, with F-150 Lightning sales at 27,307 units (down 18.5%).
– Rivian delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025 (down 18%), focusing on adventure segment.
– Lucid increased deliveries to 15,841 vehicles in 2025 (up 55%), emphasizing long-range luxury.
– Stellantis halted PHEV production (including Jeep Wrangler 4xe) for 2026 amid recalls and strategic shifts.
Contents
1. General Motors (GM): Powering An All-Electric Future
General Motors, a legacy American automaker with over 100 years of history, led overall U.S. vehicle sales in 2025 (up 5.5-6%) and ranked as the second-largest EV seller. Its cumulative investments exceeding $27 billion in EV development enabled the launch of multiple Ultium-based models, directly contributing to 169,887 EV units sold in 2025 (up 48% year-over-year, GM sales reports).
Ultium Battery: The Heart Of GM’s Strategy
The Ultium platform serves as the modular foundation for GM’s EV lineup, enabling cost reduction and performance gains across vehicle classes. It reduces manufacturing costs by approximately 60% compared to prior generations and increases energy density (GM technical releases 2025), supporting broader affordability and GM’s competitive position in a softening market.
Standout Models
GM’s standout electric models, selected for range, power, pricing, and market positioning in 2025, include:
– Chevrolet Blazer EV: Starting price approximately $45,995; EPA range up to 324-340 miles depending on trim; high-performance variants exceed 600 hp.
– Chevrolet Equinox EV: Starting price approximately $33,600; EPA range up to 319 miles; positioned as an affordable crossover competitor.
– GMC Hummer EV: Up to 1,000 hp; exceptional off-road capability with strong towing performance.
Sustainability And Innovation
GM targets carbon neutrality by 2040 through increased renewable factory energy and battery material recycling targets (approximately 70% for key chemistries). The lithium manganese-rich (LMR) chemistry reduces reliance on foreign cobalt supplies, lowering long-term production costs and enhancing supply chain resilience.
Why GM Stands Out?
GM’s broad portfolio across affordable, high-performance, and luxury segments (Equinox EV, Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq) through the shared Ultium architecture enabled it to capture significant volume despite Q4 2025 softness.
2. Ford Motor Company: Electrifying American Icons
Ford invested over $22 billion in EV programs, modernizing heritage models while targeting truck and utility buyers. However, EV sales lagged behind GM in 2025.
Iconic EVs Leading The Charge
Ford’s key electric models, chosen for cultural significance and practical utility, include:
– Ford Mustang Mach-E: Starting price approximately $43,995; EPA range up to 312-320 miles.
– F-150 Lightning: EPA range up to 320 miles; towing capacity up to 10,000 lbs. Delivered 27,307 units in 2025 (down 18.5%).
– E-Transit: Optimized for commercial fleet use with ranges 126–159 miles.
Connected Technology
Ford’s SYNC 4A infotainment system provides quarterly over-the-air updates and advanced voice navigation, improving user experience and reducing service visits compared to non-connected vehicles.
Sustainability Commitment
Ford aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, targeting high battery material recycling rates and recycled content. These initiatives reduce landfill waste and support regulatory compliance.
Ford’s Unique Edge
Ford’s focus on electrified trucks and SUVs aligns with American buyer preferences, though total EV volumes remained approximately half of GM’s in 2025.
3. Tesla Inc.: The Vanguard Of Electric Innovation
Tesla led U.S. EV sales in 2025 with an estimated 45-50% market share (higher in late months), despite global deliveries declining ~8.6% full-year and Q4 2025 deliveries of 418,227 (down 16% YoY, Tesla IR January 2026).
Tesla’s Tech: Full Self-Driving (FSD) Breakthroughs
Tesla’s FSD software advances driver assistance through features including Navigate on Autopilot and traffic light recognition. Monthly software updates enable faster iteration than competitors’ cycles, enhancing safety and vehicle value over time.
Supercharger Network
Tesla operates over 35,000 DC fast-charging ports in the U.S. (largest network share at ~52%), significantly reducing range anxiety, particularly in rural and Midwest areas.
Beyond Cars
Tesla integrates energy products such as Powerwall, Solar Roof, and Megapack, creating ecosystem synergies that support home and grid charging.
Tesla’s Market Impact
High-volume models (Model Y dominant) and technology leadership sustain Tesla’s position despite overall industry softness.
4. Rivian Automotive: Adventure Meets Sustainability
Rivian delivered 42,247 vehicles in 2025 (down 18% from 2024), supported by the Volkswagen partnership for manufacturing scale.
Flagship Vehicles
Rivian’s core models emphasize off-road performance and sustainability:
– R1T/R1S: Updated EPA ranges up to 410+ miles (Gen 2); strong towing and off-road metrics.
– R2/R3: Lower-priced models targeted for 2026 launches.
Strategic Partnerships
The Volkswagen investment and Amazon van contract enhance commercial viability and charging compatibility via NACS adoption.
Sustainability Focus
Rivian prioritizes animal-free materials and renewable production energy, targeting net-zero emissions to appeal to adventure-oriented buyers.
Rivian’s Niche
Adventure-focused design combined with partnerships positions Rivian in the premium outdoor EV segment despite volume pressures.
5. Lucid Motors: Luxury Meets Efficiency
Lucid delivered 15,841 vehicles in 2025 (up 55% year-over-year), with strong quarterly gains.
Lucid Air Highlights
EPA range: Up to 516-520 miles (industry-leading).
Technology: DreamDrive Pro advanced driver-assistance with multiple sensors; high-performance Sapphire edition exceeds 1,200 hp.
Challenges
Lucid continues development supported by cash reserves, though scaling remains a focus.
6. Stellantis: Electrifying American Icons
Stellantis faced challenges in 2025, announcing the cancellation of all plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models—including the best-selling Jeep Wrangler 4xe—for 2026 production due to recalls and strategic refocus toward hybrids and EVs.
Key Models
– Jeep Wrangler 4xe (phased out): Previously offered 25+ mile electric range.
– AM 1500 REV: Delayed launch into 2025/2026.
Electrification Strategy
Stellantis targets growth in EV and hybrid segments by integrating heritage branding, though 2025 performance reflected broader industry slowdown.
7. Fisker Inc.: Former Player (Defunct)
Fisker filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024 and completed liquidation in 2024-2025. The Ocean SUV and planned models are no longer produced or supported by the original company (assets sold or wound down per court records).
The following table summarizes key 2025 U.S. performance metrics (approximate shares based on Cox Automotive and company reports):
Company | Key Models | Max EPA Range (miles) | Est. 2025 U.S. EV Volume / Share | Primary Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tesla | Model Y, Cybertruck | 342+ | Dominant (~45-50%) | Software, Supercharger network |
GM | Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Lyriq | 334-340 | 169,887 (~12-15%) | Ultium scalability, volume growth |
Ford | Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning | 312-320 | Lower (~7-10%) | Truck utility, iconic branding |
Rivian | R1T, R1S | 410+ (Gen 2) | 42,247 (smaller share) | Adventure capability |
Lucid | Air | 516-520 | 15,841 (smaller share) | Luxury range |
Stellantis | Wrangler 4xe (phased), RAM REV | 25 (electric prior) | Smaller share | Heritage brands (challenges noted) |
The 2025 “Hybrid Pivot”: Why Consumers Are Doubling Down
(Bonus analysis)
While 2025 was touted as the year of the “EV takeover,” market data reveals a massive strategic pivot toward Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs). As federal tax credits for pure EVs expired in late 2025, the “bridge technology” of hybrids became the dominant choice for the pragmatic American buyer.
1. The “Value Gap” widens
By January 2026, the average transaction price for a pure EV rose to approximately $51,981—a staggering 18.1% increase from early 2025—largely due to the removal of federal incentives. In contrast, non-electric vehicle prices rose only 0.9%, making hybrid models like the Ford Maverick or Toyota RAV4 significantly more accessible for middle-class families.
2. Ford’s Record-Breaking Hybrid Year
Ford Motor Company emerged as the clear winner of this shift. In 2025, Ford sold a record 228,072 hybrid vehicles (up 21.7% year-over-year).
– F-150 Hybrid: Secured its spot as America’s top-selling full-size hybrid truck with 84,934 units sold.
– Maverick Hybrid: Followed closely with 81,034 units, proving that affordability and fuel efficiency are currently outperforming pure “tech-forward” EV marketing.
3. The “Pragmatic Buyer” Profile
According to the 2026 Deloitte Global Automotive Study, consumer preference for pure EVs in the U.S. remains “steady but cautious” at roughly 10%, while interest in hybrids has surged to nearly 25%
Key Drivers For The Pivot
Charging Infrastructure Gaps: Despite reaching 200,000 fast-chargers, apartment dwellers and rural drivers still view “self-charging” hybrids as the lower-risk option.
Resale Value Reassurance: Used hybrid models are currently holding 15-20% higher residual value compared to early-gen used EVs, which face concerns over battery degradation.
Analyst Note: “The 2025-2026 market proves that the transition is not a straight line from gas to electric. It’s a multi-energy era where hybrids are no longer the ‘alternative’—they are the current standard for the American household.”
Conclusion
The 2025 U.S. EV market highlighted Tesla’s dominance and GM’s volume growth amid overall softness and policy impacts. Legacy players leverage scale, while specialists drive niche innovation. Consumers should evaluate needs (range, utility, luxury) against these verified 2025 metrics for informed decisions.
FAQs About The American EV Market In 2025
Q: Which American car companies led the U.S. EV market in 2025?
A: Tesla led with the highest volume and ~45-50% share; GM was second with 169,887 units.
Q: What characterized the 2025 EV market in the U.S.?
A: Softening demand led to Q4 share drop to 5.8%; full-year share ~9-10% with policy shifts affecting adoption.
EV Glossary For Novices
The following terms define key EV technologies referenced throughout this guide:
– NACS: North American Charging Standard (Tesla-developed plug type, now adopted industry-wide for interoperability).
– FSD: Full Self-Driving, Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system progressing toward unsupervised autonomy.
– Pro Power Onboard: Ford’s vehicle-to-load system that powers external tools or homes from the truck’s battery.
– OTA Updates: Over-the-air software updates that improve vehicle features remotely without dealer visits.
– NMC: Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt battery chemistry used in high-energy-density packs.
Sources: Cox Automotive Q4 2025 & Full-Year EV Sales Reports, Company investor relations releases (Tesla IR Jan 2026, GM Jan 2026, Ford, Rivian Jan 2026, Lucid Jan 2026), U.S. Department of Energy & EPA data, Verified bankruptcy court records (Fisker)
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