In recent weeks, various automakers have expressed concerns about declining demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the US. However, recent sales data from California presents a different narrative.
According to the quarterly report released by the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), EV sales in the state continued to surge during the third quarter of 2023. In Q3, EVs accounted for 22.3% of all new-car sales in California, with plug-in hybrids holding a 3.3% market share.
For the first nine months of 2023, EVs constituted just over 21% of California’s new-car market, a marked contrast to the national average of 7.4%.
When considering EVs, hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles collectively, they represented an eye-popping 35.4% market share in California year to date. In 2018, the share was 11.6%.
In terms of the best-selling plug-in vehicles in California for Q3, the Tesla Model Y took the top spot, followed by the Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Among plug-in hybrids, the leading models included the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Toyota RAV4 Prime, and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the top-selling plug-in hybrid nationally.
The key takeaway here is that context matters. EV sales aren’t dead in the water as some have reported, nor are they skyrocketing across every state in the nation. Some markets have gone all in, while some may be skeptical about EVs or may simply need more education or experience with EVs before they fully embrace them. As the market for EVs builds, some parts of the country will lead the way while some go at a slower pace. But what is notable is that in California – the most populous state in the nation – EVs have become a huge section of the market, with a growth trend which is substantial and sustained.
