Several automakers, including Honda, Hyundai, Ford, and Kia, reported higher EV sales in the US in January. Here’s a look at some of the top-selling EV models (outside of Tesla) last month.

EV sales in the US by model in January 2025

With nearly 133,000 electric vehicles sold in December, EVs accounted for 8.8% of new car sales in the US, a new record.

According to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book, the strong end-of-year sales helped push total EV sales to 1.3 million in 2024, up 7.3% from 2024.

With Trump reportedly planning to end electric vehicle incentives, like the $7,500 federal tax credit, demand is expected to pick up as buyers look to lock in the savings before they disappear.

Several automakers reported US sales numbers for January, giving us a better idea of how the EV market is playing out.

Ford sold 5,666 EVs last month, up 21% and a new January record. The Mustang Mach-E had its best January with 3,529 models sold, up 173% from January 2024. It was the second best-selling electric SUV behind Tesla’s Model Y.

Despite higher demand for the Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning sales slipped 15% to 1,907 units. Sales of Ford’s E-Transit electric van also fell 80%, with only 230 models sold last month.

Kia sold 1,542 EV6 models sold last month. However, sales of its three-row EV9 were down slightly (1,232 vs 1,408 in January 2023).

Sister company Hyundai notched double-digit sales growth with its popular EV models. As the upgraded 2025 model rolled out, Hyundai IONIQ 5 sales climbed 54%, with 2,250 units sold in January. Although IONIQ 6 sales were up 15% year over year (YOY), only 871 models were sold.

The biggest surprise, again, was Honda. Honda’s electric Prologue continued to take the US by storm with another 3,744 models sold last month.

After delivering the first models last March, the Prologue was the seventh best-selling EV in the US in 2024. Honda sold over 33,000 Prologue’s in the US in 2024, beating out the Chevy Equinox EV (28,874) and Rivian R1S (26,934).

GM doesn’t report monthly US sales numbers, so we’ll have to wait until April for quarterly sales for a comparison. Several others still have yet to report January US sales. Check back for the latest numbers.

Tesla doesn’t report monthly US sales numbers, but earlier today Electrek reported that the EV maker saw its first annual drop in sales in California last year.

Tesla sales are dropping like a rock in Europe based on early sales numbers coming for January 2025. Many are linking this to dissatisfaction with CEO Elon Musk’s meddling in European politics.

While there’s undoubtedly some of that going on, it’s not the only factor.

Several European countries release car sale numbers on a monthly basis.

When we compare Tesla’s performance to the same period last year, the American automaker is down in every single market, and it has delivered about half as many vehicles as last year:

Canada has confirmed that, as part of its effort to retaliate against the US over President Trump’s trade war against allies, it will impose a 25% tariff on electric vehicles from the US.

President Trump followed through with his threat to impose new 25% tariffs on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada, two countries with which he signed updated free trade agreements just a few years ago when he was president.

The reason Trump can impose those tariffs and break those free trade agreements is due to his use of “emergency power”, which he justifies because he claims Canada and Mexico are not doing enough to stop fentanyl from crossing the border into the US.

Facts do not support this.

Furthermore, when listening to Trump’s rhetoric around making Canada the “51st state” of the United States, it becomes clear that the real reason he is putting economic pressure on Canada is due to his wish to expand US territory as part of some ego-driven legacy-building agenda.

Regardless, we are now in the middle of a North American trade war started by the US president, and Canada has issued its response.

Canada will implement a 25% tariff on $30 billion in goods imported from the U.S. starting on Tuesday, February 4th.

The government is also working on a much more severe second wave of 25% tariffs on an additional list of imported U.S. goods worth $125 billion. This list is currently subject to public commentary for 21 days before being implemented, but it currently includes:

“Passenger vehicles and trucks, including electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products, certain fruits and vegetables, aerospace products, beef, pork, dairy, trucks and buses, recreational vehicles, and recreational boats.”

Considering most electric vehicles in Canada come from the US, this is likely going to greatly slow down EV adoption in the country.

Furthermore, several EV incentives were recently phased out – further accelerating the decline in EV growth.

Electrek’s Take

This is going to be a nightmare for EV adoption in Canada. I think this is an opportunity to revisit the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Canada imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles, mostly to help protect the US EV industry. Now that the US has become hostile, it makes no sense to protect it. Let the Chinese EVs flow, which will help keep some momentum in EV adoption in Canada.

I know that many Canadians don’t want to help Tesla anymore because they see Elon Musk as controlling Trump, but Tesla is likely already looking to import EVs into Canada from Berlin to circumvent the tariffs.

I am sure that Tesla prefers this current situation over having to import EVs from China again and compete with Chinese automakers in the Canadian market.

I think everyone wins except for American automakers, who should put pressure on the Trump administration to end this senseless trade war.