March 20, 2025
California’s electric vehicle market is booming, and while focusing on overall stats and class leaders is important, it’s time to examine the individual models topping the charts. Here’s a look at the top 25 best-selling electric vehicle models in the Golden State.
Important Notes:
- This ranking, compiled by the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), includes both fully electric vehicles (ZEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
- Tesla’s leading models have such a significant lead that the chart might be less thrilling for some, but it reflects the current market reality. Let’s hope for growth from other EV models in 2025.
As the chart clearly shows, Tesla’s top two models are the clear leaders, but the Hyundai IONIQ 5 has performed surprisingly well, securing the third spot. Can Hyundai capitalize on this momentum? The Ford Mustang Mach-E holds a respectable fourth place, exceeding 10,000 sales. With the brand damage from Elon Musk, the EV sales landscape could change significantly in 2025.
The presence of plug-in hybrids in the top 25 is minimal, with the Toyota RAV4 Prime in fifth place. It begs the question: what would happen if Toyota were to release a fully electric version of this popular model? It’s worth wondering how committed Toyota is to aggressively selling its plug-in models in California.
Interestingly, the Tesla Cybertruck and Rivian R1S are closely positioned, with the Tesla Model X not far behind. Could Rivian surpass the two largest Tesla models this year? It’s an interesting possibility.
What are your thoughts on the California EV sales rankings? Let us know!
