GM’s best-selling Chevy Equinox EV took a hit after sales dropped 41% in the first half of 2026. The new Chevy Bolt EV and Cadillac’s luxury electric SUVs helped soften the blow.
GM remains #2 EV seller as Bolt, Cadillac EVs boost sales
The Chevy Equinox EV was the third best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year, trailing only the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
With new and heavily updated models arriving, like the 2026 Toyota bZ and Hyundai IONIQ 5, GM’s best-selling EV has lost a bit of its luster this year.
GM reported Q2 and first-half US sales numbers on Wednesday, revealing that Chevy Equinox EV sales fell 41% through June, to just 16,249 units. At this time last year, GM sold nearly 27,800.
In comparison, Hyundai sold over 20,000 IONIQ 5s in the first half of 2026, with sales up 9% so far this year.
To be fair, the new 2027 Chevy Bolt EV is now on sale (check out our review), and it’s even cheaper than the Equinox, starting at just $28,995. The new Chevy Bolt EV added another 4,224 to GM’s EV sales in the first half of the year.
GM still calls the Chevy Equinox EV “America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV,” and it is for now. However, with even lower-priced options like the Bolt and Nissan LEAF, the Equinox may be getting squeezed out of its own market.
The new Bolt offers up to 262 miles of range, which is plenty for at least a few days of commuting. Those looking for more space are opting for bigger, more premium alternatives.
Cadillac, which now offers a full lineup of electric SUVs, posted its best second-quarter EV sales yet, driven by the entry-level Optiq and three-row Vistiq.
GM sold 7,083 Optiqs (+43%) in the first half of 2026 and 3,903 (+123%) Vistiqs. The Lyriq remains Cadillac’s top-selling EV, with 7,578 units sold (-18%), while sales of the larger Escalade IQ and IQL EV slid 15% to 3,203 units.
While GM’s share of the EV market rose to about 13.5%-14%, the company blamed “the smaller EV market, discontinued vehicles and some inventory constraints” for a 4.2% decline in total US sales in Q2.
GM sold a total of 714,895 vehicles in the US in Q2 (-4.2%) and 1,341,325 in the first half of 2026 (-6.8%).
Looking to test one out for yourself? You can use the links below to easily find electric vehicles from the Chevy Bolt EV to the Cadillac Escalade IQ near you.
- Chevy Equinox EV near you
- Chevy Bolt EV near you
- Chevy Silverado EV near you
- Chevy Blazer EV near you
- Cadillac Optiq near you
- Cadillac Lyriq near you
- Cadillac Vistiq near you
- Cadillac Escalade IQ near you
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments