Toyota’s new electric vehicles are selling surprisingly well, even as many automakers report fewer EV sales in the third quarter.
Toyota’s EVs and hybrids boost US sales
Toyota Motor North America, including Lexus, sold 633,233 vehicles in Q3 2026, up 0.6% from Q3 2025.
Although GM remained ahead, selling nearly 671,000 vehicles in the US last quarter, Toyota’s electrified vehicles helped close the gap.
GM blamed “the much smaller EV market and discontinued vehicles” after reporting that Q3 sales were down 6% from the third quarter of 2025.
Sales of GM’s most popular electric vehicle, the Chevy Equinox EV, plunged 92% to just 1,905 units sold. That’s a stark contrast to the more than 25,000 GM moved in Q3 2025. Outside of the new Chevy Bolt, GM’s EV sales were down across the board.
Toyota’s top-selling EV is the bZ. After introducing the updated bZ (formerly the bZ4X), Toyota’s electric SUV quickly became one of America’s most popular EVs.
In the first half of 2026, the bZ ranked fourth in the US, behind the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Tesla Model 3, and Tesla Model Y.
With another 2,381 sold in the third quarter, Toyota bZ sales total nearly 25,000 through September. For perspective, the Chevy Equinox EV remains GM’s top-selling EV, with 18,154 units sold through the first nine months of 2026.
Toyota now sells three fully electric SUVs in the US: the bZ, C-HR, and bZ Woodland. It also sells two more under the Lexus brand, including the RZ and the new ES EV.
Through September, Toyota sold 7,215 C-HRs and another 2,600 bZ Woodlands. The Lexus RZ added another 10,214. ES sales totaled 10,333 through September, and Lexus sells it as both an EV and a hybrid.
Starting at $35,000, the bZ is one of the most affordable EVs in the US, alongside the Chevy Bolt EV, Nissan LEAF, and Hyundai IONIQ 5.
Lexus will add its first three-row electric SUV, the 2027 TZ, later this year, followed by the Toyota Highlander BEV sometime in 2027.
Toyota is selling more EVs despite the $7,500 federal tax credit expiring at the end of September last year, which pulled forward demand.
Top comment by jrharbort
Brand loyalty is a powerful force. What remains to be seen is if demand for Toyota EVs remains strong for long-term growth. 6 models for offer is far better than the 2 they had just a year ago.
Meanwhile, Toyota said its electrified vehicles, including EVs, plug-in hybrids, and hybrids, accounted for 57.4% of total sales volume in the third quarter.
Separately, Toyota opened its new Battery Center of North America in Saline, Michigan on Thursday. The 30,000-square-foot facility will develop, test, and improve the batteries for Toyota’s next generation of vehicles.
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