California achieved a milestone in electric vehicle (EV) sales last year, with 21.4% of new car sales being all-electric models, predominantly led by Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3. Although Tesla had impressive sales, Toyota retained its position as the top-selling brand in the state. EVs have seen a significant increase in market share in California, rising from around 7% a few years ago to 21.4%, which is notably higher than the national average of 7.5%. This shift indicates that EV adoption is spreading beyond California to other parts of the United States.
Despite Tesla’s dominance in the EV sector, with the Model Y and Model 3 being the top-selling models in their respective categories, Toyota’s broader range of models allowed it to keep the overall sales lead. Tesla’s market share in California was 13%, meaning one in every eight cars sold was a Tesla. The sales of EVs through direct dealerships, primarily Tesla, are still prevalent, but franchised dealers are catching up as other automakers introduce their own electric vehicles.
When considering all alternative powertrain vehicles, including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), a quarter of new vehicles in California can now run on non-combustive energy sources. Additionally, 35.9% of vehicles sold included an electric motor, with hybrids showing an increase in market share. The Jeep Wrangler PHEV emerged as a popular choice, ranking fourth in sales among electrified vehicles.
Tesla’s sales growth in California was notable at 24.6% over the previous year, although this was a slowdown from past growth rates. Tesla’s market share for BEVs in California decreased slightly as more competitors entered the market, but it still remained above its national market share. Rivian showed the most significant sales growth, with a 142.7% increase year over year. Overall, the rise in “electrified” vehicle sales contributed to the recovery of the auto industry in California, with electric vehicle sales leading the growth while sales of purely combustion engine vehicles remained stagnant.
Details: here
