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The U.S. automotive market has been undergoing a period of adjustment following the end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit and the introduction of import taxes that have made some imported electric models more difficult to sell. At the same time, higher gasoline prices have increased interest in fuel-efficient vehicles, helping hybrids gain momentum.
Against that backdrop, recent registration data suggest that the electric vehicle segment may be finding a more stable position. According to Automotive News, which cited S&P Global Mobility, EV registrations in April 2026 totaled 89,147 units, marking a smaller year-over-year decline than in previous months of the year.
EV Registrations Remain Down, but the Pace of Decline Slows
According to S&P Global Mobility, new EV registrations fell 9.8% in April 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. While registrations were still lower than a year earlier, the decline was notably less severe than in the first quarter.
The data reported by Automotive News show that new EV registrations had dropped 25% in March, 37% in February, and 41% in January on a year-over-year basis. April therefore represented the smallest annual decline recorded so far in 2026.
This trend emerged as hybrids continued to receive increased attention from consumers, particularly in an environment shaped by fuel-efficiency concerns and changing policy incentives.
Tesla Leads the Market as Several Brands Post Mixed Results
Tesla remained the leading EV brand in April, recording 45,800 registrations, a 13% increase from the same period in 2025. The company’s Model Y registered 31,001 units, up 61% year over year.
Registrations of the higher-priced Model S and Model X also increased significantly, with the Model S doubling and the Model X tripling their registration totals. These gains occurred as Tesla moves to end production of both models while pursuing broader ambitions beyond electric vehicles, including humanoid robots.
Among other manufacturers, Chevrolet ranked second with 5,890 registrations, down 36% from a year earlier. Hyundai followed with 4,937 registrations, up 3%, while Ford recorded 4,033 registrations, down 27%. Cadillac posted 4,020 registrations, an increase of 5.1%, and Rivian registered 3,537 units, up 5.5% year over year.
Toyota Records the Largest Increase as New Models Enter the Market
Toyota posted the strongest year-over-year growth among the brands listed. The automaker registered 3,524 EVs in April, representing a 225% increase compared with the same month in 2025.
Part of that increase may be linked to Toyota’s relatively limited EV lineup a year earlier, when the company mainly offered the bZ4X. Since then, Toyota has introduced an updated version of that vehicle, now called the bZ, and has added the all-electric C-HR to its portfolio.
The EV segment accounted for 6.2% of the U.S. light-vehicle market in April, unchanged from March. Several new electric models have recently been introduced or announced, including Rivian’s R2, Lucid’s Cosmos, Mitsubishi’s upcoming EV based on the Nissan Leaf, and Slate Auto’s electric pickup. these vehicles are among the new entrants arriving in the market as EV registrations show signs of improvement.
