agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Cox Automotive: In Q3, Sales of Electrified Vehicles Surged Past 1 Million Units

While sales of new vehicles declined 13.4% year over year in Q3 due primarily to low inventory and high prices, sales of electrified vehicles jumped by nearly 60%, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.

October 20, 2021
Cox Automotive: In Q3, Sales of Electrified Vehicles Surged Past 1 Million Units

While sales of new vehicles declined 13.4% year over year in Q3 due primarily to low inventory and high prices, sales of electrified vehicles jumped by nearly 60%, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book. 

2 min to read


COX AUTOMOTIVE – While sales of new vehicles declined 13.4% year over year in Q3 due primarily to low inventory and high prices, sales of electrified vehicles jumped by nearly 60%, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book. In fact, more than a million electrified vehicles have been sold so far in 2021.

Sales of electrified vehicles – the combined total of electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids and plug-in hybrids – accounted for 10.4% of total vehicle sales in Q3, according to Kelley Blue Book, which is an all-time high. In the same period a year ago, electrified vehicles accounted for only 5.5% of total sales. (A full report is available below.)

Ad Loading...

Q3 U.S. ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE SALES GROWTH

The growth of electrified vehicle sales in the U.S. is a result of more product availability and wider consumer acceptance. For the most part, two companies are in the driver’s seat when it comes to electrified vehicles: Tesla and Toyota.

On the EV front, new players, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E and VW ID.4, are enjoying early success, but the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are still the leading players. In total, Tesla’s share of the EV market in Q3 jumped back above 70% after falling to 64% in Q2. The Tesla Model Y is the industry’s best-selling EV, accounting for nearly 40% of total EV sales.

Toyota has long dominated the market when it comes to hybrid powertrains, and its leadership today is unquestionable. Through the first nine months of 2021, more than 24% of combined Toyota and Lexus sales have been hybrid vehicles. More than 60% of all hybrid-electric vehicles sold industry-wide in Q3 came from Toyota Motor Company, a position nearly as dominant as Tesla.

As we enter the fourth quarter, tight inventory and high prices continue to be the central story in the new-vehicle market. Electrified vehicle growth, however, should not be overlooked. Through the end of September, more than 1 million electrified vehicles have been sold in the U.S., double the volume year-to-date in 2020. In Q3, 1 in 10 vehicles sold came equipped with a significant battery pack. We are indeed now firmly in an electrified decade when battery technology will play a key role in the industry’s development and, ultimately, consumer satisfaction.

Ad Loading...

Click here to download the report.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Sales

A rear view of a red Hyundai Elantra
Salesby Hannah MitchellAugust 17, 2026

Used Lots Getting the Business

Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.

Read More →
Photo of man's hand holding a square blue piece with a yellow capital P on it, with other letter pieces below on a surface
Salesby Justin B. GasmanAugust 5, 2026

Two Kinds of Agents and the 5 Ps That Separate Them

Follow these key guidelines to distinguish your agency from competitors by adding more value to your dealer clients' businesses.

Read More →
Man climbing ladder in front of mountain landscape.
Salesby Lauren LawrenceAugust 3, 2026

Positive Equity Reaches Record High

Mainstream vehicle owners who bought a car seven years ago are likely to have positive equity when trading in for a new vehicle, according to second-quarter Edmunds data.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
outside shot of two trucks in front of a body of water with a cloudy sky
Salesby Lauren LawrenceJuly 29, 2026

Used Market Stabilizes

The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.

Read More →
Photo of blue Toyota Prius parked next to a body of water with a city skyline behind it
Salesby Hannah MitchellJuly 24, 2026

July Auto Sales Simmer

Deliveries were up modestly from a year ago despite still-high prices as OEMs offered more incentives and loan rates eased somewhat.

Read More →
Photo of parked cars of various types for sale on a lot
Salesby Hannah MitchellJuly 20, 2026

Used Sales Hit Summer Drag

The vacation season, combined with high prices, has dented deliveries and added to inventories, though supply is still slim enough to keep listings elevated.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Closeup photo of a new white car on a road from the driver's side
Salesby Hannah MitchellJune 26, 2026

June Automotive Boon?

A forecast for this month’s new-vehicle sales tells a familiar 2026 story: Year-over-year comparisons must be made in light of last year’s aberrations.

Read More →
split background green and blue. 2019 to 2025 with car going from starting location to end point. $37,310 and $48,402. Agent Entrepreneur logo
Industryby Lauren LawrenceJune 25, 2026

Affordable New Cars a Thing of the Past

More than one out of five new vehicles sell for more than $60,000, according to Edmunds. That's up 7% compared to prepandemic 2019.

Read More →
Hood of orange Tesla in front of sunrise
Salesby Lauren LawrenceJune 18, 2026

Legacy Automakers Risk Falling Behind

As legacy automakers, mostly in the U.S. and Japan, have revised their 2030 electric-vehicle sales targets and shifted to a hybrid focus, they risk falling behind new market leaders.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of man holding a car key
Salesby Hannah MitchellJune 17, 2026

New Cars a Tad More Affordable

May averages show that combined circumstances gave auto consumers slightly better buying power for the month, though average prices were up year-over-year.

Read More →
Ad Loading...