There is a growing gap between automakers who are holding tight to their electric-vehicle investments and those that are pulling back, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation.

The council released its fourth annual Global Automaker Rating, which “provides a data-driven analysis of automakers’ progress toward a zero-emission future.” Its review of the 22 automakers by sales last year found that legacy brands like Stellantis, Honda and General Motors are at risk of falling behind “new market leaders.”

The council's ranking criteria focus on market dominance, technology performance and strategic vision. It evaluated automakers based on strategies to transition their fleets to zero tailpipe emissions and decarbonize their manufacturing.

“We see from the data that most US- and Japan-based automakers continued to offer electric models in fewer than a third of the vehicle segments analyzed,” said Rachel Muncrief, the council's acting executive director and CEO. “Legacy automakers risk ceding their leadership in major markets where they historically dominate if they fail to adapt.”

According to the council, global EV sales reached one in four new vehicles sold in 2025, and Chinese companies were among the top performers. Some, like Geely and SAIC, even outperformed their electrification targets a full year ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile, U.S- and Japan-based automakers saw a rating decline due to revisions in their 2030 EV sales targets and pivot toward more plug-in hybrids and flexible platforms. According to the council’s data, GM had the highest 2025 EV sales volume at around 2.8 million units.

Tesla earned the No. 1 spot in the council’s ranking. However, China-based BYD surpassed Tesla’s global battery-electric vehicle sales for the second year in a row.
The report comes as EV sales demand is on the rise as a result of the war in the Middle East that commenced on Feb. 28, quickly inflating gas prices.