Tesla Tops EV Sales in First Half of Year
The automaker’s new vehicle registrations grew 61% in the first half of the year to take the top spot among luxury automakers.

Flickr
Tesla takes four spots on the list of the top five electric vehicles (EVs).
The automaker’s new vehicle registrations grew 61% in the first half of the year to take the top spot among luxury automakers.
All major luxury brands, except Tesla and Genesis, posted lower first-half registrations, according to Experian. However, new registrations of EVs rose sharply among non-Tesla brands.
Tesla new vehicle registrations rose to 228,989 from 142,543 from January to June year over year. In contrast, registrations for BMW fell by 13% to 157,838 vehicles, Lexus new vehicle registrations fell 19% to 133,616, and Mercedes dropped 14% to 133,520, according to Experian.
Tesla dominated the EV market among all brands, whether luxury or mainstream, capturing 68% market share, similar to 2022. In the first half of the year, EVs comprised about 5% of U.S. light-vehicle registrations, up from 2.5% in 2021.
Experian showed EV registrations ticking up among non-Tesla brands. Legacy auto companies and startups posted 58% EV growth in the first half of the year, with 109,620 registrations among 21 brands for a combined 32% market share.
This growth suggests new EV models from other automakers could put a dent in Tesla's market share later this year. Several brands now sell EVs but didn’t post any sales in the first half of the year. This includes Mercedes, Toyota, Genesis and Cadillac, Experian reported.
Ford is ramping up output of its F-150 Lightning pickup after a spring launch. Experian data showed 1,288 Lightning registrations in the first half of the year, but Ford reported sales of 2,173 in July alone.
Volkswagen producing the ID4 crossover in the U.S. in late July, targeting 7,000 a month by the fourth quarter.
EV startups, Rivian and Lucid, beefed up production in the second quarter for their EVs after struggling with parts shortages in the first quarter.
Tesla has a new factory in Texas that is ramping up after a slow start and the automaker record output at is Fremont, California, plant in the second quarter.
According to Experian data, the non-Tesla EV leaders include:
Ford, which doubled 2021 numbers to 21,820.
Kia, with a six-fold increase to 18,967.
Hyundai, with a 150% increase to 14,994.
Audi, with a 16% increase to 8,183.
Polestar, with an eight-fold increase to 4,873.
Hyundai Motor Group nabbed the most registrations after Tesla, with 34,138, to secure a 10% EV market share. Ford Motor Co. captured a 6% share, while Volkswagen Group secured 5%.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Sales

Nissan Reports Significant Sales Growth
Following the release of Nissan’s 2025 fiscal year report, the automaker announced that its retail-first approach has led to a significant jump in dealer sales.
Read More →
Inventory of New Units Stable
Auto brands spent April clearing out most of their 2025 supply with incentives while holding firm on 2026 prices, striking a balance to meet demand and protect their bottom lines.
Read More →
The Hidden Edge
Reflections from the 2026 Agent Summit: gratitude, gut decisions, and the power of the first contact
Read More →
March New-Vehicle Sales Don’t Reflect War
Cox Automotive data shows Americans doubled down on big-is-better despite price increases. Slightly higher incentives helped fuel the demand.
Read More →
Service Drives Gen Z Loyalty
The dealership profit center plays an important role in customer retention, and generation Z customers are showing the highest loyalty rates, based on recent CDK Global data.
Read More →
EV Sales Slide While Hybrids Climb
California, as usual, led the country in EV registrations in the fourth quarter, but the U.S. as a whole saw a 43% year-over-year volume decrease.
Read More →
Lease Buyouts Deemed Favorable
Better financing conditions and the potential to save money on monthly payments could drive more consumers to buy out their vehicle leases instead of opting for a new lease payment.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Both vehicle values and conversion rates sped up last week as two segments outperformed in the pre-spring burst of buying.
Read More →
Used-Vehicle Program Aims to Draw More Buyers
GM says more than 750 dealers across the U.S. are enrolled in CarBravo and that in January CarBravo dealers sold over two times the certified volume of Chevrolet, Buick and GMC dealers using traditional CPO.
Read More →
Creating Agency Loyalty
There are tried and true ways to instill it while also protecting your agency from competitors and other roadblocks.
Read More →