Ford Loses, GM Wins in 2025 Q2 EV Sales

The second quarter of 2025 delivered a stark contrast in fortunes for two of America’s automotive powerhouses: Ford and General Motors. While GM soared to new heights, bolstered by strong sales growth across a diversified electric lineup, Ford stumbled, weighed down by surprising declines in its most prominent EV models.

This shift highlights the ever-evolving and fiercely competitive US electric vehicle market, where innovation, affordability, and timing can dramatically reshape brand narratives within just a few months.

Ford’s Faltering Flagships

Car & Driver reported on Ford EV sales for the second quarter. Just a year ago, Ford’s electric Mustang Mach-E seemed to embody the company’s electrification hopes. In the first quarter of 2025, it had been the third-biggest-selling EV in the U.S. and the bestselling non-Tesla model, fueling optimism for a record-breaking year. However, Q2 told a different story. Mach-E sales dropped by 20 percent compared to Q2 2024, significantly cooling its early momentum. At the halfway point of the year, cumulative sales stood at 21,785 units — a 2 percent decline year-over-year.

Ford’s struggles didn’t stop there. The F-150 Lightning, the brand’s flagship electric pickup, experienced an even steeper drop. Sales fell by 26 percent in Q2, and with 13,029 units sold in the first half of 2025, the Lightning is down 17 percent compared to 2024.

The E-Transit, Ford’s commercial electric van, suffered the most dramatic plunge. Q2 sales nosedived by a staggering 88 percent, logging just 418 units sold versus 3,410 during the same period last year. Year-to-date, the E-Transit is down 34 percent. Ford has emphasized that fleet sales can be volatile and noted that the E-Transit benefitted from large fleet orders in Q1 — but such an explanation offers little consolation for a brand that has built a reputation on consistency and reliability.

All this stands in sharp contrast to Ford’s traditional SUV lineup, which largely saw sales gains, underscoring how tough the EV market has become, even for well-established players, especially in China and the global market.

Speaking candidly at the Aspen Ideas Summit recently, Ford CEO Jim Farley called China’s EV and automotive progress “the most humbling thing I’ve ever seen.” Over the past year, he’s visited China six or seven times, bringing his leadership team to experience the competition up close. What they discovered shocked them.

GM’s Electrifying Ascent

While Ford stumbled, GM sprinted ahead, according to a report by Inside EVs. In Q2 2025, GM’s EV sales more than doubled, totaling an impressive 46,280 units. This growth wasn’t an isolated surge but a continuation of an upward trend. In 2024, GM crossed the 100,000-unit mark for the first time, selling about 114,000 EVs in the U.S.

By the first half of 2025, GM had sold approximately 78,000 EVs, capturing an estimated 13 percent share of the U.S. electric vehicle market. Several strategic product launches fueled this surge, including the Cadillac Escalade IQ and the newly introduced Optiq.

Among GM’s most significant success stories is the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Launched last year at a compelling starting price of $34,995 and offering over 300 miles of range, the Equinox EV has quickly become a linchpin in GM’s electric strategy. In just the first half of 2025, GM sold more than 27,000 units of the Equinox EV alone. The model’s popularity places it on track to become one of the top three bestselling electric vehicles in the U.S. this year, trailing only Tesla’s dominant entries.

GM’s broad electric portfolio now comprises 11 different EV models. While some models, such as the Cadillac Escalade IQ (1,810 units in Q2) and the Vistiq (1,744 units in Q2), are still ramping up, the momentum is undeniable.

However, not every GM EV is a runaway hit. Sales of GM’s large electric pickups remain underwhelming. The Chevrolet Silverado EV managed just 3,056 sales in Q2 and around 5,500 units year-to-date. The even pricier GMC Sierra EV fared worse, moving only about half as many trucks.

In a sign of changing priorities, GM announced it will repurpose its Orion assembly plant — initially slated to build electric pickups — to produce gasoline-powered pickups and SUVs instead. This strategic pivot suggests that while electric trucks have not yet resonated with traditional truck buyers, GM’s broader EV success has been sufficient to offset these setbacks.

Nissan’s Success Story

The Nissan Ariya emerged as an unexpected success story, said Car & Driver. In its third model year, the Ariya showed no signs of slowing down, selling 7,471 units in Q2 — a 44 percent increase over the same period in 2024. Through the first half of 2025, Nissan moved 11,619 Ariyas, marking a 24 percent year-over-year improvement. Anticipation is also building around the upcoming 2026 Nissan Leaf, expected to further strengthen the brand’s EV presence later this year.

Hyundai and Kia Had a Rough Quarter

Hyundai and Kia had a rough quarter, said Car & Driver. The Hyundai Ioniq 5, despite its strong design and positive critical reception, saw a 12 percent sales decline in Q2. Yet, it managed to stay slightly positive for the year so far, up 2 percent with 19,092 units sold through June.

The Kia EV6 struggled significantly as Kia transitioned to a refreshed version. Sales plunged by 69 percent in Q2, putting its first-half numbers down 46 percent versus 2024. The Ioniq 6 sedan followed a similar path, with Q2 sales down 8 percent and a 9 percent drop year-to-date.

Hyundai’s new three-row Ioniq 9 started its journey with 1,013 units sold since its recent launch. However, Kia’s EV9, a sister model, encountered a severe downturn: Q2 sales fell 79 percent, and year-to-date sales are down a dramatic 96 percent. The brands did not disclose figures for their smaller Kona Electric and Niro EV models.

Looking Ahead: Lessons and Opportunities

Ford’s struggles this quarter reflect deeper challenges in maintaining consistent demand for high-volume electric models, especially when balancing pricing, incentives, and production constraints. The declines suggest that initial excitement around models like the Mach-E and F-150 Lightning may be waning, and Ford must rethink its strategy to reignite consumer interest.

Conversely, GM’s rapid expansion underscores the value of offering a broad, diversified portfolio and strategically priced models like the Equinox EV. While GM’s electric truck ambitions are still finding their footing, its success with SUVs and crossovers demonstrates where current consumer demand lies.

Outside of Detroit, Nissan’s Ariya success and Hyundai/Kia’s stumbles show that consistent updates, effective launches, and meeting evolving customer expectations are critical in this volatile segment.

As the electric vehicle market matures, one thing is clear: automakers must remain nimble, innovative, and closely attuned to shifting consumer preferences. The winners of Q2 2025 — and likely the years to follow — will be those who not only build compelling electric vehicles but also create ecosystems of support, affordability, and excitement that keep drivers coming back for more.

EVinfo.net’s Take

GM’s commitment to EVs is paying off, as more drivers choose electric. On the other hand, Ford’s hesitation to go more full-steam into EV production and sales are hurting the company. We advise Ford to step up EV efforts, make a more compelling and wider variety of EV models, especially low-cost models.

Policy changes make come as soon as today, as lawmakers may eliminate a $7,500 tax credit for households that buy or lease a new EV, and a $4,000 credit for consumers who purchase a used EV. A budget bill may be up for a final vote today by the House of Representatives that would end these tax credits for electric vehicles within three months.

EVinfo.net believes this will be very unfortunate for America’s economy, jobs and car buyers, however it will have a minimal impact on EV sales.

We predict another EV sales growth slowdown if the credits are cut, but overall EV sales will continue growing. The reasons are that EVs are the most cost-effective and eco friendly transportation. For those with home charging available, EVs are also far more convenient to keep charged, as opposed to the need to pump gas.

According to BloombergNEF’s 2025 Electric Vehicle Outlook (EVO), nearly 22 million battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will be sold worldwide this year, up 25% from 2024. China will continue to be the powerhouse of EV adoption, accounting for almost two-thirds of all EV sales. Europe is projected to hold 17% of global EV sales this year, while the United States claims 7%.

Our transportation future is electric, as China has shown the world a vision of a cleaner, more cost-effective automotive future with its EV adoption rate passing 50%. The United States will get back on track in regards to EVs, given time. Long-term, EVs will win over dirty gas vehicles in the US and around the world.