Tesla has once again solidified its position as the leader in the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market, registering over 51,000 EVs in March, according to a recent post by Mario Nawfal on X, citing TeslaNewswire. This figure is more than six times that of its closest competitor, Chevrolet, which sold 8,478 units—a remarkable 274% increase from the previous month. Ford, the third-place contender, saw a 13% decline, managing 7,361 EV registrations.
The U.S. EV market showed steady growth, with a 11.4% year-over-year increase in Q1 2025, totaling nearly 300,000 units sold, or 7.5% of all new vehicle sales, up from 7% the prior year, per Cox Automotive’s April 2025 report. However, Tesla’s performance wasn’t without challenges—its Q1 sales dropped 9% year-over-year, reflecting a need for a shift in product strategy to maintain its edge, as noted by Cox Automotive.
Chevrolet’s surge was driven by the success of the Chevy Equinox EV, which became a top-five U.S. EV seller in Q4 2024, doubling GM’s market share, according to Electrek’s January 2025 report. Meanwhile, Ford’s decline continued into April 2025, with sales falling 39.4% to 4,859 units, largely due to a 40.2% drop in Mustang Mach-E demand, per Carscoops in May 2025. Other notable performers included GMC, up 185% with strong Hummer EV sales, Subaru (+163%), and Porsche (+137%). Smaller players like Polestar and Lucid also posted solid gains, capitalizing on growing consumer demand for diverse EV options.
Globally, the picture is more complex. In China, Tesla sold 78,828 vehicles in March, down 11.5% year-on-year, while local rival BYD sold 371,419 new energy vehicles, up 23%, per CNBC’s April 2025 data. Geely also saw a 167% surge to 119,696 units. As one X user pointed out, Chinese brands dominate the global EV market, highlighting Tesla’s stronger performance in the U.S. context.
The U.S. market faces uncertainty with President Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico and China, alongside threats to end federal EV subsidies, which could disproportionately affect GM, given its significant investments, according to Electrek. Despite these challenges, Tesla’s March numbers underscore its enduring appeal, even as competition intensifies and global dynamics shift.