Key facts
- US EV sales fell 27% in Q1 2026 and 46% in Q4 2025.
- Ford, Nissan, Acura, and Volkswagen discontinued or paused EV models by the end of 2025.
- Hyundai has discontinued the standard Ioniq 6 and paused the 2026 Kona Electric in the US.
- Automakers are retooling EV strategies to focus on more affordable, long-range models.
American electric vehicle (EV) sales have faced significant pressure, leading to a wave of model discontinuations and strategic shifts by automakers. Following the expiration of the federal $7,500 tax credit for US-made EVs in September 2025, EV deliveries dropped by 27% in the first quarter of 2026, after a 46% decline in the final quarter of 2025.
This slowdown prompted several automakers to revise their EV lineups. By the end of 2025, Ford ceased production of the F-150 Lightning, Nissan discontinued the Ariya, Acura stopped building the ZDX, and Volkswagen paused the ID. Buzz until 2027. This trend has continued into 2026.
Hyundai has confirmed that the standard model of its Ioniq 6 sedan is discontinued in the US, as it did not achieve sufficient sales to justify continued production. The company sold only 229 Ioniq 6 units in February. In contrast, its sibling model, the Ioniq 5, has seen strong sales. Hyundai plans to import a limited number of high-performance Ioniq 6 N models to the US.
Additionally, Hyundai has paused imports for the 2026 Kona Electric, one of the automaker's early mass-market EVs. The model is expected to return for the 2027 model year. The Kia Niro EV is also mentioned as discontinued.
Analysts suggest these changes reflect automakers retooling their EV strategies, aiming to discontinue unprofitable models and replace them with more affordable, long-range EVs. The overall decline in sedan sales over the past decade is also cited as a factor impacting models like the Ioniq 6.