The electric car industry has been rapidly evolving, with numerous brands offering innovative and environmentally friendly options to meet the growing demand for sustainable transportation. With advancements in battery technology and infrastructure, electric vehicle (EV) options are more diverse and accessible than ever before. Some brands have established themselves as leaders in this arena, renowned for their efficiency, range, design, and overall performance. To explore the top choices and find out which brands have risen to the forefront of the electric car revolution, continue reading below.
Illustration of electric cars
Best brands of electric cars in 2025
Tesla
Tesla remains a leading player in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, capturing 11% of total EV sales with 625,596 units sold between January and May 2024. Despite facing market challenges, Tesla reported a slight increase in sales in May 2024, driven by the ramp-up of its Cybertruck production. In the U.S., Tesla still dominates with a 48% market share in the EV sector as of Q3 2024, although it faces rising competition from General Motors, Ford, and Hyundai. Tesla's market share has been significant, with the company accounting for 55% of all EVs sold in the U.S. in 2023. The company's models, such as the Model Y and refreshed Model 3, continue to sell in large numbers. For more details, visit their official website.
BMW
BMW has established itself as a leading producer of electric cars, demonstrating significant growth in BEV sales. In the first nine months of 2024, BMW brand sales of fully-electric models increased by 22.6% to 266,151 vehicles, contributing to the BMW Group's overall 19.1% growth in BEV deliveries to 294,054 units. By 2023, BMW had sold over 376,000 all-electric cars, marking a remarkable 74% increase from the previous year, with BEVs accounting for 14.7% of the total sales volume. The company aims to increase its BEV share to 20% in 2024 by selling over 500,000 fully-electric cars. BMW's commitment to electrification is evident in its plans to have 18 all-electric models on the market by 2024.
Nissan
Nissan, a pioneering force in the electric vehicle (EV) market, aims to reclaim its prominence with ambitious plans under the "Nissan Ambition 2030" strategy. The company targets 40% of its U.S. sales to be fully electric by 2030 and plans to introduce 23 electrified models globally, including 15 all-electric vehicles. Nissan's newest EV entrant, the Ariya crossover, is set to make a significant impact, and the company is investing over $14 billion in electrification efforts, including the development of solid-state batteries to enhance range and charging times. Despite current market share challenges, Nissan's historical leadership is evident, having sold over 120,000 Leaf units by 2013 and aiming for 1.5 million global EV sales by 2016. Nissan's commitment to affordable EVs, such as the Leaf starting at $27,000, positions the brand for a resurgence in the EV market. More information can be found on their ambitious efforts in the [Nissan electric cars](https://www.axios.com/2022/11/30/nissan-electric-cars) article.
Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Group has solidified its position as a leading producer of electric vehicles, capturing a 10% market share in the U.S. EV market from January to July 2023, ranking second behind Tesla's 50.8% share. This achievement is driven by the strong sales of models like the Hyundai IONIQ 5, which sold 18,728 units and held a 3.6% market share, and the Kia EV6, which surpassed 10,000 units in half-year sales. The group's success is attributed to its dedicated EV platform, the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and its commitment to innovation and quality. Hyundai has also widened its gap over competitors like Ford and General Motors, which hold 7.4% and 6.3% market shares, respectively. With upcoming models like the IONIQ 9, Hyundai is poised to continue its growth in the EV market. For more insights, visit Hyundai's market performance article.
Kia
Kia has emerged as a leading producer of electric cars, particularly in the US market, where it surpassed Hyundai in Q2 2024 with a 5.4% market share, driven by the successful launch of the EV9, which sold 9,671 units in the first six months of 2024. Kia's EV sales more than doubled in Q2, with the EV6 also seeing a nearly 40% increase. The brand's electric vehicles, including the EV9 and EV6, have contributed significantly to its growth, with Kia selling over 29,000 EVs in the first half of 2024. Kia's market performance is further highlighted by its record-high US EV market share, with Hyundai and Kia combined accounting for 11.2% of the market from January to May 2024. This growth is attributed to new models and incentive programs, solidifying Kia's position in the evolving electric vehicle market. For more details, read how Kia overtakes Hyundai in US EV sales in Q2 2024.
Audi
Audi has solidified its position as a leading producer of electric cars, with a 51% increase in global all-electric car sales in 2023, totaling over 178,000 vehicles. This growth is driven by popular models such as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron, with the Q4 e-tron seeing a 112% increase in sales. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Audi sold roughly 55,400 all-electric cars, a 34% year-over-year increase, accounting for 10.9% of the brand's total volume. The company's electrification strategy is further bolstered by the upcoming launch of the Audi Q6 e-tron in 2024. Audi's strong performance in electrification reflects its commitment to becoming a premier manufacturer of electric vehicles. For more details, visit their global electric car sales report.
Ford
Ford has established itself as a significant player in the electric vehicle market, with a notable surge in EV sales. In the third quarter of 2024, Ford sold 23,509 electric vehicles, marking a 12% increase year-over-year, although it was slightly outpaced by GM's 32,095 EV sales during the same period. Ford's electric F-150 Lightning saw a remarkable 104.5% increase in sales, and the E-Transit remains the best-selling electric van in the US, with sales up 67% year-over-year. Despite challenges, Ford's EV sales constitute about 4.3% of its total sales volume, up from 2.0% a year ago, and the company aims to sell 100,000 EVs in 2024. Ford is also investing in a new low-cost electric vehicle platform to launch more affordable models, including a mid-sized electric pickup in 2027. For more insights on Ford's strategic electrification efforts, visit their official announcement on expanding their electrification strategy.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet has emerged as a significant player in the electric vehicle market, with notable models like the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Blazer EV contributing to its robust growth. In Q3 2024, General Motors, the parent company of Chevrolet, reported a 60% increase in EV sales year-over-year, helping GM climb to second place in U.S. EV sales with over 300,000 units sold since 2016. The Chevrolet Equinox EV, in particular, offers an EPA-estimated 319 miles of range and advanced features like fast-charging and Super Cruise. Chevrolet's electric lineup, including the Silverado EV with its impressive 440 miles of range, is part of GM's strategy to expand its electric vehicle offerings and increase market share. As of Q3 2024, Chevrolet's EV models have been instrumental in pushing the overall EV market share in the U.S. to 8.9%. For more details on their electric vehicle lineup, check out the 2025 Chevy Model Lineup.
Volkswagen
The Volkswagen brand has established itself as a leading producer of electric cars, with a significant increase in global electric vehicle sales by 35% in 2023, reaching 771,100 deliveries. The VW ID4 and ID3 were the top-selling electric car models, with Europe being the most important market, accounting for 472,400 sales. Volkswagen's electric cars constituted 8.3% of the group's total worldwide sales of 9,239,500 vehicles in 2023. The brand's strategy involves integrating electric powertrains into popular models like the Golf, leveraging the Modular Electric Drive Toolkit (MEB) for large-scale production. This approach has helped Volkswagen maintain its market leadership in Europe, with a record market share of 27.6% in recent times. For more detailed insights, visit Volkswagen's global electric car sales report for 2023.
Mercedes-Benz
Despite recent challenges, Mercedes-Benz remains a significant player in the electric vehicle market, having sold 240,600 fully electric cars in 2023, representing a remarkable 61% increase from the previous year, with electric cars making up 11.8% of all car sales. However, in the third quarter of 2024, Mercedes-Benz experienced a 31% drop in electric passenger car sales, selling 42,500 units, and also saw a decline in electric van sales. The company has adjusted its EV targets for 2030 and plans to continue investing in internal combustion engines. The Mercedes-Benz EQS, part of its EQ line, offers impressive real-world EV range and advanced features, though it faces stiff competition from rivals like BMW. Mercedes-Benz's overall vehicle sales, including all drive types, remained relatively stable, with 594,600 vehicles delivered in the third quarter.
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