The 21 Top Selling EVs in California

We’ve looked at California’s overall EV market. We’ve looked at the state’s overall top selling vehicle models and where top selling EVs rank (hint: it’s just two models from one brand that make the top rankings). We’ve looked at the EVs that are topping their vehicle classes, including two that just climbed into the top 5 of their classes. And we’ve looked at California’s EV leadership in the USA. Now, let’s take a look at how various top selling EVs in the state rank compared to each other. (Note: This ranking is for fully electric vehicles only, not plug-in hybrids).

As we can see, the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3 still have a strong grip on the top two spots. Though, surprising as it may be looking at that chart, their dominance has dwindled a lot in the last year.

Among the rest of the “top sellers,” it’s basically a gradual slide down from the #3 Honda Prologue to the #21 Hyundai IONIQ 6. In fact, the Prologue just sold about 4 times more than the IONIQ 6, while the #1 Model Y sold more than 5 times more units than the #3 Prologue and the #2 Model 3 sold more than 3 times more units than the #3 Prologue. So, excluding the top two models, it’s a very tight race for the remaining positions in the ranking.

Overall, it’s that sweet spot of not-too-expensive small SUVs/crossovers that tops the charts. That’s what people want these days, and that’s what automakers are happy to produce and sell. The top six models in the ranking include 5 such vehicles — the #1 Tesla Model Y, #3 Honda Prologue, #4 Hyundai IONIQ 5, #5 Ford Mustang Mach-E, and #6 Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Among sedans, after the #2 Tesla Model 3, the BMW i4 finally comes in at #7. Eventually, we get to the pickup trucks, and then end up with two of them in the top 10, the Tesla Cybertruck (#8) and Ford F-150 Lightning (#10).

Any other highlights from the California EV model ranking? Chime in down below with your thoughts.