Automotive
September looked like a final call rush for electric vehicles, and October showed the hangover. With the federal $7,500 EV tax credit ending on the close of September, shoppers who were on the fence jumped early, then stepped back. Only a handful of brands share monthly numbers, yet the snapshot we do have paints a rough picture for the market’s immediate post incentive reality.
Hyundai and Kia took the most important punches. Hyundai Ioniq 5 fell 63 percent yr over yr to 1,642 units in October 2025, after moving 4,498 in October 2024. Kia EV6 slid 71 percent to 508 units, and Genesis GV60 landed at just 93 deliveries, a 54 percent drop. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan was down 52 percent to 398 units, while Hyundai’s latest three row Ioniq 9 posted 317 units after topping 4 figures in each of the three prior months. Kia EV9 tallied 666 units, a 66 percent decline, and Genesis Electrified GV70 found only 15 buyers compared with 154 a yr earlier.
Honda’s numbers were even tougher. Acura ZDX has already bowed out after a single model yr, and the related Honda Prologue slipped 81 percent to 806 units, down from 4,130 in October 2024. Honda has not detailed the 2026 Prologue yet, which raises fair questions on where the model goes from here.
Ford didn’t crater just like the Korean brands, however it still lost ground. Mustang Mach E eased 12 percent to 2,906 units, F-150 Lightning dipped 17 percent to 1,543 units, and E Transit moved 260 units, a 76 percent fall. Even for an organization with broad EV name recognition, the absence of a headline incentive cooled traffic.
A part of this is easy timing. Buyers who desired to capture the credit pulled demand into September, which leaves a softer month to follow. That dynamic is common around expiring incentives and it could actually take 1 / 4 or two for the market to seek out a brand new baseline. Price positioning, inventory, and financing also matter more with no inbuilt $7,500 assist, so value comparisons against hybrids and efficient gas models grow to be sharper.
Perspective is vital here. Several major players only report quarterly, including General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, and Volkswagen, and Tesla and Rivian don’t break out model level monthly results. With that in mind, October just isn’t the entire story. It’s an early signal that the market is recalibrating to life with no federal sweetener on the hood, and 4 of the highest ten EVs through Q3 showing declines adds weight to that signal.
What to look at next is simple. Closing quarter incentives from automakers, dealer level pricing, and enhancements to charging access will do more heavy lifting now that the tax credit cushion is gone. End of yr totals will tell us whether October was a blip attributable to a September pull forward, or the beginning of a tougher stretch where EVs must win more customers on product strength and total ownership value alone.
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Darryl Taylor Dowe is a seasoned automotive skilled with a proven track record of leading successful ventures and providing strategic consultation across the automotive industry. With years of hands-on experience in each business operations and market development, Darryl has played a key role in helping automotive brands grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. His insight and leadership have earned him recognition as a trusted expert, and his contributions to Automotive Addicts reflect his deep knowledge and keenness for the business side of the automobile world.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
