The 21 Top Selling EVs in California

Last Updated on: 28th May 2025, 01:26 am

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.