Hybrid automobile gross sales hit a U.S. document, however electrical automobile gross sales fell within the third quarter

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported this month that the share of U.S. electric and hybrid vehicle sales continued to rise in the third quarter.

Combined, sales of pure electric vehicles (EVs), hybrids and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) accounted for 19.6% of total light commercial vehicle (LDV) sales last quarter, up from 19.1% in the second quarter.

But the increase was largely due to sales of hybrid vehicles, which accounted for 10.8% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales in the third quarter, a record, the EIA said.

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Meanwhile, electric vehicle sales fell, with their share of the LDV market falling from 7.4% in the second quarter to 7% in the final quarter.

Electric vehicles remain popular in the luxury vehicle segment, accounting for 35.8% of U.S. LDV luxury sales. However, according to EIA, luxury electric vehicle sales as a percentage of total electric vehicle sales have fallen to their lowest level since 2017, while non-luxury electric vehicle sales have increased.

Still, 70.7% of electric vehicles sold in the U.S. in the third quarter were luxury vehicles, while only 10.3% of hybrid vehicles sold were in the luxury segment.

In the US electric vehicle market, Tesla continues to dominate sales, led by its Model Y and Model 3. The recently launched Cybertruck sold better than its major truck competitors such as the Rivian R1S, the Rivian R1T, the Ford F150 Lightning, the Chevy Silverado EV and the Hummer EV, and GMC Sierra EV.

According to Cox Automotive, the average purchase price for a new electric vehicle at the end of the third quarter before any incentives was $56,351, about 16% higher than the industry average price.

In addition to price considerations, drivers are giving hybrid vehicles high marks this year. According to a Consumer Reports survey, many hybrid vehicles were found to be the most reliable vehicles on the market. As a category, hybrid vehicles are now considered by drivers to be just as reliable as non-hybrid gasoline cars.

The EIA, citing data from Wards Intelligence, reported that 78.9% of all electric vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, while 7.3% were made in South Korea and 5.3% in Germany.

To receive the $7,500 tax incentive on the purchase of a new electric vehicle, manufacturers must comply with domestic content requirements for final assembly, battery components and critical minerals, the EIA said.

The new Trump administration reportedly plans to end the tax incentives when Trump takes office early next year.