GM surges to #2 US EV maker as Chevrolet overtakes Ford, with 97% sales growth and 15.5% market share, driven by Equinox EV success and expanded charging access.
Drivetech Partners
General Motors has dramatically reshaped the American electric vehicle landscape in 2025, with Chevrolet overtaking Ford to become the nation's second-largest EV seller behind Tesla. Through May 2025, GM's diverse portfolio of 13 electric vehicles across Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC brands has fueled a remarkable 97% year-over-year sales increase, helping the automotive giant secure a 15.5% EV market share that's now approaching its overall 17% U.S. vehicle market share.
Key Takeaways
Chevrolet has surpassed Ford with 37,000 EV sales through May 2025, helping GM secure the #2 position in the U.S. EV market
GM's first-quarter EV sales surged 97% year-over-year, dramatically outpacing the broader EV market's 11.4% growth
The affordable Chevrolet Equinox EV has become GM's sales leader with 10,329 deliveries in Q1 2025
GM's EV market share has more than doubled to 15.5% compared to the same period in 2024
Expanded charging access to 250,000 public chargers across North America supports GM's continuing EV momentum
GM Overtakes Ford in Historic EV Sales Shift
In a significant industry milestone, Chevrolet has officially surpassed Ford as America's second-largest electric vehicle seller behind Tesla through May 2025. With approximately 37,000 EVs sold compared to Ford's 34,000 units, Chevrolet's performance has helped General Motors solidify its position as the #2 EV seller in the U.S. market. Across all its brands, GM has delivered more than 62,000 electric vehicles year-to-date through May 2025.
May 2025 also marked GM's second-best month in history for EV sales, highlighting the company's growing momentum in the electric vehicle space. This achievement represents a dramatic reversal from just months earlier, when GM trailed both Ford and Hyundai Motor Group in the U.S. electric vehicle market.
Unprecedented Growth in a Competitive Market
GM's electric vehicle performance has far outpaced the broader EV market in 2025. The company's Q1 2025 EV sales soared 97% year-over-year, totaling 31,886 units. This remarkable growth contrasts sharply with the overall U.S. EV market's more modest 11.4% year-over-year increase, which reached 294,250 units in the same period.
The company's EV market share has reached approximately 15.5% in the first two months of Q2 2025, more than double compared to the same period in 2024. This rapid growth has GM's electric vehicle market share approaching its overall U.S. vehicle market share of 17%, suggesting the company is successfully transitioning its traditional customer base to electric options.
While the overall U.S. EV market share increased from 7.0% to 7.5% of all new car sales in Q1 2025, GM's significantly faster growth indicates it's capturing market share from competitors rather than merely riding industry trends.
Equinox EV Leads GM's Diverse Electric Vehicle Portfolio
The Chevrolet Equinox EV has emerged as the standout performer in GM's electric lineup, delivering 10,329 units in Q1 2025 and accounting for approximately one-third of GM's total EV volume. With a starting price of $33,600 and EPA-estimated range of up to 326 miles, the Equinox EV has been identified as a primary driver of Chevrolet's sales surge.
GM currently offers a diverse portfolio of 13 electric vehicles spanning across its Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC brands. Beyond the Equinox EV, other significant contributors to GM's Q1 2025 sales include:
Chevrolet Blazer EV: 6,187 units
Cadillac Lyriq: 4,300 deliveries
GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV: combined 3,479 deliveries
Chevrolet Silverado EV: 2,383 deliveries
Cadillac Escalade IQ: 1,956 units
Newly introduced Cadillac Optiq: 1,716 units
GMC Sierra EV: 1,249 deliveries
This range of vehicles allows GM to compete effectively across multiple segments of the electric vehicle market, from affordable compact SUVs to luxury and full-size pickup trucks.
Expanding Charging Infrastructure Supports Growth
A critical component of GM's electric vehicle strategy has been its investment in charging infrastructure. GM electric vehicle customers now have access to more than 250,000 public chargers across North America, addressing one of the primary concerns of potential EV buyers.
The collaboration between Pilot Company, GM, and EVgo has established fast-charging infrastructure at more than 130 locations across 25+ states. Additionally, GM is participating in Ionna, a joint venture with seven other automakers that plans to deploy 30,000 charging bays across the U.S. by 2030.
This comprehensive approach to charging infrastructure helps reduce range anxiety and makes electric vehicles a more practical option for a broader range of consumers, supporting GM's continued sales growth.
Tesla Leads While GM Closes Gap with Competitors
Despite GM's impressive gains, Tesla remains the dominant market leader with 43.4% U.S. EV market share in Q1 2025. However, Tesla's sales decreased 9% year-over-year during this period, indicating potential vulnerability as competition intensifies.
GM has been steadily gaining ground against its competitors. In August 2024, GM was only about 2,000 units behind Ford and 20,000 behind Hyundai Motor Group. By May 2025, GM had not only closed the gap with Ford but surpassed it decisively.
Interestingly, approximately 15% of current Cadillac Lyriq buyers are former Tesla drivers, up from 10-15% previously. This suggests GM is successfully attracting customers from the market leader, a key indicator of its competitive positioning.
Cadillac's Electric Future Brightens
Cadillac has emerged as a particularly bright spot in GM's electric vehicle strategy. Nearly 80% of those buying electric Cadillac vehicles are new to the brand, indicating that the luxury marque's electric offerings are attracting customers who might not have considered a Cadillac previously.
The brand now offers a comprehensive lineup of electric SUVs including the entry-level Optiq, midsize Lyriq, three-row Vistiq, and larger Escalade IQ. With this diverse portfolio, Cadillac aims to become the bestselling luxury EV brand in 2025 (excluding Tesla).
This electric-focused strategy appears to be rejuvenating Cadillac's image and attracting a new generation of luxury vehicle buyers to the storied American brand.
What's Next for GM's Electric Revolution
GM will report its second quarter 2025 sales results on July 1, which will provide further insight into whether the company can maintain its impressive growth trajectory. Based on current trends, GM appears positioned to potentially gain additional market share in the remainder of 2025.
The company's expanding EV portfolio and charging infrastructure investments suggest continued growth momentum. As more consumers consider electric vehicles for their next purchase, GM's diverse offerings across multiple price points and vehicle categories place it in a strong competitive position.
With the overall U.S. EV market continuing to grow and GM outpacing that growth by a significant margin, the company's electric vehicle strategy appears to be yielding substantial results. The question now is whether GM can maintain this momentum and potentially challenge Tesla's dominant position in the years ahead.
Sources
Supercar Blondie - Chevrolet Overtakes Ford Electric Vehicle Sales
CleanTechnica - GM Sees Strong EV Sales Growth in 2025
GM Authority - Chevy Surpasses Ford in EV Sales
