Core Insights - The U.S. government's $7,500 EV tax credit officially ended on September 30, leading to a surge in EV demand as buyers rushed to take advantage of the incentive before the deadline [2] - Ford and General Motors both reported significant increases in EV sales for Q3, with Ford's EV sales rising 30% year-over-year to 30,612 units and GM achieving a record 66,501 EV deliveries [4][6] - Both automakers have found a way to extend the benefits of the tax credit into October through their financing arms, allowing customers to still claim the credit under certain conditions [9][10] Ford's Performance - Ford's overall U.S. light vehicle sales increased by 8.5%, driven by a 9.4% gain in the Ford brand, while Lincoln experienced a 7.6% decline [4] - Ford's hybrid model sales also set a Q3 record at 55,177 vehicles, with hybrids making up about one-third of all F-150 sales [5] - The company anticipates a significant slowdown in EV sales in Q4, potentially dropping to 5% of the industry from 10-12% [8] General Motors' Performance - General Motors reported an 8% increase in U.S. light vehicle sales year-over-year, with a year-to-date EV sales increase of 105%, totaling 144,668 vehicles [6][7] - The Chevrolet Equinox EV has become the best-selling non-Tesla EV in the U.S., and Cadillac has three of the top ten best-selling luxury EVs [7] Industry Challenges - Automakers face challenges as they are currently losing significant money on most EV sales, compounded by the rollback of government incentives [12] - The anticipated slowdown in EV sales could hinder the pace of EV adoption for years to come [8] - Despite these challenges, Ford and GM are working to reduce EV inventory and improve cost structures, which may enhance affordability and infrastructure for EVs [13]