Core Insights - Ford and General Motors reported record electric vehicle (EV) sales in Q3, raising questions about the sustainability of this growth post-expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit [1][6] Ford's Performance - Ford's overall automotive sales in the U.S. increased by 8.2%, marking the seventh consecutive month of sales growth [2] - Electric vehicle sales reached 85,789 units, a year-over-year increase of 19.8% [2] - The Mustang Mach-E achieved its best quarter ever with sales up 50.7% year-over-year, while the F-150 Lightning sold 10,005 units, up 16.5% quarter-over-quarter [2] General Motors' Performance - General Motors sold a record 66,501 electric vehicles in Q3, attributing strong demand to the expiration of the federal tax credit [4] - The Equinox EV became the bestselling non-Tesla electric vehicle in the U.S. [4] - GM's Cadillac brand had three of the top 10 bestselling luxury EVs in the U.S. through September [5] - Year-to-date, GM sold 144,668 EVs, a 103% increase year-over-year [5] Industry Context - Tesla also reported a record quarter with 497,009 vehicles delivered in Q3, coinciding with the last quarter of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit [6] - The fourth quarter may see a significant decline in sales compared to Q3, with the first quarter of the following year expected to be a critical test for the U.S. EV market without the tax credit [7]

Core Insights - Federal policy shifts are significantly impacting the new and used car market, with consumer demand data from over 29 million shoppers and vehicle supply data from millions of vehicles informing the analysis [1] Pricing Trends - Imported vehicle prices have risen, particularly from the U.K. with an increase of over $10,000, while prices for U.S.-built vehicles have dropped by nearly $200 on average [2][3] - Average new vehicle prices have increased slightly by just under $100 since January [2] Market Segmentation - The entry-level vehicle segment, priced under $30,000, has seen a significant decline in market share from 38% in 2019 to an average of 13.6% in the first half of 2025, largely due to tariffs affecting foreign-built vehicles [4] - The mid-range new car segment ($30,000 to $49,000) accounts for nearly half of all inventory, with 50% of these vehicles being imported [5] Electric Vehicle (EV) Market - The average price of new electric vehicles is $65,000, with the federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 for new vehicles set to expire soon, influencing purchase decisions for 48% of current EV shoppers [6] - 53% of current EV owners cited the tax credit as a primary reason for their purchase [6] Used Vehicle Market Dynamics - Used car prices rose nearly 3% in the first half of 2025, driven by increased inventory from trade-ins during a surge in new car buying [7] - The average time used vehicles spend on dealer lots has decreased by nearly 5% year over year, indicating a faster turnover rate [7]