U.S. light-vehicle sales fell for the second consecutive month in November as the aftermath of the federal electric vehicle tax credit expiration continued to reshape the market. EV sales collapsed while hybrid vehicle sales surged to record levels.
Among automakers that report monthly results, only Kia posted year-over-year gains. Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, and Mazda all saw sales decline compared to November 2024.
The pattern across nearly every brand was consistent: Pure EV sales cratered following the Oct. 1 expiration of the $7,500 federal tax credit while hybrids picked up the slack, with several automakers reporting record months for hybrids.
Kia
Kia America’s November sales of 72,002 units marked the brand’s best November ever with a 3% increase over November 2024. The Carnival, Sportage, and Seltos each set new November sales records. Year-to-date sales of Kia’s electrified models are up 25% over the same period last year, driven largely by hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
Ford
Ford reported November sales of 164,925 vehicles, down 0.9% year over year. EV sales plummeted 60.8% to just 4,247 units. The automaker also faced supply disruptions due to fires at an aluminum sheet plant in New York, which halted F-150 Lightning production and affected F-Series volumes overall, with F-Series sales declining 9.6%. However, Ford’s hybrid sales rose 13.6% to 16,301 units.
Honda
American Honda sales totaled 102,824 units in November, down approximately 15% from November 2024’s 121,419 vehicles. This kept year-to-date sales up 1.8% despite the production impacts of an industry-wide semiconductor supply shortage.
The Honda brand totaled 91,582 units in November, with the CR-V leading all Honda models at 29,421 units. Hybrid sales accounted for more than 54% of the sales mix. Honda’s November sales of electrified vehicles totaled 28,258 units, setting a record with year-to-date sales of 385,453 electrified vehicles.
Acura brand sales totaled 11,242 units in November, with 2025 sales exceeding 121,000 units, representing a 1.9% year-to-date increase.
Hyundai
Hyundai Motor America reported November total sales of 74,289 units, a 2% decrease compared with November 2024. Hybrid sales reached new heights, jumping 42% and resulting in the best month for hybrid vehicle sales in the company’s history.
SUV models performed well, with Tucson sales increasing 18%, Santa Fe up 13%, and Palisade gaining 10%. However, the brand’s pure EVs were hit hard: The Ioniq 5 fell 59% to 2,027 units, and the Ioniq 6 dropped 56% to just 489 units.
Subaru
Subaru of America reported 52,081 vehicle sales for November 2025, a 9.7% decrease compared to November 2024. The Solterra EV cratered 78.3% to just 232 units from 1,067 a year ago. Core models, including Crosstrek (-4.8%), Forester (-6.6%), and Outback (-6.5%), all posted declines. Crosstrek remained the top seller for the seventh consecutive month, with 16,142 vehicles sold.
Mazda
Mazda North American Operations reported total November sales of 32,909 vehicles, a decrease of 1.5% compared to November 2024. The company noted this was its second-best November since 1990. The CX-50 achieved its best-ever November sales with 11,583 units. Truck and SUV sales grew 2.9% while traditional car sales dropped 33.7%.
What to watch for in collision repair
For collision repair shops, the shifting vehicle mix has implications for training and equipment investments. The growth in hybrids means more vehicles arriving with dual powertrains and high-voltage systems, while the slowdown in pure EV adoption may give shops additional time to prepare for the eventual transition.
Whether the EV market can recover without federal support remains the key question heading into 2026. For now, automakers with diverse hybrid lineups appear best positioned to navigate the current environment.
