Cybertruck is top-selling EV pickup in US for 1Q 2026

[YDR37]

Cox/KBB released their 1Q 2026 EV sales estimates for the US today. EV pickup sales were estimated as follows:

3,519 Tesla Cybertruck (down 45.1% from 1Q 2025)
2,060 Ford F-150 Lightning (down 71.3%; discontinued)
1,658 Rivian R1T (down 4.0%)
1,406 Chevrolet Silverado (down 41.0%)
1,286 GMC Sierra (up 3.1%)
551 GMC Hummer (down 52.5%; pickup is an estimated 1/3 of 1,653 combined SUV/pickup sales)

Overall it was a pretty bad quarter for EV pickup sales. However, the Cybertruck sold the most.

It's not a pickup, so I didn't list it above, but the vehicle to watch in the EV truck category this year might be the Rivian EDV500/700 delivery van. Rivian sold 3,213 EDVs, up 118.7% from 1Q 2025.

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[YDR37]

Overall, EV sales fell by 27.0% in 1Q 2026, relative to 1Q 2025. So not a good quarter for EV sales generally. However, Tesla sales held up better than most, only falling by 8.4%.

The Cybertruck was #9 among all EVs:

1. 78,591 Tesla Model Y
2. 31,672 Tesla Model 3
3. 10,029 Toyota BZ
4. 9,790 Hyundai Ioniq5
5. 9,589 Chevrolet Equinox
6. 5,494 Rivian R1S
7. 4,600 Ford Mustang Mach-E
8. 4,456 Lexus RZ
9. 3,519 Tesla Cybertruck
10. 3,370 Cadillac LyriQ

Toyota (up 79.0%) and Rivian (up 21.2%) had surprisingly strong EV sales in a generally lousy quarter.

 

[Gigahorse]

Glad to be #1

But wow 3,519 in a QUARTER is crazy low, especially compared to the early predictions, reservations.
Hopefully Tesla can bump those numbers up, about 40x

 

[YDR37]

Glad to be #1

But wow 3,519 in a QUARTER is crazy low, especially compared to the early predictions, reservations.
Hopefully Tesla can bump those numbers up, about 40x

Recent Cybertruck 1Q sales estimates, from Cox:

1Q 2024: 2,803 (production still ramping after initial deliveries in 4Q 2023)
1Q 2025: 6,406
1Q 2026: 3,519

The Cox numbers are US only, so the global 1Q 2026 number (including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE) would be slightly higher. Probably still less than 4,000 though.

 

[YDR37]

Overall it was a pretty bad quarter for EV pickup sales.

How bad is "pretty bad"? Consider the following 1Q 2026 sales numbers for perspective:

10,480 Entire EV pickup sector (Cybertruck + Lightning + R1T + Silverado + Sierra + Hummer pickups)
10,980 Honda Ridgeline

I used to compare the EV pickup sector to the ICE Ford Maverick, but that no longer makes sense (Maverick sales were 33,861 in 1Q 2026). Had to find a less popular ICE pickup for comparison.

 

[Griswold]

Wow. I know there's some modest excitement here around the Basic trim but I don't think we're going to see any crazy numbers once they start selling.

I appreciate your insight. I thought you were a bot (or AI output) for a while I can always expect to get a good market analysis from you.

 

[Sjohnson20]

Numbers will go up when the 59k AWD starts delivering, whenever that is.

 

[CyberGus]

Overall it was a pretty bad quarter for EV pickup sales. However, the Cybertruck sold the most.

Glad to be #1

'Tis better to rule in Hell than to serve in Heaven

 

[YDR37]

I appreciate your insight. I thought you were a bot (or AI output) for a while

Ha ha, Griswold, it is amusing that you thought I could be a bot. Of course, I am a real human!

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[Jhodgesatmb]

Overall, EV sales fell by 27.0% in 1Q 2026, relative to 1Q 2025. So not a good quarter for EV sales generally. However, Tesla sales held up better than most, only falling by 8.4%.

The Cybertruck was #9 among all EVs:

1. 78,591 Tesla Model Y
2. 31,672 Tesla Model 3
3. 10,029 Toyota BZ
4. 9,790 Hyundai Ioniq5
5. 9,589 Chevrolet Equinox
6. 5,494 Rivian R1S
7. 4,600 Ford Mustang Mach-E
8. 4,456 Lexus RZ
9. 3,519 Tesla Cybertruck
10. 3,370 Cadillac LyriQ

Toyota (up 79.0%) and Rivian (up 21.2%) had surprisingly strong EV sales in a generally lousy quarter.

I am assuming that the lower-cost CT AWD is not there since they only had deposits and no actual sales. The numbers could change a lot when these deposits begin to convert to sales.

 

[YDR37]

I am assuming that the lower-cost CT AWD is not there since they only had deposits and no actual sales. The numbers could change a lot when these deposits begin to convert to sales.

Unlike most manufacturers, Tesla doesn't break down sales or deliveries by model. In that situation, outside analysts (like Cox) commonly estimate model sales by reviewing state vehicle registration databases.

So it may take a while for the AWD Standard numbers to be reflected in Cox data. Those vehicles will have to be fully paid for, then delivered to the buyer, and then licensed with the state before Cox can count them. They might start to show up in 2Q, but maybe not in large numbers until 3Q. Cox's 3Q 2026 report won't be due until October 2026.

It would be easier and more accurate if Tesla would simply reveal the exact number of model deliveries every quarter. But they don't do that (and neither do Lucid or Rivian, although their numbers are much smaller).

 

[dalton108]

Ha ha, Griswold, it is amusing that you thought I could be a bot. Of course, I am a real human!

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@YDR37 is not just “a man,” he’s THE MAN!

AnyWho, I’m really interested to see how Slate is going to be able to manage in this market (assuming they don’t go bankrupt trying to enter it). I really want them to succeed! It feels like the S-10 in the 80s to me … right truck; right time!

 

[YDR37]

I’m really interested to see how Slate is going to be able to manage in this market (assuming they don’t go bankrupt trying to enter it). I really want them to succeed! It feels like the S-10 in the 80s to me … right truck; right time!

The Conventional Wisdom was that the Slate pickup was an attractive deal at ~$20,000 with the EV tax credit.

Then the tax credit disappeared, and the Conventional Wisdom switched gears. The Slate was no longer attractive at ~$27,500, when a better-equipped Ford Maverick was close in price.

I think the big question is the price of gasoline going forward. The Conventional Wisdom may find the Slate at ~$27,500 to be attractive again, if gas prices are still elevated in late 2026. And this is a real possibility.

 

[YDR37]

I think the big question is the price of gasoline going forward. The Conventional Wisdom may find the Slate at ~$27,500 to be attractive again, if gas prices are still elevated in late 2026. And this is a real possibility.

According to the rumor mill, Tesla has restarted development on a cheap compact EV -- something smaller and less expensive than a Model 3. And such a vehicle would make a lot of sense in a world with unusually high gas prices.

But even if those rumors are true, Slate's cheap American-made EV is easily going to beat Tesla's to the market.

 

[dalton108]

The conventional wisdom was that the Slate pickup was an attractive deal at ~$20,000 with the EV tax credit.

Then the tax credit disappeared, and the CW switched gears. The Slate was no longer attractive at ~$27,500, when a better-equipped Ford Maverick was close in price.

I think the big question is the price of gasoline going forward. The CW may find the Slate at ~$27,500 to be attractive again, if gas prices are still elevated in late 2026. And this is a real possibility.

Yeah, I have seen and agree with that assessment. The cancellation of the EV credit is really kicking everybody’s ass.

I think governmental retreat on this will be eventually seen as a huge blunder. We’ve confused sound policy for anti-capitalism. We’ve handed the keys to the future to China.

Not going to do partisan politics, but anybody who wants to trot out the company line on this subject (subsidies = communism) needs to remember/learn that but for government meddling, the petroleum industry would not have existed. It’s asinine to shoot ourselves in the foot on the future under the guise that the role of the government isn’t to “pick winners.” One need look no further than the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (and numerous other actions before and since). 🫤

Some of the very first cars ever made were electric, and if it wasn’t for dirt cheap petroleum products (thanks to our government), electricity probably would’ve won from the start.

*ie Robert Anderson’s electric carriage, 1832–1839, decades before Karl Benz’s gasoline automobile of 1885/86.

Like I’ve said before, Morons v. Machiavellians is going to be the complete ruin of this nation! The Machiavellians know what they’re doing and they know this history. The morons don’t know shit, and they never learn!

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