Best-selling EVs in the world in 2026 so far have been confirmed and only three of the companies sell in the USA

The best-selling EVs in the world for 2026 have been revealed, and it illustrates an interesting trend about the automotive industry.

With data from January to March, this table lists the EVs that were selling like hotcakes in the first few months.

Some of the names are undoubtedly familiar – Tesla makes an almost-compulsory appearance on there.

But here’s one eye-opening fact to mull over: only three companies featured on this list sell in the USA.

These were the best-selling EVs in the world between January and March 2026

In the world of cars, sales figures are everything.

It’s a competitive market and every company wants its cars to feature in the best-selling lists.

CleanTechnica has compiled a list of the best-selling EVs between January and March, and while some won’t surprise you, others certainly will.

Leading the pack is the Tesla Model Y, which sold 242,420 cars in the first three months of the year.

There’s some considerable berth between that and the runner-up, the Tesla Model 3, which racked up 99,524 sales.

In third place was the Geely Geome Xingyuan – selling 93,728 cars in the same period of time.

The Chinese car theme continues through the rest of the list, with cars from BYD and Li Auto.

In fact, it’s a near domination by the Chinese brands.

The Best-Selling EVs List In Full

1. Tesla Model Y – 242,420
2. Tesla Model 3 – 99,524
3. Geely Geome Xingyuan – 93,728
4. BYD Song/Seal U – 84,787
5. BYD Seagull/Dolphin Mini – 72,932
6. Xiaomi YU7 – 71,653
7. BYD Yuan Up/Atto 2 – 58,635
8. LI i6 – 57,088
9. BYD Dolphin – 49,756
10. NIO ES8/EL8 – 45,236
11. AITO M7 – 44,930
12. Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7 – 43,011
13. BYD Yuan Plus/Atto 3 – 41,981
14. BYD Seal 06 – 39,587
15. Toyota BZ4X – 39,168
16. MG 4 – 38,611
17. BYD Sealion 06 – 35,788
18. BYD Sealion 07 – 30,831
19. BMW iX1/X1 PHEV – 30,293
20. BYD Qin Plus – 30,826

Only three of the brands represented on the list are sold in the US – Tesla, BMW, and Toyota.

Chinese EVs are big business and only getting bigger

Outside of the US, Chinese EV giants have been ruling the roost from Australia to South America.

Globally, BYD has now surpassed Tesla as the world’s biggest EV seller.

Plenty of people within the car industry have been sounding the alarm about China’s rise within the market, from Jim Farley to the CEO of General Motors.

It’s no wonder that American manufacturers like Tesla are making moves to address the challenge.

There were reports last month that Tesla was developing a budget SUV in China to serve as a competitor in the affordable EV market.

How much efforts like these will help to reverse the trend remains to be seen.

In the estimation of John Higham, the Vice President of Communications at the Electric Vehicles Association, the increasing popularity of Chinese EVs serves as bad news for US companies.

“The West’s auto manufacturing sector (US, German, etc.) is [in trouble]. Like oil, auto prices are set globally,” Higham told Supercar Blondie.

“We (the West and the US in particular) can tariff them to death but capitalism will find a way.”

A Timeline of Chinese EVs