GM and Ford EV Sales Collapse in Q3 2026 — But Canada Tells a Different Story

Two of Detroit's biggest automakers reported catastrophic EV sales drops in the United States for Q3 2026. General Motors delivered 25,473 EVs — down 61.7% from 66,501 a year ago — while Ford sold just 6,047 EVs, an 80.2% collapse from 30,612 in Q3 2025. Both companies pointed to the "much smaller EV market" and discontinued models as contributing factors.

The U.S. bloodbath: model by model

GM's decline was broad-based. The Chevrolet Equinox EV — once GM's best-selling electric vehicle — collapsed 92.4% year-over-year. The Blazer EV fell 84.4% to 1,261 units. Silverado EV dropped 58% to 1,655. GMC's Hummer EV declined 72.9% to 1,423 units. Only Cadillac's EVs showed resilience: the Optiq fell just 6.9% to 4,550 units, and Cadillac's four electric models combined for 12,358 deliveries — nearly half of GM's total EV volume.

Ford's lineup fared no better. The Mustang Mach-E dropped 72.4% to 5,574 units. The F-150 Lightning — which Ford ended production of in late 2025 ahead of an extended-range electric successor — recorded just 289 sales, down 97.1% from 10,005 a year ago. E-Transit fell 57.2% to 184 units.

EVs accounted for just 3.8% of GM's U.S. sales and 1.2% of Ford's in Q3 — down from 9.4% and 5.6% respectively a year earlier.

Canada diverges: GM up 33% through H1, Ford's Fathom coming

The Canadian picture has been notably different. GM Canada reported EV sales were up 33.4% through the first half of 2026 — a stark contrast to the U.S. decline. The company has not yet released Canadian Q3 figures, but the H1 momentum suggests the market dynamics north of the border remain healthier.

For Ford, the Canadian story centers on what's coming, not what's going. The newly named Ford Fathom midsize electric pickup — revealed in Las Vegas desert testing last month — will start at $38,690 after the federal EVAP incentive ($39,995 base MSRP) when pre-orders open in early 2027. Production is slated for the converted Louisville Assembly Plant. The Fathom targets the same affordable-truck gap the F-150 Lightning's retreat left open, and its sub-$40,000 Canadian price point after incentives positions it as the most affordable electric pickup announced for the market.

Why the divergence?

Several factors explain the Canada-U.S. split:

• Different incentive structures: Canada's EV Affordability Program (up to $5,000 for BEVs, $2,500 for PHEVs) remains stable, while the U.S. federal tax credit has been volatile and model-restrictive.
• Model mix: GM Canada's stronger performance has been driven by the Equinox EV and Blazer EV — models that have struggled in the U.S. but found traction in Canada's crossover-heavy market.
• Dealer engagement: GM's nearly 200 Canadian dealers have leaned into EV certification and inventory, while some U.S. dealers have resisted the transition.
• Gas prices: Higher Canadian fuel prices improve the EV total-cost-of-ownership calculation.

What Canadian buyers should watch

For GM, the key question is whether the U.S. production cuts and model rationalization will constrain Canadian supply. The Equinox EV's 92% U.S. drop suggests GM may be deliberately winding down that generation ahead of a refresh — if so, Canadian inventory could tighten.

For Ford, the Fathom represents a clean-sheet opportunity. The truck's universal electric platform, bidirectional power, BlueCruise compatibility, and Maverick-sized footprint make it a credible daily driver for Canadians who need truck utility but not F-150 scale. The 2027 pre-order window gives buyers time to evaluate, but early deposit holders typically get priority allocation.

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