The surge in electric-vehicle sales comes at the start of what experts predict will be a volatile year for the market.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are still climbing in the U.S., but it’s no longer Tesla leading the charge. In the first quarter of 2025, EV sales rose 11.4% year-over-year, according to Cox Automotive. Nearly 300,000 electric cars hit the road in Q1 — an encouraging sign for an industry facing questions about mainstream demand and policy uncertainty.

Californians further soured on Tesla in the first quarter, pulling down the electric-vehicle maker's registrations by 15% as backlash against Elon Musk's company intensified in the state that has embraced EVs most across the United States.