The End of EV Tax Credit Creates a Sales Window for Dealers

ZeroSum's Data shows which regions and models are capturing the surge—and how to position your dealership for post-credit market conditions 

The $7,500 EV tax credit ends September 30, 2025. President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4 includes this sunset provision, creating a 60-day window where EV sales are accelerating as consumers rush to capture the savings. 

ZeroSum's MarketAI platform data reveals significant regional variation in EV performance since the tax credit deadline was announced. 

Regional Performance Varies Significantly

The top 10 EV states control 69.8% of total U.S. EV movement, with California capturing 27.9% alone. However, state-by-state analysis reveals different response patterns to the tax credit deadline. 

California leads with +47% daily EV movement since July 4, while New York and New Jersey show minimal growth. The top-selling EV models span 13 different vehicles across these leading states, with three different models holding the #1 position depending on geography: Honda Prologue, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Chevrolet Equinox EV.  

Key insight: National EV trends don't predict local performance. MarketAI's regional data shows which models move fastest in specific markets, allowing dealers to optimize inventory mix and marketing spend based on actual local demand patterns. 

Current EV Market Context 

While EV sales are increasing, the broader market perspective remains important for inventory decisions. The top-performing EV nationally—Chevrolet Equinox EV—ranks 35th when all fuel types are included. Only four EVs appear in the top 100 best-selling models across all categories. 

This data indicates that EV momentum, while significant in specific markets, only represents a portion of total dealership revenue. High-performing dealers are balancing EV opportunity with gas and hybrid vehicle performance to maintain overall profitability. 

Strategic Approach for Dealers

Immediate opportunity (through September 30): 

• Use real-time inventory data to identify which EV models are moving fastest in your specific market 
• Adjust pricing strategies to capture tax credit urgency without compromising your margin goals 
• Target your marketing spend toward active EV shoppers with available inventory 

Post-credit preparation: 

• Plan inventory levels for reduced consumer affordability after September 30 
• Anticipate decreased OEM production investment in EV segments 
• Maintain a balanced portfolio approach with gas and hybrid vehicles 

How MarketAI Optimizes EV Performance 

ZeroSum's MarketAI platform automatically adjusts campaigns to target active EV shoppers with vehicles available in their area. Rather than manual campaign management, our team uses real-time inventory data to retarget qualified buyers when EV inventory needs to move.  

MarketAI provides VIN-level attribution and turn rate optimization, allowing dealers to track which marketing efforts drive actual EV sales rather than general leads. This approach delivers measurable ROI on EV marketing spend during the current surge period. 

Want to learn more? Schedule a time, and one of our MarketAI specialists will guide you through a 15-minute demo. Get an inside look at your competitive landscape and see VIN-level attribution in action. Book your demo here. 

Contributor: Josh Stoll, VP of Dealer Success, ZeroSum