U.S. car sales decline in February as EV market share drops
U.S. new car sales fall in February with EV share down and prices up
U.S. car sales decline in February as EV market share drops
U.S. new car sales projected at 1.183 million units in February, a 3.8% decline. EV market share drops to 6.6%, while hybrids grow. Average price rises to $46,303.
2026-02-24T03:39:16+03:00
2026-02-24T03:39:16+03:00
2026-02-24T03:39:16+03:00
According to J.D. Power and GlobalData, new car sales in the U.S. are projected to reach 1.183 million units in February, marking a 3.8% decline compared to the same period last year. Retail sales are expected to hit 931,400 vehicles, down 4.6% from last year's figures. This matters because it highlights a shift in consumer preferences: EVs now account for just 6.6% of retail sales, a drop of 1.8 percentage points, while hybrids have grown to 13.5%.The average transaction price is set to rise to $46,303, up 2.7%. In practice, this means EVs will reach an average price of $46,528, while traditional models will average $46,097. However, discounts are growing unevenly. The average discount stands at $3,293, but for EVs, it still exceeds $10,000 and remains below last year's levels.For buyers, this is important since the average monthly loan payment is climbing to $811, and more consumers are opting for 84-month loans, which now make up nearly 13% of deals. Overall, the picture is straightforward: the average time a car sits on a dealer lot is 59 days, and the share of quick sales (under 10 days) has fallen to 26%.
U.S. car sales, new car sales, EV market share, hybrid cars, car prices, automotive industry, February sales, consumer trends
2026
Michael Powers
news
U.S. new car sales fall in February with EV share down and prices up
U.S. new car sales projected at 1.183 million units in February, a 3.8% decline. EV market share drops to 6.6%, while hybrids grow. Average price rises to $46,303.
Michael Powers, Editor
According to J.D. Power and GlobalData, new car sales in the U.S. are projected to reach 1.183 million units in February, marking a 3.8% decline compared to the same period last year. Retail sales are expected to hit 931,400 vehicles, down 4.6% from last year's figures. This matters because it highlights a shift in consumer preferences: EVs now account for just 6.6% of retail sales, a drop of 1.8 percentage points, while hybrids have grown to 13.5%.
The average transaction price is set to rise to $46,303, up 2.7%. In practice, this means EVs will reach an average price of $46,528, while traditional models will average $46,097. However, discounts are growing unevenly. The average discount stands at $3,293, but for EVs, it still exceeds $10,000 and remains below last year's levels.
For buyers, this is important since the average monthly loan payment is climbing to $811, and more consumers are opting for 84-month loans, which now make up nearly 13% of deals. Overall, the picture is straightforward: the average time a car sits on a dealer lot is 59 days, and the share of quick sales (under 10 days) has fallen to 26%.
