EV Dealers on the Rise

U.S. non-Tesla auto dealers selling electric vehicles have more than tripled, a new report says.

Automotive researcher and vehicle search engine iSeeCars said non-Tesla new-vehicle dealers jumped from about 17% to 55% in the three years ended in November. During the same period, non-Tesla EV market share grew 800%.

The study reviewed inventory of more than 82,000 new- and used-vehicle dealers, counting those that offered at least one EV for sale in each month.

Interestingly, the small states of Delaware, Hawaii and Rhode Island led in the percentage of new-vehicle dealers selling EVs, the study found. Not surprisingly, largely rural states lagged. Charging infrastructure is significantly more limited in rural areas than in urban spots.

Used-EV dealers grew from 17% to 29% in the three-year period. According to study results, they’re concentrated in California, Utah and Washington.

ISeeCars credits surging EV production for EV dealer and sales growth, pointing out that many brands didn’t count an EV in their lineups three years ago. It expects that the trickle-down effect of EV manufacturing growth during the study period will continue to grow the used market.

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