IMPORTANT

What’s New in EVs for 2025

Date: January 23, 2025

It’s been pedal to the metal for the electric car and truck industry for the past several years. Sales for EVs may have slowed this past year, but they are still outpacing their gas and diesel-powered counterparts. This coming year will feed more than two dozen new EV models into the mix. That should make for strong sales, especially if some of the more affordable models show up. 

 

Of course, every prediction has to have a caveat or two. New models don’t always appear when predicted. They also don’t always end up being priced or featured the same as the previewed version. This year we also may have changes in rebates, tax credits, tariffs for imports and changes in component prices.

 

Even with all those unsettling changes, I think 2025 will introduce some EV game changers. I know I’m not the only one waiting for some of these models to arrive. Here’s what to be on the lookout for.

 

What’s old is new again

 

The most anticipated model is the return of the classic Volkswagen Microbus as an electric van—the ID.Buzz. VW has been promoting the return of this minivan for several years to rave reviews. My colleagues who have had a chance to drive pre-production models say it delivers on its promise. It’s a little pricey, starting at around $60,000 (and the early versions will probably be even more expensive).

 

The ID.Buzz fills one hole in the EV market. Up to now the closest thing to an electric minivan has been the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid (PHEV).   

 

Affordable EVs

 

While some EVs currently on the market have prices less than the average cost of a new car ($48,000+), most are more expensive. Relief for EV buyers may arrive in 2025 if Tesla delivers its promised under $30,000 EV. Based on Tesla’s track record on new car introductions, we probably shouldn’t hold our collective breathe.

That said, Tesla is not the only one working on more affordable EVs. Chevrolet is planning on lower cost versions of the Silverado EV pickup and Blazer EV SUV. Then there are potential Chinese imports.

 

Big EVs

 

On the other end of the spectrum, it promises to be a big EV year–the Cadillac Vistiq, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Lucid Gravity, a Subaru model and the Toyota BZ5X are slated to arrive in volume. These are all three-row EVs, trying to muscle in on the market the Rivian R1S and Kia EV9 have cornered so far.

 

Other big (in price) electrics are scheduled next year from:

 

  • Aston Martin (the Valhalla, a PHEV),
  • Lamborghini,
  • at least one Range Rover EV,
  • Bentley and
  • a refreshed electrified lineup from Porsche.  

 

The EV news continues with new EVs from Mercedes (the CLA), Audi (A6 E-Tron Sportback sedan), a BMW X3-size EV, the Polestar 4 SUV, a Nissan Leaf replacement, a Lexus sedan EV and potentially a full-electric Jeep Wrangler.

 

Beyond pure EVs

 

Hybrids were a big hit in 2024, which means expect more in 2025. Kia has a new Sportage SUV that will come in gas-only, hybrid and PHEV versions. Honda is bringing back the Prelude nameplate as a hybrid. Subaru has Outlook and Forester hybrids coming as well. Ram plans to introduce a Ramcharger range extender version of its pickup.

 

And those are just the models we know about.

 

About the author 

Michael Coates is an internationally recognized expert on automotive environmental issues. He publishes the Clean Fleet Report (https://cleanfleetreport.com/), writes for a variety of publications and also consults in the automotive industry.