The Electric Vehicle Graveyard: Which Models Won't Make it to 2026
The car industry is undergoing a significant shift, with major brands announcing plans to discontinue certain electric vehicle (EV) models due to poor sales and increasing market competition. The new administration's policies, slashed tax incentives for EVs, and inflationary pressures have all contributed to the decline of these once-promising vehicles.
According to Art Wheaton, automotive expert and director of labor studies at Cornell University ILR School, "It's a brutal market, and the current administration isn't helping." This sentiment is echoed by the decision to delay or abandon several EV models that were previously expected to hit the market in 2026.
The Kia EV4, a highly anticipated electric sedan, has been delayed indefinitely for the US market. Its European counterpart will, however, arrive as a hatchback version. Polestar's next-generation electric sports car has also seen its release date pushed back to 2028 or later, which means the Polestar 7 SUV may be released before it.
Other EV models facing an uncertain future include the Dodge Charger Daytona and Ford F-150 Lightning, both of which are undergoing trim changes that are being met with skepticism by industry experts. While not necessarily "killing off" these vehicles entirely, the changes suggest a decline in interest and investment from Ford.
Tesla's Cybertruck remains on life support despite its underwhelming sales and ratings. Wheaton aptly describes it as "Dead On Arrival," waiting to be phased out of production. The vehicle's poor performance has raised questions about Tesla's ability to create a marketable EV model that can compete with established players like Rivian.
Meanwhile, several EV models have already met their demise. Acura has discontinued its ZDX electric SUV after selling fewer than 20,000 units in the US since its introduction in 2024. Genesis G80 Electrified also ended production in July 2025 due to stagnant sales of under 100 units per year.
Nissan's Ariya, another electric SUV struggling to gain traction, has seen its own sales decline despite being launched with significant fanfare. While new EVs are on the horizon from brands like Rivian and Sony Honda Mobility, the demise of these models serves as a stark reminder that the automotive industry is undergoing significant changes.
As 2026 approaches, it remains to be seen which EV models will manage to survive in an increasingly crowded market dominated by established players. However, one thing is clear: only time will tell if some of these models can turn their fortunes around and avoid becoming the latest additions to the electric vehicle graveyard.
The car industry is undergoing a significant shift, with major brands announcing plans to discontinue certain electric vehicle (EV) models due to poor sales and increasing market competition. The new administration's policies, slashed tax incentives for EVs, and inflationary pressures have all contributed to the decline of these once-promising vehicles.
According to Art Wheaton, automotive expert and director of labor studies at Cornell University ILR School, "It's a brutal market, and the current administration isn't helping." This sentiment is echoed by the decision to delay or abandon several EV models that were previously expected to hit the market in 2026.
The Kia EV4, a highly anticipated electric sedan, has been delayed indefinitely for the US market. Its European counterpart will, however, arrive as a hatchback version. Polestar's next-generation electric sports car has also seen its release date pushed back to 2028 or later, which means the Polestar 7 SUV may be released before it.
Other EV models facing an uncertain future include the Dodge Charger Daytona and Ford F-150 Lightning, both of which are undergoing trim changes that are being met with skepticism by industry experts. While not necessarily "killing off" these vehicles entirely, the changes suggest a decline in interest and investment from Ford.
Tesla's Cybertruck remains on life support despite its underwhelming sales and ratings. Wheaton aptly describes it as "Dead On Arrival," waiting to be phased out of production. The vehicle's poor performance has raised questions about Tesla's ability to create a marketable EV model that can compete with established players like Rivian.
Meanwhile, several EV models have already met their demise. Acura has discontinued its ZDX electric SUV after selling fewer than 20,000 units in the US since its introduction in 2024. Genesis G80 Electrified also ended production in July 2025 due to stagnant sales of under 100 units per year.
Nissan's Ariya, another electric SUV struggling to gain traction, has seen its own sales decline despite being launched with significant fanfare. While new EVs are on the horizon from brands like Rivian and Sony Honda Mobility, the demise of these models serves as a stark reminder that the automotive industry is undergoing significant changes.
As 2026 approaches, it remains to be seen which EV models will manage to survive in an increasingly crowded market dominated by established players. However, one thing is clear: only time will tell if some of these models can turn their fortunes around and avoid becoming the latest additions to the electric vehicle graveyard.
thinkin about this its like how we invest our hopes and dreams into somethin new and exciting but then reality hits and it just doesnt pan out 
i mean look at the Kia EV4 it was supposed to be all rainbows and unicorns but now its just a sad story of delays and uncertainty 
and then when it all falls apart its like "what happened? where did it go wrong?" 
we just gotta roll with the punches and see what happens next 
they dont want evs thriving cuz they know it'll disrupt their profits. its all part of the shadow agenda. look at tesla, they're being held back by their own hype machine. its like they wanted to make sure rivian would come in and steal the spotlight. meanwhile, kia's ev4 is getting pushed to who knows when...its fishy 
I'm not surprised to see so many EVs getting axed. The whole market has become super saturated with all these new brands coming out. It's like, how are people supposed to keep track of all these options?! 
I mean, I love my Tesla Cybertruck (kinda), but seriously, it's just not selling that well. And the Kia EV4? Delayed indefinitely? That's like, what's up with that?! 
Not just slapping an electric motor in a old design and calling it a day. Like, come on guys! Get your layout right (get it? format freak 
), design something that actually turns heads! 
Anyway, back to the topic. It's clear that some EVs are struggling to stay alive in this crowded market. Maybe it's time for them to take a step back and reevaluate their whole strategy? 
. Who cares about the environment when you're just gonna make more money off people's anxiety about climate change? The fact that some models are getting axed because they didn't sell well is just proof that there's not enough demand for these cars. It's like, come on, guys, you can't just manufacture a car and expect it to magically become popular 
. And don't even get me started on the delay for the Kia EV4 - who needs it anyway?
. Poor Kia EV4, Polestar is pushing back their release date again... what's wrong with these companies? Can't they catch a break?
. I mean, who wants to buy a car that performs like crap? It's like they're trying to kill the EV industry or something 
.
. Maybe it's time for them to rethink their strategies?
. It feels like they're just going away without a fight 
.
Can't we just get it right for once? 
Like, what's going on?! The Kia EV4 was supposed to be a game-changer, but now it's just getting a hatchback version? 
It's like, the industry needs a refresh, you know? But at the same time, I feel for all these EVs that got dropped – they just weren't good enough 
. Like, what went wrong with Tesla's Cybertruck? 
.
Can we please get some new EVs that'll actually make a splash? 
.
.
, though. Maybe they can use that intel to revamp their existing models or come up with new ones that will really hit the mark 
. And hey, at least there are plenty of new EVs on the horizon – it's like a fresh start for the industry! 
. But seriously, have you guys noticed how hard it is for new EV models to stand out in this market? Like, what even is the point of the Cybertruck now 
. And I gotta say, Tesla's Cybertruck is basically dead on arrival... wait, no, that's exactly what Wheaton said, but I'm still kinda torn about it 
and all, but I guess it's not that simple. Maybe it's just the price thing? 
the industry's just evolving fam gotta keep up with the times 
. Time will tell if any of these models can turn it around and survive in the wild