The Electric Vehicle Market: A Graveyard of Discontinued Models
As the automotive world takes a hard look at its EV offerings, several major brands are cutting short their models that were once touted as the future of transportation. With a new administration in place, reduced tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), and a complex web of pricing, tariffs, and inflation, the market is becoming increasingly brutal.
Art Wheaton, an automotive expert at Cornell University, described the current state of EVs as "brutal." This sentiment is echoed by several brands that have announced plans to discontinue certain models. The Kia EV4, expected in the US in early 2026, has been delayed indefinitely, while Polestar's next electric sports car has also seen its launch date pushed back until 2028 or later.
The Dodge Charger Daytona electric muscle car and Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck are also facing significant changes to their lineups. The base trims for both vehicles have been axed, with the Charger's R/T trim no longer available and the Lightning's XLT trim being replaced by the pricier STX. There are whispers that the F-150 may be phased out in favor of a cheaper, smaller electric truck from Ford.
Tesla's Cybertruck is another model struggling to find its footing, despite its initial hype. Wheaton described it as "Dead On Arrival," stating that it will eventually be phased out. Meanwhile, Acura has decided to discontinue the ZDX, an electric SUV that was originally introduced in 2022 with a range of up to 325 miles.
The Genesis G80 Electrified is another model that has been discontinued by Hyundai Motor Company. Sales were stagnant, with less than 100 units sold in the US, and the last vehicle was sold in July 2023. However, a refreshed version will be available globally in 2026.
Nissan's Ariya, an electric SUV that struggled to find traction due to supply chain issues and limited range, has also been discontinued. Despite this, new EVs from other brands are on the horizon, including the Rivian R2 SUV, Sony Honda Mobility's Afeela 1, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, which will be its first electric model without the EQ nomenclature.
As the market becomes increasingly saturated with electric vehicles, it's clear that not all models will survive. The "delayed, but not dead" category is a fitting description for the Kia EV4, while the Polestar 6 convertible has seen its launch date pushed back to 2028 or later. One thing is certain: the electric vehicle market is evolving rapidly, and only those models that prove to be viable will succeed in this increasingly competitive landscape.
As the automotive world takes a hard look at its EV offerings, several major brands are cutting short their models that were once touted as the future of transportation. With a new administration in place, reduced tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), and a complex web of pricing, tariffs, and inflation, the market is becoming increasingly brutal.
Art Wheaton, an automotive expert at Cornell University, described the current state of EVs as "brutal." This sentiment is echoed by several brands that have announced plans to discontinue certain models. The Kia EV4, expected in the US in early 2026, has been delayed indefinitely, while Polestar's next electric sports car has also seen its launch date pushed back until 2028 or later.
The Dodge Charger Daytona electric muscle car and Ford F-150 Lightning pickup truck are also facing significant changes to their lineups. The base trims for both vehicles have been axed, with the Charger's R/T trim no longer available and the Lightning's XLT trim being replaced by the pricier STX. There are whispers that the F-150 may be phased out in favor of a cheaper, smaller electric truck from Ford.
Tesla's Cybertruck is another model struggling to find its footing, despite its initial hype. Wheaton described it as "Dead On Arrival," stating that it will eventually be phased out. Meanwhile, Acura has decided to discontinue the ZDX, an electric SUV that was originally introduced in 2022 with a range of up to 325 miles.
The Genesis G80 Electrified is another model that has been discontinued by Hyundai Motor Company. Sales were stagnant, with less than 100 units sold in the US, and the last vehicle was sold in July 2023. However, a refreshed version will be available globally in 2026.
Nissan's Ariya, an electric SUV that struggled to find traction due to supply chain issues and limited range, has also been discontinued. Despite this, new EVs from other brands are on the horizon, including the Rivian R2 SUV, Sony Honda Mobility's Afeela 1, and the Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, which will be its first electric model without the EQ nomenclature.
As the market becomes increasingly saturated with electric vehicles, it's clear that not all models will survive. The "delayed, but not dead" category is a fitting description for the Kia EV4, while the Polestar 6 convertible has seen its launch date pushed back to 2028 or later. One thing is certain: the electric vehicle market is evolving rapidly, and only those models that prove to be viable will succeed in this increasingly competitive landscape.
I feel for all these brands trying to make it in this crazy EV market 
. It's like, they're all investing so much time and money into these new electric vehicles, and now it seems like some of them just aren't gonna make the cut 
. I mean, can you imagine having a brand that's supposed to be innovative and forward-thinking, but ends up getting stuck with a bunch of models that nobody wants? 
But still, it's sad to see some of these electric SUVs just disappear into thin air 
. Like, what happened to the Acura ZDX? That was a great car! 
. We're gonna get rid of all the clunkers and be left with only the best electric vehicles out there 
. It's like, the market is doing us a favor by weeding out all the subpar models – now we just gotta be patient and wait for the ones that are really worth it 
.
! Like, have you seen those Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1 thingies? Whoa! 
like what happened to kia's ev4? was supposed to drop in 2026 but now it's just a big fat delay 
and polestar's not even sure if they'll make it out alive 
2028 or later is just a long time for a new car launch...
I'm not surprised to see some of these models getting axed, to be honest. It's like they were never meant to make it past the hype phase. 
The market is super competitive and brands need to adapt fast if they want to stay relevant. It's all about making a profit for them and not investing in models that aren't selling well.
I feel like we're losing some awesome EV options already 
and Polestar's launch date is now 2028 or later 
. The Dodge Charger Daytona and Ford F-150 Lightning are also changing their lineups big time 
.
. I'm curious to see which models will make it and which ones won't 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds for EVs 
, but they were like, super expensive and not many people could afford 'em. Nowadays, it's all about the EVs, but some brands are just getting out of the game, like Kia 
. I mean, what happened to the EV4? Wasn't that supposed to be a game-changer or something? 
And don't even get me started on Polestar pushing back their launch date... 2028?! 
That's like, forever in EV time! 
like the Dodge Charger Daytona and Ford F-150 Lightning. I'm all for trying out new things and it's not like they're just phasing them out because they're not good enough 
. The Kia EV4 was always a bit sketchy with its delayed release, and now it's just kinda... forgotten 
. It'll be interesting to see which ones actually stick around and which ones... don't 
. Are these models even viable in the first place, or is it just about keeping up appearances?