Fueling the Shift: Hybrids Continue to Gain Momentum

by John Howard 2 min read July 7, 2025

car driving

While Experian is known as a trusted source for credit insights, we have built a reputation for helping car shoppers, dealers, and lenders make informed decisions with confidence in the automotive space. Leveraging the value of data is key for identifying the latest trends in markets, behaviors, and industry changes.

In fact, Experian’s Automotive Market Trends Report: Q1 2025 revealed the latest shifts in alternative fuel type registrations.

Through the first quarter of this year, data found that growth in retail registrations for electric vehicles (EVs) is slowing compared to previous years, reaching 7.8%, down from 7.9% last year and 7.1% the year prior. Meanwhile, hybrids increased to 13.6% of new retail registrations through Q1 2025, from 11.3% through Q1 2024 and 8.8% through Q1 2023.

Some of the uptick in hybrids may be attributed to consumers’ concerns with EV charging infrastructure and range anxiety. Hybrids are known to offer practical middle grounds—with the convenience of refueling and not having to plan longer trips around charging availability, this fuel type is becoming a more ideal choice for some.

Vehicle preferences continue to vary by age group

Through Q1 2025, Gen Z accounted for 14.8% of new retail hybrid registrations and 8.4% of EV registrations, while Millennials made up 15.9% for hybrid and 11.4% for EVs. On the other hand, Baby Boomers were at 16.3% for hybrids and 5.9% for EVs this quarter.

Younger generations have naturally gravitated towards the gas-alternative fuel types as it aligns with their current lifestyle, including everyday commuting and the tech-forward features that these vehicles offer.

As the automotive industry continues to evolve, staying attuned to the shifting landscape is essential. We’re committed to delivering insights that will help professionals make forward-looking decisions and stay ahead of the curve.

To learn more about vehicle market trends, view the full Automotive Market Trends Report: Q1 2025 presentation on demand.

Related Posts

How Union Credit Expands Access to Credit Unions with Experian

Discover how Union Credit and Experian help credit unions reach younger consumers through personalized digital lending experiences.

Published: July 1, 2026 by Scarlet.Nickel@experian.com

Explore how Experian Verify™ and Mezzo’s Centro orchestration engine are helping mortgage lenders modernize income and employment verification, reduce workflow complexity, and make faster, more confident lending decisions at scale.

Published: July 1, 2026 by Lizel Ferrer
Used EV Growth Signals a New Phase of Consumer Purchasing Behavior

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution isn’t slowing down, it’s changing lanes. While recent conversations have seemingly focused on softening demand for new EVs, the used segment has been gaining momentum. According to Experian Automotive’s 2025 EV Year in Review Report, new retail individual EV registrations fell 35.9% year-over-year. Meanwhile, the used retail individual EV registrations grew 25.4% from a year ago. As affordability and growing model availability reshapes consumer behavior, buyers are increasingly turning to pre-owned EVs, which has shown an interesting market divergence that is redefining how consumers are adopting this segment and what it can mean for automakers, dealers, and the overall industry. Key players behind rising used EV demand Notably, Tesla accounted for over half (60.5%) of used retail individual EV registrations in 2025, followed by Chevrolet at 6.4% and Nissan (5.5%). Diving a bit deeper, Tesla made up the top three models of the used individual registrations last year, with the Model 3 coming in at 27.2%, Model Y at 21.7%, and Model S (6.6%). The Chevrolet Bolt EV followed at 4.8% and the Nissan Leaf was at 4%. Tesla’s position as the leading make in the used EV market is a natural extension of its long-standing dominance in new EV sales. The brand’s leadership over the years created a large fleet of vehicles that are now entering the pre-owned market. What the used EV boom means for automotive professionals The growing demand for used EVs can present more opportunities for automotive professionals. Dealers that provide a healthy supply of pre-owned EVs can increase accessibility and play a role in adoption for consumers who are actively looking to purchase, while marketers can emphasize value and ownership benefits. As the market continues to evolve, automotive professionals who understand and respond to these changing dynamics will be best positioned to capitalize on the expanding pool of used EV shoppers. To learn more about EV insights, visit Experian Automotive’s EV Resource Center.

Published: June 30, 2026 by Kirsten Von Busch

Subscribe to our Auto blog

Enter your name and email for the latest updates.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.