New EVs still cost less than a year ago, but September brought higher prices and smaller discounts, according to Electrek’s October 13, 2026 report on Kelley Blue Book data. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.
What EVs cost across the market
The average price paid for a new EV in the US was $55,879 in September. That is up about 2.4% from August’s revised $54,574, and down 3% from September 2025. Kelley Blue Book says a stronger mix of more affordable models helped pull the yearly average down.
The premium of an EV over a comparable gas or hybrid model was 11% in September. It has stayed near 11% through 2026, down from nearly 18% on average in 2025.
What Tesla buyers paid
Per the same report, Tesla’s average transaction price rose 3.3% from August to $54,345, and was up just 0.4% from a year earlier. Model 3 and Model Y made up nearly 97% of Tesla’s sales. Buyers paid an average of $53,804 for the Model 3 and $53,052 for the Model Y.
These are averages of what people actually paid, including options and paint. They are higher than the starting prices on Tesla’s site, so use them to budget for a typical configuration rather than the cheapest one.
Why discounts shrank
Automakers pulled back on EV incentives. Discounts averaged 11% of the price in September, the lowest this year and down from 14.2% a year earlier. At the average EV price, that works out to roughly $6,147. The report notes this is an industry average, so the offer on any one car will differ. September 2025 was the last month before the $7,500 federal tax credit expired, so last year’s incentives were unusually large.
What to do with this
- Price the exact trim and options you want, not the average.
- Ask about current incentives on the specific car, since they vary widely by model.
- Treat these figures as September data. October prices may differ.
