Let’s break down the best American-made EVs to watch out for in 2024.
A lot is happening in the world of electric vehicles these days, with growing consumer demand and expanded federal tax incentives. Zero-emission EVs, SUVs, and EV pickup trucks are all on the roster for new and well established automakers in 2024/25. Here are the best American-made EVs I think are worth a look this year.
Why go for an American-made EV? One great reason is that the Federal EV Tax Credit, AKA the Clean Vehicle Credit, only applies to EVs assembled in the US, with a bonus if that EV also uses batteries manufactured in North America. That could net you $7,500 off your new EV right at the dealership!
(To find out more about how to tell whether a car is American-made, see below.) .
See also: Which electric cars have the longest pure electric range (and the best chargers to charge them).
Our top picks
Fisker PEAR 2025/26
Highlights: Incredibly affordable (starting price target sub $30k), the Fisker PEAR electric crossover is perfect for urban living, built with recycled materials, and due for release in 2025/26.
Fisker’s oddly named EV is actually an acronym: Personal Electric Automotive Revolution.
The Fisker PEAR EV is slated to revolutionize urban driving, by bringing all-electric mobility to folks currently priced out of the game. With a starting price of $29,900, you could get your hands on a PEAR for just over $22k with incentives.
It remains to be seen if the PEAR is a lemon, but my money is on this being an excellent accessible entry into EV ownership.
This compact SUV boasts a:
- Solar roof that generates power
- Panoramic windshield inspired by glider planes
- Retractable “Houdini Trunk” for easy cargo loading.
The PEAR will be available in builds offering seating for up to six passengers.
And the PEAR’s range? Estimates suggest up to 320 miles, which means you could easily take your PEAR from city to country without range anxiety.
The PEAR will roll out from the Lordstown Assembly factory in Ohio and will feature recycled materials and components. This plant is also expected to use 100% renewable energy.
Tesla Model Y
Highlights: One of the best-selling EVs in the US, with great range, performance, and access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
The Tesla Model Y is a tried and tested midsize all-electric SUV that is surprisingly affordable, starting at $44,630 for the base rear-wheel drive model.
The Model Y gets you up to 330 miles on a single charge and is spacious and versatile. You can choose to seat seven comfortably or use the 76.2 cu. ft. cargo space to lug around whatever you need.
Sleek and fast, the Y reaches 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, making this both a sustainable and exhilarating performance vehicle. You also get over-the-air software updates and features like Autopilot, along with access to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2025
Highlights: Set to be one of the most affordable EVs on the market, the Chevy Bolt EUV makes a comeback for 2025, without the defective batteries and size issues and with even greater range (maybe 600 miles!).
Set to be built at GM’s Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan, the Chevrolet Bolt EV Crossover (or EUV) is slated to return for 2025 after some serious teething issues for its first incarnation. In fact, Chevy discontinued the Bolt EUV and Bolt EV in 2023, with massive recalls for safety reasons (battery fires mainly).
The upcoming EUV will use GM’s Ultium battery platform, giving it even greater range.
Most Ultium models are getting 300+ miles and some experts suggest the Chevy EUV may get closer to 600, though figures haven’t been released yet.
The new Chevy EUV should also be roomier than before, with Chevy taking on board one of the most common criticisms of the model. It should also boast GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system and NACS charging, meaning you’ll be able to use Tesla’s Supercharger network.
Personally, I’ve got my eye on a used Chevy EUV where the battery replacement has already happened. This should still net me 250 miles range, which is pretty good for an electric SUV, though not as much as the BMW iX.
Tesla Model 3
Highlights: Tesla’s most affordable model, the Model 3 sedan, offers great performance, efficiency, and access to the Supercharger network.
The Tesla Model 3 changed the game for sustainable transportation. Powered by a lithium-ion battery and zero-emission electric motors, it has a range of up to 341 miles on a single charge, removing any lingering range anxiety.
The Model 3 also has a vegan interior made from recycled and renewable materials. It gives you access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network, and the Model 3 starts at $40,380, making it as affordable as an ICE vehicle but far better for the planet.
Chevrolet Corvette EV 2025
Highlights: Rumored to be coming in 2025, the Chevy Corvette could tempt longtime Corvette fans into going electric.
After some EV setbacks, Chevy is still rumored to be releasing a Corvette EV sports car in 2025, in addition to a Corvette EUV and the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV. The Corvette’s cover was originally blown by none other than President Biden!
The Corvette EV will most likely be built at the Bowling Green Assembly along with all other Corvettes. This Kentucky facility has made more than one million Corvettes since it started in 1981 and is about as green as a car manufacturing plant can get (other than Fisker’s plant). It boasts:
- A large solar array
- LED lighting
- Dry scrubber technology in the paint shop
- Other endeavors aiming to reduce the plant’s environmental footprint.
Overall, the Corvette EV looks set to be American-made, eligible for the tax credit, and quite a bit more eco-friendly than many other EVs. Chevy Corvettes (non-EV) are also near the top of the Made in America Auto Index 2020 with 64% American-made content.
Lucid Air Dream AWD
Highlights: California-based Lucid Motors offers a class-leading range of up to 419 miles in the sub $70k Air Dream.
Made in Casa Grande, Arizona, the Lucid Air Dream is a midsize electric sedan with a massive 410-419 miles of range on a single charge. Formerly know as Atieva, Lucid is an American car company specializing in EVs as well as energy storage.
The Lucid Air Dream Edition is the company’s first release and features a dual-motor, 430-horsepower all-wheel-drive architecture with a 4.5 second 0-60 mph time, setting it apart from other electric sedans. It may also be the fastest charging EV on the market.
When connected to a DC Fast Charging network, the Lucid Air Dream Edition charges at up to 20 miles per minute, with 300 miles of travel time in just 20 minutes of charging. This EV can reach 270 mph when pushed and has a slick interior to rival an Audi.
Incredibly, the Lucid Air Dream edition starts at just $69,900, which is nearly $100k less than the price of the Limited Edition Air Dream from 2021. That also means the Lucid is eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits in the US.
Ford F-150 Lightning
Highlights: Affordable, attractive, workhorse of a truck, and all-electric, with plenty of useful features.
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning EV Truck is built in Dearborn, Michigan, using batteries made at Ford’s Rouge Center, making this one of the most ‘made in America’ EV pickups out there.
While the Rivian R1T has better off-roading capacity and greater towing power, it can’t pack as much in its bed as the F-150. The F-150 is also much more affordable.
I’ve seen the F-150 in action and was impressed by all the bangs and whistles on this truck. Ford seems to have thought of everything, with my favorite feature being the well-equipped Mega Frunk, boasting:
- 4 Pro Power Onboard 120V outlets for a total of 2.4kW of exportable power
- One USB-C outlet
- One USB-A outlet.
That means you can run power tools, your laptop, and even a microwave or a TV right from your truck, should you wish. Basically, for the down payment on a house, you could probably just live in the new F 150 EV and be pretty happy about it.
The most impressive thing though is that the EV Lightning is priced very similarly to an ICE pickup, and with the federal tax credit of $7,500, this is easily one of the most affordable electric pickup trucks available in the US, compared to Tesla’s Cybertruck and the Rivian R1T.
The F-150 is slated for a full remodel for 2026, though, so if you want to see what Ford has up its sleeve, you may want to wait on this one.
Rivian R1T Electric Truck
Highlights: American-made workhorse of a truck, with tons of functionality in an eye-catching design.
The Rivian R1T is one of the best American made EVs and my wife’s current obsession. While I don’t see the R1T joining our family anytime soon, it could well be my electric pickup of choice if the time comes. Why? Because this pickup has a battery system able to handle anything from 130 F to -25 F (pretty handy for Canada!), and a range from 270-400 miles.
The R1T has a quad-motor, can reach 60 mph in 3 seconds, has a towing capacity of up to 11,000 lbs. and a wading depth of more than 3 ft. It also boasts matte-black finishes throughout and vegan leather seating, and specially tuned audio with removable (i.e., portable) Bluetooth speaker.
The Rivian EV truck offers storage in the bed, front trunk, rear storage bin, under-seat compartments, center console and gear tunnel, amounting to more than 68 cubic feet of storage. It even boasts a pull-out camp kitchen, which is why I’ve included it in my best conversion vans for mobile living. The R1T starts are $70,500 and most builds have an MSRP under the eligibility threshold for the tax credit.
These trucks are built at the former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois.
Rivian R1S
Highlights: A capable three-row electric SUV from the American EV startup Rivian, with a range of 352 miles.
Built in Illinois, the Rivian R1S is the company’s flagship EUV. Starting at $85,000 with 315 miles of range, the R1S can handle driving in up to 3 feet of water, can rock crawl at a 100% grade, has 14 inches of ground clearance, reaches 60 mph in 3 seconds and handles like a sports car. I’m sold!
The R1S boasts the same quad-motor (one for each independent wheel) as the R1T truck but a little less towing power (up to 7,700 lbs.). It has an ultra-low center of gravity for safer handling, boasts that same panoramic roof as the R1T, and can seat up to 7. The second-row seats fold 60/40 with the third-row splitting 50/50, making it easy to optimize seating and storage as needed (there’s a solid 108 cubic ft. of storage available!).
One other feature I love, given that I’m not overly tall, is the R1S’s automatic height adjustment capability. When parked, you can lower the height to just 8.1 inches off the ground, making it far easier to get a squirming child into a car seat, load your groceries, or persuade bulky gear into the storage space. This, to me, is the kayaking/camping/soccer mom EV of my future. And since the seats fold nearly flat, there’s plenty of scope for stargazing in comfort.
Tesla Cybertruck
Highlights: Hideous, wedge-shaped pick-up truck that fancies itself a space vehicle. (Or, beloved futuristic truck with good range and towing capacity, depending on your preferences.)
If you’ve been salivating over a Cybertruck for a while, now isn’t a bad time to take the plunge. Tesla has cut prices to achieve economies of scale and Cybertrucks are actually rolling out across America (and Canada!).
The Cybertruck is built in Austin, Texas, at the Gigafactory, and the wedge-shaped stainless steel truck boasts 11,000 lb. towing capacity, and a range of 250-340 miles depending on the build.
The Cybertruck can also seat 6, has 100 cubic feet of storage space and you can raise or lower the 16-inch clearance suspension by 4 inches.
The forthcoming rear-wheel drive Cybertruck is set for release in 2025 and priced at $60,990. Currently available builds are set for delivery in 2025 and cost up to $99,900 for the Cyberblast three-motor AWD.
Cadillac Lyriq
Highlights: Cadillac’s first electric SUV, the Lyriq is new for 2024, has a range of up to 312 miles, and is surprisingly affordable.
The Cadillac Lyriq crossover is a station wagon style EUV and one of the first of GM’s cars to use its Ultium battery technology. The EV Cadillacs are built at the Spring Hill Manufacturing factory in Tennessee for models sold in North America, qualifying them for the tax credit.
Best of all, the Lyriq starts at just under $59k!
The Cadillac Lyriq can seat 5, offers a range of 307-314 miles on a single charge, and has a dual on-board charging package available. The Lyriq can charge at up to 52 miles per charging hour on a Level 2 (AC) charger or 76 miles in just 10 minutes at a fast-charging DC charger.
The Lyriq comes with Chevy’s SuperCruise system for hands-free driving on certain roads and has an interior full of wizardry, including a 33-inch diagonal advanced LED display.
Volkswagen ID.7
Highlights: Sophisticated, safe, and sustainable, the ID.7 is also rather affordable and offers up to 300 miles per charge.
Following up on the ID.4, Volkswagen plans to start releasing its latest all-electric vehicle, the ID.7 in summer 2024. With estimated prices starting at $50,000, the ID.7 will qualify for the federal tax credit and become one of the most affordable and stylish EV sedans in America.
With all the sleek sophistication expected of VW, the ID.7 is both aerodynamic and spacious, and is set to have a range of up to 300 miles per charge.
VW includes three years of fast charging for free at Electrify America DC charging stations (found on most major highways across the US).
The Volkswagen ID.7 will roll out from the VW Chattanooga plant in Tennessee later this year and you can register your interest now at VW.
Is this car made in America?
The ‘made in America’ question is a bit complex when it comes to cars and trucks. Sometimes, a lot of the content of a vehicle is made in other countries and then undergoes final assembly in the US. Other times, parts are made in the US and final assembly happens elsewhere. And in a handful of cases a company will have their HQ in the US but not actually make cars in America.
To qualify for the EV tax credit, a car must be assembled in America.
If you’re not sure about a particular vehicle, here are four ways to find out where it was assembled:
- Check the VIN – US Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) usually start with one, four, or five (two is for Canada and three is for Mexico; VINs for Japan and Korean start with the letters J and K respectively).
- Look up the AALA data (the American Automobile Labeling Act) – This has to be displayed on all new cars sold in the US, with data available on the National Highway and Transportation Administration’s website. This information is updated quarterly, but is often incomplete, unfortunately, especially if companies (ahem, Tesla) don’t always provide info in a timely manner.
- Check the American University Kogod Made in America Auto Index – This index is often outdated but can still be a good indicator of which automakers likely produce EVs in the US.
Final thoughts
The future is bright for EVs, especially with such a wide range of sedans, sports cars, EUVs, and trucks already on the market. Automakers are almost all on board with the electric revolution, and now most major carmakers have dipped their toes in the water, I’m confident the next iteration of EVs and EUVs will be even better.
There’s also a strong trend for price decreases in the EV and EUV market, with much more affordable EVs now available. This is likely due to supply chains improving and cost efficiencies as more folks switch to EVs, but I also see many manufacturers putting out builds to qualify for the EV tax credit, which helps lower prices even further.
The Bolt EV production has stopped.
We own a Bolt from 2017. There is a danger for the battery to catch fire.
First, GM promised to repair the battery, then to replace the battery.
Guess what, just found out that they will NOT repair the car/battery and that they will buy the vehicles back at some price.
So far for my investment in green energy.
What company sold 22,000 ev cars last year