The EV graveyard: All the electric cars axed by automakers this year [Business Insider] Skip to main content

The EV graveyard: All the electric cars axed by automakers this year [Business Insider]

It was supposed to be the year of the electric takeover. Instead, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the EV graveyard. From Detroit to Stuttgart, automakers are pulling the plug on plug-in models faster than you can say "range anxiety." If you’ve been following the industry, you’ve probably noticed the headlines: production delays, slashed sales targets, and now, entire model lines being killed off. Let’s dig into the dirt and see which electric cars got the axe this year—and why.

First up, Ford. The Blue Oval has had a rocky relationship with EVs. After the Mustang Mach-E success and the F-150 Lightning’s rocky launch, Ford announced in early 2025 that it’s killing the Ford E-Transit Custom, the electric version of its popular delivery van. Why? Sales just weren’t there. Fleet buyers, the backbone of the commercial van market, balked at the $50,000-plus price tag and the reality of charging downtime. Ford said it will refocus on hybrid vans instead. The E-Transit Custom joins the scrapped Ford Focus Electric and the discontinued Ford C-Max Energi in the EV graveyard.

General Motors: The Bolt finally bites the dust

GM has been a strange player in the EV space. They hyped the Ultium platform, then had battery issues, then hyped it again. This year, the company quietly ended production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV. Yes, the Bolt—the affordable EV that made electric cars accessible to the masses—is dead. GM says they want to focus on "more profitable" EVs like the Blazer EV and Silverado EV, but let’s be honest: the Bolt was a sales darling. The problem? GM couldn’t make money on it. With a starting price under $27,000, the Bolt lost thousands per unit. Now, it joins the Cadillac ELR and the Chevy Spark EV in the history books.

Volkswagen: The ID.3 and ID.4 get the red pen

Volkswagen’s ID family was supposed to be the people’s EV. But 2025 has been brutal. VW announced it will discontinue the ID.3 and ID.4 in North America and Europe by the end of the year. The reason? Software glitches, delayed updates, and a general lack of demand. The ID. Buzz, the retro-styled electric van, will live on (for now), but the ID.3 and ID.4 are gone. VW cited "supply chain issues" and "changing consumer preferences," but most analysts point to the fact that the ID.4 simply couldn’t compete with the Tesla Model Y or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in range or charging speed. The ID.3, meanwhile, was a European-only model that never gained traction in a market flooded with cheaper Chinese EVs.

Mercedes-Benz: The EQC and EQS SUV get axed

Mercedes-Benz is rethinking its "Electric First" strategy. In a surprise move, Mercedes announced it will stop producing the EQC, its first mass-market electric SUV, as well as the EQS SUV. The EQC was plagued by mediocre range and high prices (starting at $70,000), while the EQS SUV, despite its luxury, suffered from complex tech and a design that divided buyers. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius said the company is "rebalancing" its portfolio toward hybrids and high-performance AMG EVs. The EQC and EQS SUV join the EQC 4x4² and the EQA hatchback in the graveyard. It’s a big shift for a brand that once promised to be all-electric by 2030.

Nissan: Goodbye, Leaf. Hello, nothing?

The Nissan Leaf was the original mass-market EV. But after 15 years, Nissan finally pulled the plug this year. The Leaf was outdated, with a tiny range (150 miles on a good day) and a Chademo charging port that was becoming impossible to find. Nissan said it’s focusing on the Ariya and the upcoming "e-Power" hybrids, but the Leaf’s death leaves a big hole in the affordable EV market. No surprise: the Leaf joins the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the BMW i3 in the "pioneer but obsolete" section of the graveyard.

Rivian: The R1T and R1S get cut (sort of)

Rivian fans, don’t panic—yet. This year, Rivian discontinued the base "Explore" trim of both the R1T pickup and R1S SUV. It also killed off the "Launch Edition" model. The reason? Supply chain constraints and a pivot to higher-margin trims. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe said the company needs to focus on "profitable growth" before rolling out the next-gen R2 platform. While not a full cancellation, the death of these entry-level trims effectively raises the starting price of a Rivian by $10,000, pushing it further out of reach for average buyers.

Why is this happening?

So, why are automakers killing EVs left and right? It’s not because people hate electric cars. It’s because they hate expensive electric cars. The reality is that EV battery costs remain high, and most automakers are losing money on every EV they sell. Add in rising interest rates, a pullback in government subsidies, and the fact that many buyers are waiting for cheaper models (like the $25,000 Tesla that still doesn’t exist), and you get a recipe for cancellations. Automakers are also realizing that hybrids are the real bridge technology—they sell better, cost less to produce, and don’t require massive charging infrastructure.

The EV graveyard of 2025 is a sobering sight. But it’s not the end of the electric dream. It’s a correction. Automakers are learning that you can’t force consumers into EVs before the price, range, and charging network are ready. The survivors will be the ones that adapt—like Hyundai with the Ioniq 6, or Tesla with the Cybertruck. As for the dead? They’ll be remembered as the pioneers who got us here. Rest in pieces.

Ahmed Abed – News journalist

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