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Hybrid Vehicle Sales Overtake EVs in California in 2026
Hybrid vehicles have surpassed EVs in California registrations during the first half of 2026, led by strong demand for the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Hybrid vehicles are gaining momentum in America’s largest automotive market. New registration data shows that hybrid vehicle sales in California have surpassed electric vehicles during the first half of 2026, marking a significant shift in consumer preferences.
While California remains the nation’s largest EV market, more buyers are choosing hybrids thanks to their lower prices, improved fuel efficiency, and familiar driving experience.
Hybrids Take the Lead
According to the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), 22.1% of all new vehicle registrations during the first half of 2026 were hybrid models.
Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 15.9% of registrations.
The gap is considerably wider than last year, when EVs narrowly held the lead by less than one percentage point.

Hybrid vehicles now account for a larger share of new registrations in California than EVs.
Toyota Camry Leads the Passenger Car Market
The Toyota Camry Hybrid has become California’s best-selling passenger car, representing 15.5% of the state’s passenger car registrations.
Other top-selling models also offer hybrid versions, including:
- Toyota Corolla
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
The Tesla Model 3 remains the only fully electric vehicle among the five best-selling passenger cars, accounting for 7.7% of the segment.
Tesla Model Y Still Dominates SUVs
The SUV and pickup segment tells a slightly different story.
The Tesla Model Y remains California’s best-selling utility vehicle with 54,327 units sold, representing 8.4% of the segment.
However, hybrids continue to gain ground with popular models such as:
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- Honda CR-V Hybrid
- Toyota Tacoma Hybrid
- Ford F-Series Hybrid

The Tesla Model Y remains California’s best-selling SUV despite growing hybrid demand.
Why Buyers Are Choosing Hybrids
Several factors are driving the growth of hybrid vehicle sales in California.
Hybrid models typically cost less than fully electric vehicles while delivering excellent fuel economy.
They also eliminate concerns about charging infrastructure because drivers can refuel at traditional gas stations.
As more manufacturers introduce hybrid-only models—including the Toyota Camry and Toyota RAV4—consumer interest continues to increase.
California’s EV Market Remains Strong
Although hybrids are leading registrations, California continues to be the country’s largest electric vehicle market.
Registration trends varied among manufacturers during the first half of the year:
- Rivian registrations declined 28.3%
- Tesla registrations fell 6.5%
- Lucid registrations increased 22.7%
Toyota, Honda, and Tesla together accounted for nearly 40% of all new vehicle registrations across the state.
The latest figures suggest California buyers are increasingly favoring a balanced approach, with hybrids emerging as the preferred option for many consumers while electric vehicles continue to play a major role in the market.

Hybrid vehicles continue gaining popularity as buyers seek greater efficiency without changing their refueling habits.
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Dodge Unveils Super Bee and Purple Haze NHRA Race Cars
Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing are bringing new Super Bee and Purple Haze designs to NHRA drag racing as the series returns to Michigan for the first national event there in 66 years.
The event takes place September 18–20 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan. It will mark the first NHRA national event in the state in 66 years, giving Dodge an ideal setting to showcase its newest performance themes.
Team owner Tony Stewart joined Pruett and Hagan at the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills to reveal the new graphics ahead of the race.
Two TSR Dodge Cars Get a New Look
Pruett’s Top Fuel dragster and Hagan’s Funny Car will both carry the updated Dodge designs. The liveries combine the legendary Super Bee identity with the new Purple Haze exterior color developed for the 2027 Dodge Charger.
The combination is especially fitting for a brand that has spent decades building its identity around high-performance cars and bold visual designs.

Leah Pruett’s TSR Dodge Top Fuel dragster will carry the new Super Bee-themed livery at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals.
Each machine produces around 12,000 horsepower, creating an unmistakable connection between Dodge’s production performance cars and its NHRA racing program.
For Pruett, the Michigan event also represents an opportunity to add another victory to her growing Top Fuel record.
Matt Hagan Brings Purple Haze to Funny Car
Matt Hagan will race the new Purple Haze-themed TSR Dodge Funny Car. The four-time NHRA Funny Car champion enters the event as the 2026 regular-season champion and is now competing for another title during the six-race Countdown.
Hagan has already collected 58 career NHRA victories, all in the Funny Car category and all behind the wheel of a Dodge.

Matt Hagan’s TSR Dodge Funny Car receives a Purple Haze-inspired design ahead of the NHRA’s return to Michigan.
The new graphics give Hagan another distinctive Dodge identity for the championship stretch. He has already won three NHRA events in 2026 at Pomona, Bristol and Brainerd.
Hagan will now attempt to put the Super Bee logo in victory lane at one of the most significant races on this year’s NHRA calendar.
The 2027 Charger Super Bee Will Be on Display
The race weekend will also give fans their first opportunity to see the 2027 Dodge Charger Super Bee Launch Edition in person at the Manufacturers Midway.
The production model produces 600 horsepower from its SIXPACK powertrain, making it the most powerful Super Bee yet.
Dodge introduced the model earlier this summer at Roadkill Nights, where it was presented as the quickest, fastest and most powerful SIXPACK-powered Charger.

The 2027 Dodge Charger Super Bee Launch Edition will be displayed at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park during the NHRA weekend.
The new Purple Haze paint is also available to customers ordering the 2027 Charger. The limited-run color costs $795 and uses a high-gloss finish that changes its appearance depending on the lighting, becoming brighter in direct sunlight and deeper in the shade.
Dodge and NHRA Take the “Tour de Michigan” to the Track
Dodge is also turning the event into a broader enthusiast celebration with its NHRA Dodge “Tour de Michigan” cruise on September 17.
Owners of Dodge vehicles and performance cars from any brand can join the drive from Auburn Hills to Martin. The suggested route includes a stop in Hell, Michigan, before continuing toward U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
The cruise gives enthusiasts an opportunity to arrive at the race together while celebrating Michigan’s deeply rooted performance-car culture.
A Big Weekend for Dodge and Tony Stewart Racing
The Dodge Super Bee NHRA liveries bring together two sides of the brand’s performance identity. On one side are Pruett and Hagan’s 12,000-horsepower race cars, while on the other is the new 600-horsepower Charger Super Bee that represents Dodge’s latest street-performance technology.
The timing could hardly be better. NHRA is returning to Michigan for the first national event in 66 years, and Dodge is using the occasion to put its newest performance branding directly in front of racing fans.
For Tony Stewart Racing, the goal is even simpler: turn the new Super Bee and Purple Haze colors into trophies when the NHRA action begins at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park.
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2027 Ford F-150 Raptor and Tremor Get Major Price Cuts
Ford is making its off-road F-150 lineup more accessible for 2027 with new entry-level Tremor and Raptor trims that sacrifice some equipment for significantly lower prices.
Ford is making two of its most capable off-road pickups more affordable for 2027. The 2027 Ford F-150 Raptor and F-150 Tremor are both getting new entry-level versions that remove some comfort and convenience features while keeping the hardware needed for serious off-road driving.
The strategy is straightforward. Buyers who care more about performance than luxury can now get into a Tremor or Raptor for several thousand dollars less.
The new 2027 F-150 Tremor starts at $62,410 with destination, while the Raptor starts at $77,800.
2027 F-150 Tremor Drops $5,300
Ford has created a simpler Tremor by removing several features from the truck.
The new version borrows some equipment from the STX trim on which it is based, including its steering wheel. However, it loses dual-zone climate control, heated seats, a power-operated rear window and running boards.
The audio system has also been downgraded from the eight-speaker B&O setup to a six-speaker system.

The 2027 Ford F-150 Tremor starts at $62,410 with destination, making it $5,300 cheaper than the previous model.
Despite the equipment cuts, Ford has not positioned the new Tremor as a less capable off-road truck.
Instead, the changes target convenience and comfort features that buyers focused on trail performance may consider less important.
That allows Ford to lower the entry price without fundamentally changing the purpose of the Tremor.
Ford Also Creates a “Diet” Raptor
The 2027 Ford F-150 Raptor gets a similar treatment.
Ford removes the head-up display, power passenger seat, under-seat storage and fog lamps from the new entry-level version.
The truck’s Pro Power Onboard system is also reduced from 2.0 kW to 400 watts. Additionally, the power-adjustable steering column is replaced with a manual unit.

The entry-level 2027 Ford F-150 Raptor loses several comfort features but retains the performance hardware that defines the model.
The audio system sees another downgrade, moving from the 14-speaker setup to an eight-speaker B&O system.
However, Ford leaves the most important part untouched: the engine.
Raptor Keeps Its 450-HP EcoBoost
Under the hood, the standard Raptor continues using Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6.
It produces 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, preserving the performance buyers expect from Ford’s off-road flagship.
The Raptor R also remains available with its supercharged 5.2-liter V8. That engine continues to produce an impressive 720 horsepower.

The Raptor R keeps its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 and 720 horsepower for 2027.
That means Ford has separated luxury equipment from the core performance package. Buyers can spend less on a Raptor without giving up the engine that makes the truck special.
2027 Raptor and Tremor Pricing
The pricing changes are substantial.
The 2027 F-150 Tremor starts at $62,410, including the $2,795 destination charge. That represents a $5,300 reduction compared with the 2026 model’s $67,710 starting price.
Meanwhile, the 2027 F-150 Raptor starts at $77,800 with destination, which is $4,000 below the previous model’s $81,800 starting price.
Ford Makes Off-Road Performance More Accessible
The 2027 Ford F-150 Raptor and Tremor demonstrate a different approach to lowering vehicle prices. Rather than changing their fundamental off-road capabilities, Ford has removed equipment that is less important to performance-focused buyers.
The result is a pair of pickups that should appeal to customers who would rather save thousands of dollars than pay for luxury features they may rarely use.
For the Raptor, especially, the strategy is significant. A lower starting price gives more buyers access to the 450-horsepower EcoBoost V6 without forcing them to move into a more heavily equipped and expensive configuration.
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2027 Ford F-150 Gets a Bigger Base Engine and More V8 Options
Ford is giving the F-150 several important updates for 2027, including a larger base engine, more V8 availability and a new Carhartt package.
The 2027 Ford F-150 arrives with several changes aimed at keeping America’s best-known pickup fresh before the next major generation arrives. The biggest update sits under the hood, where Ford replaces the familiar 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 with a larger 3.0-liter EcoBoost.
The new twin-turbocharged V6 produces the same 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque as the outgoing engine. However, Ford says the larger displacement improves the truck’s everyday driving character by delivering its torque in a more useful way.
The update is joined by broader availability of the 5.0-liter V8 and an entirely new Carhartt package.
The F-150’s Base Engine Gets Bigger
For 2027, the 3.0-liter EcoBoost becomes the entry engine for the F-150, replacing the 2.7-liter unit that previously occupied that position.
Ford says the new engine maintains the same headline output, but chief program engineer Kelly Kohlstrand says the larger displacement provides “a little bit of a better everyday driving experience.”
That means Ford is not chasing a major horsepower increase with the change. Instead, the goal is to make the truck feel stronger and more responsive during normal use.

The 2027 Ford F-150 replaces its former 2.7-liter EcoBoost base engine with a larger 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6.
The rest of the core powertrain lineup carries over for 2027. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost remains available, while the 3.5-liter PowerBoost hybrid continues to produce 425 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque.
The high-performance Raptor lineup also continues, with the Raptor using the high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost and the Raptor R retaining its supercharged 5.2-liter V8.
Ford Brings the 5.0-Liter V8 Back to More Trims
The other major powertrain change involves the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8. Ford is expanding its availability for 2027, bringing the 400-horsepower engine to the King Ranch and Platinum trims.
That means buyers can now find the V8 across the F-150 range, from the work-focused XL all the way to the Platinum.

Ford expands 5.0-liter V8 availability for the 2027 F-150, including the King Ranch and Platinum trims.
The move gives customers more choice at a time when many full-size pickups are increasingly dependent on turbocharged engines and hybrid systems.
For buyers who still prefer the sound and character of a naturally aspirated V8, the expanded availability could make the 2027 F-150 considerably more appealing.
The F-150 Gets New Grilles and Wheels
Ford is also making several visual changes across the lineup.
The XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum grades receive redesigned grilles and wheels. The new design uses a wider split-bar treatment that gives the front end a slightly different appearance from the outgoing truck.
The same theme carries over to the new wheel designs, creating a more unified look across the updated models.
These changes are relatively subtle, but they help distinguish the 2027 trucks from their predecessors without requiring a major redesign.

The new F-150 Carhartt package adds unique exterior details and a workwear-inspired interior to the 2027 lineup.
Ford Gives the F-150 a Carhartt Makeover
The most distinctive addition to the 2027 lineup is the new F-150 Carhartt package.
Priced at $4,195, the package is available on 4×4 XLT Crew Cab models. It adds unique anodized wheels and exterior trim, Carhartt graphics and a branded spray-in bedliner.
Inside, the truck receives a two-tone cabin with specially embroidered seats carrying Carhartt branding. The logo also appears on the rear map pockets, while unique stitching is added to the steering wheel and door panels.
The package follows Ford’s earlier Carhartt collaboration on the Super Duty, bringing the same workwear-inspired theme to its smaller full-size pickup.
2027 Ford F-150 Pricing Starts at $40,585
The 2027 F-150 will start at $40,585 including destination charges, according to the supplied pricing information. That gets buyers an entry-level XL Regular Cab with rear-wheel drive.
The starting price represents a $500 increase over the previous model year.
Meanwhile, the F-150 Carhartt starts at $62,660 before destination charges. With the current $2,795 destination fee, that would put the estimated transaction price at $65,455.
Ford Makes the F-150 More Flexible for 2027
The 2027 Ford F-150 does not represent a complete redesign, but Ford has made several changes that matter to pickup buyers.
The new 3.0-liter EcoBoost gives the base truck a larger engine without changing its headline output, while the expanded 5.0-liter V8 availability gives buyers more ways to choose traditional V8 power.
Add in the refreshed exterior details and the new Carhartt package, and the F-150 enters 2027 with a broader range of configurations and a stronger focus on different types of truck buyers.
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