- Carmakers initially pitched plug-in hybrids as a bridge toward electrification. Now, several models have been discontinued.
- Stellantis has led the pack, cutting five plug-in hybrids.
- A new kind of electric-gas combination powertrain is getting a ton of investment from US automakers.
US automakers are still building electric vehicles and rolling out gas-powered trucks. But plug-in hybrids — once pitched as a compromise between gasoline cars and fully electric vehicles — are quickly disappearing from American showrooms.
Plug-in hybrids combine a cord-chargeable battery with a gasoline engine, allowing drivers to travel short distances on electricity alone before switching to gas on longer trips.
Unlike conventional or "mild" hybrids, which use small batteries to assist a gasoline engine and don't get an electrical socket, plug-in hybrids were designed to cut fuel use without requiring a full commitment to an EV.
Despite years of promotion, that powertrain is now being phased out across much of the industry, leaving several major automakers without any plug-in hybrids in their US lineups.
"Consumers really don't seem to like them," Kevin Roberts, the director of market intelligence at CarGurus, told Business Insider. "The sales figures are low and declining."
In January, year-over-year sales of plug-in hybrids fell 51.8%, according to CarGurus data. That happened while mild-hybrid sales jumped by 12.7%.
For months, the average sticker price of plug-in hybrids has continued to climb, even as demand waned. The average plug-in hybrid listed for $70,565 in January 2026, up from $62,079 a year earlier.
As demand has weakened and prices have risen, automakers have begun pulling plug-in hybrids out of their US lineups.
The most dramatic retrenchment has come from Stellantis. Over the past year, the automaker has canceled or discontinued several plug-in hybrid models, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Alfa Romeo Tonale hybrid, and Dodge Hornet R/T.
Stellantis told Business Insider it is focusing instead on "more competitive electrified solutions, including hybrid and range-extended vehicles."
Ford is ending production of the Escape and Lincoln Corsair — including their plug-in hybrid variants — leaving the automaker without any plug-in hybrids in its American lineup. Kia has ended US sales of the Niro plug-in hybrid.
Last year, Volvo stopped US production of the S60 and V60 Recharge, including their plug-in hybrid variants, as part of "normal lifecycle planning," the company told Business Insider.
While 18% of Volvo's US vehicle sales last year had a plug, the automaker has said it wants electrified vehicles — including plug-in hybrids and fully electric models — to account for 90% to 100% of global sales by 2030.
Still, a wave of decisions to remove or wind down plug-in hybrid models has rapidly thinned inventory across the industry. Availability of plug-in hybrids on US dealer lots fell 46.9% over the past year, according to CarGurus dealership data.
The retreat comes as American car companies reassess their electric strategies. The Detroit Big Three have announced tens of billions of dollars in losses tied to electrification investments, while Chinese automakers — led by BYD, the world's best-selling EV car brand last year — have continued expanding electric and hybrid production and gaining market share abroad.
The lineup changes have been costly for the car brands. Stellantis announced a $26 billion write-down tied to its broader electrification strategy, including discontinued plug-in models.
"Automakers probably dislike plug-in hybrids the most," Roberts added. "It's the most expensive option out there — you have to put in all the hardware for an EV, plus all the hardware for a combustion vehicle. Then, you have to add all the additional components to make them work together."
'A significantly different path'
The plug-in hybrid pull-back stands out because it hasn't been mirrored across other powertrains. Automakers continue to produce battery-electric vehicles and conventional hybrids.
The other big bet among automakers is investing in range-extended electric vehicles, which rely primarily on electric motors but house small gas generators that can recharge batteries mid-drive. They're often called EREVs.
Many prototypes boast a range of 500 to 700 miles and get better gas mileage than combustion engines.
Ford announced plans to build a full-size EREV pickup by 2027. Stellantis' Ram 1500 will have an EREV option this year.
Volkswagen is also reviving the Scout brand of SUVs and pickups, including extended-range models. The company's CEO recently told InsideEVs that about 80% of reservations so far have been for EREVs.
While Chinese automakers have leaned heavily into plug-in hybrids and extended-range vehicles as a mass-market bridge to electrification, US automakers appear to be abandoning plug-in hybrids in favor of a more polarized strategy — betting on either simpler hybrids or fully electric vehicles.
Roberts of CarGurus said the plug-in hybrid retreat can't stop the global momentum toward a fully-electric future.
"I still think the long-term trend is toward EVs," he added. "It's just going to be a significantly different path."
