World’s Best-Selling Car Is the Tesla Model Y
For the first time in history the most popular new car across the planet is electric. Tesla sold more than 1.2 million Model Ys in 2023 to put it ahead of Toyota’s RAV4 which had sales of 1.07 million and Corolla which found 1.01 million buyers.
Topping the charts in Europe and China enabled the Model Y to lead the field in total world sales, despite it sitting in only fifth place in the United States, behind the RAV4, Dodge Ram, Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-Series.
Overall, more than 456,000 Model Ys were sold in China, representing a 45% increase on 2022, more than 255,000 Model Ys found homes in Europe, and almost 386,000 hit the road in the U.S.A. As a result the Model Y counted for two-thirds of all Teslas sold globally.
Much of the success can be attributed to an extremely aggressive pricing strategy which saw Tesla slashing the cost of a Model Y by as much as $10,000 to undercut rivals. “The price cuts over the course of the year, combined with Tesla’s reputation as a reliable and competitive EV manufacturer, helped to fuel already high demand,” explained JATO Dynamics analyst, Felipe Munoz who crunched the numbers. “As a result, Tesla is front of mind for many consumers looking to purchase an EV.”
Tesla had to increase production at its plant in Berlin—which only makes the Model Y—to 375,000 units, while in Shanghai, China almost one million Model Ys and Model 3s were built.
“Today the best-selling vehicle on the planet is an EV,” Tesla reported during its fourth-quarter earnings call. For those who still believe the world is not ready for the switch to electric cars these numbers paint a rather different picture.
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Nope. Just a fad. EVs are too niche. They aren’t sustainable and no one wants them. Oh, and they’re not profitable. And they’re appliances.
Did I hit the EV-denialist bingo yet?
You forgot “the infrastructure isn’t there yet.” 🙂
I’ve been saying for years that EVs are a niche market and will be for many years. The size of the niche will vary, probably grow some, but it will be determined by the willingness of consumers to visit a dealership and sign on the dotted line. No matter how much governments or manufacturers want ‘the transition’ to happen…if consumers don’t buy, there’s nothing you can do to stop them.
Didn’t they say the same thing about Horseless Carriages over 100 years ago ?? I guess time will tell ???
I would have to count the cars myself before I would believe any sales numbers from Tesla
I was thinking the same thing. I find this article very hard to believe, especially considering all the many other articles I’ve read stating “no one is buying electric vehicles”.
Someone should calculate how many miles the tires last on these heavy high performance EV’s… 20,000 miles? That’s a lot of tires to process, recycle, dump, get rid of.
They have infested my area. They are clearly the #1 expensive-ish car to buy, especially within a certain demographic new to my area. They can have it, I bought a V8 instead.
“There is a fool born every minute” – P.T. Barnum
I guess that means in other countries besides the U.S as well…
Doesn’t China get most of its electricity from coal?
And use “dirtier” coal with less pollution oversight than the West?
If so, what’s the upside?
The electricity has to come from somewhere.
I’m sure they are just lying to get you to buy one. That Elon Musk is a Slippery Character LOL
….maybe if they would short term lease them at a very reasonable rate… the new K CAR mini van, nobody wanted one but damn they are so practical at times….apart from all the pro EV BS my concerns are more pragmatic… resale long term is horrible… and few can repair them at end of life….destroys the longer term used car market.. just a soulless appliance… I still like to row gears for engagement but damn if all the electro safety nannies in my 24 gr corolla are damn near the same as an ev [ hmm sensing an industry strategy here ]. end of day, too expensive to purchase, suck in winter but likely nice to have as a commuter appliance…now if they could actually come up with reasonable ‘resto- mod’ kits for us DIY folk I could find creative ways to enjoy them… more like the UK with cottage industry or boutique builders… [ hmm we could just stop buying new altogether and just plug and play build our own… ]. anyway, not for me currently [ sic ] but won’t be shocked [siccer] when I finally plug into [ sic-est ] next generation actually useful iterations… [ like home storage options from home solar, direct solar storage and on grid sales of energy etc etc etc… [ gawd get off the soap box… ] milenium falcon is my next one me thinks…
For the next decade the hy-brid will dominate, but make no mistake, the EV is less expensive to build and the only thing limiting it is the charging infrastructure. Also some of the new battery designs will lower cost and weight. I’m not ready for an EV yet, but someday. BTW – BYD automotive in China makes and sells more EV’s than any other automaker as of the last quarter of 2023 AND Warren Buffet bought their stock a few years back and is smiling all the way to the bank!! Tesla probably can’t stand up to the BYD juggernaut, not to mention all the competition from other brands. Even Tesla devotees are getting tired of the same old styling and a re-design will cost. Today’s Tesla might be tomorrows Nash, Hudson, Packard, Studebaker, etc.
that is some accomplishment for such a young company no matter how you feel about its product and/or its boss
I love my Mustang V8. But I also love our Tesla which has had zero maintenance except 4 tires in 4 years. It is fantastic for my wife’s commute (it drives her) and it is fast and fun to drive. Make no mistake the future is here.
No one should be forced to buy a car they don’t want, and the best ecological choice is nursing an old car along as long as possible. I’ve been a Tesla owner for several years now, but I also own a 1986 Porsche. I have a Tesla because it’s fun and inexpensive to own and drive. The 5-speed Porsche is just plain fun! To each his/her own — respect for others’ opinions is key to us all having a better future!
Amen.