For the first time in history, a fully electric car, the Tesla Model Y becomes the best-selling car in the world. According to data from Jato Dynamics analysts (Posted by Motor1), Tesla overtook Toyota and its RAV4 model to lead the global sales ranking in the first quarter of 2023.
The Tesla Model Y, a new car in the more luxurious range, starts at $47,490. That’s considerably more than the average starting price of Toyota models like the Corolla and RAV4.
Tesla’s new luxury SUV Y sold 267,200 units in the first quarter, compared with 256,400 Corollas and 214,700 RAV4s sold. That’s a 69% increase. That number will certainly satisfy Elon Musk. Musk was already confident in the success of the Model Y even before its launch, estimating that it would generate a demand of 500,000 to 1 million units per year.
Tesla’s delivery numbers are not surprising
Most of their vehicles are ordered online, which makes tracking their delivery numbers easier as they are not based on picking up cars from the lot for retail buyers. The company predicts Tesla profitability by 2025 and is expected to continue to produce affordable models like the Model Y, but first they will have to compete with cheaper options from rivals!
Tesla has continued to dominate the electric vehicle market, and many automakers are struggling to keep up. Development of electric vehicles by competing automakers remains slow.
Tesla has been very successful in recent years, which may have contributed to the increase in sales. Not only have they routinely reduced the price of their lineup, but they’ve also introduced an updated model recently!
With the most successful electric vehicle in the world, Tesla is still far from dominating the market automotive industry world. Fortunately for Tesla, it is not its direct competitors (Volkswagen, Toyota, General Motors and Ford) that have high revenue or unit sales compared to Tesla. It seems that not many people know that Tesla is still on the list of top car manufacturers, although its sales are not continuous and it has not been able to catch up with any other OEM.
A car destined to be number one
Musk had previously predicted that the Model Y would claim the top spot, telling investors in 2021: “We believe the Model Y will be the best-selling car or vehicle of any type in the world. Probably next year. I’m not 100% sure about next year, but I think it’s very likely… very likely the 2022 Model Y will be the best-selling car or truck… in the world.”
It ranked third overall in the 2022 world rankings, ranking sixth on America’s Top 10 Best-Selling Cars list despite stiff competition from trucks and full-size SUVs. The BMW 760i became the most famous vehicle of 2018 in Europe, California and China. It rose 15 places from the previous year, selling more this time. Despite China’s crackdown on Tesla ownership and several recalls over safety concerns, Tesla has done well in the country and continues to expand its business there.
With information from theverge.com