The Tesla Model Y was the world's best-selling car in 2023, overtaking the Toyota Rav4 thanks to its price cuts, according to preliminary data released on Thursday by the company Jato Dynamics.
• Also read: For this reason, electric cars are becoming increasingly popular in Ukraine
• Also read: Cybertruck at the Auto Show: Concussion surrounding Tesla's “courbophobic” van
Sales of the Tesla Model Y rose 64% to 1.23 million units in a year, Tesla announced Wednesday evening.
Tesla's small SUV overtakes the Toyota Rav4 (1.07 million) and Toyota Corolla (1.01 million), the Japanese auto giant's two models that have dominated the rankings in recent years.
The Tesla Y has taken the lead, particularly in the Chinese and European markets, where supply and sales of electric cars have exploded.
This crowning achievement marks the revolution at work in the automotive market: it is the first time that an electric car has topped global new car sales for all engine types combined.
In Europe, Tesla's SUV has overtaken entry-level cars like the Dacia Sandero and Peugeot 208.
In the USA, the model ranks 5th behind three pickup trucks and the Toyota Rav4.
“This revenue growth is unprecedented,” said Jato Dynamics analyst Felipe Munoz. “What Tesla has achieved with its Model Y in such a short time is simply remarkable.”
Launched in 2020, the Y is assembled in three huge factories in California, China and, since 2022, in Berlin. The model now accounts for two-thirds of the American manufacturer's sales, putting it well ahead of the Model 3 sedan.
The model is at the forefront of the American manufacturer's price war in electric cars: its average price in November 2023 was 18% and 23% lower than the average price of an electric car in the United States and Germany, respectively Jato.
“The discounts announced during the year contributed to Tesla's reputation as a manufacturer of reliable and competitive electric vehicles and helped to strengthen already significant demand,” emphasized Mr. Munoz.
Tesla also retained its place as the largest electric car seller group throughout the year, but the American company was overtaken by China's BYD in the final quarter of 2023 (526,409 electric vehicles delivered between October and December and 1.57 million in 2023). .
Jato Dynamics created its ranking based on the sales figures of the main automotive markets worldwide in 2023, from North America to China, Europe and Latin America. Final figures are expected to be published in the second quarter of 2024.