Oliver Haslam on May 27, 2023, 3:00 pm

The Tesla Model Y Is The First EV To Become The World’s Best-Selling Car

Tesla’s Model Y has become the world’s best-selling car, making it the first electric vehicle to do so.

The car reportedly outsold the popular Toyota Corolla in the first quarter of 2023, an impressive feat considering the fact that it costs almost twice as much as the Japanese vehicle.

The analyst data that shows the Tesla Model Y’s position as the best-selling car comes via Jato Dynamics and Motor1, with The Verge noting that the price difference between the two vehicles is particularly large.

According to analyst data from Jato Dynamics (published by Motor1), the Tesla Model Y has surpassed Toyota’s RAV4 and Corolla models to top global sales rankings in the first quarter of 2023. That’s especially impressive given pricing for the 2023 Model Y starts at $47,490, considerably more than the 2023 Corolla ($21,550) and RAV4 ($27,575).

The numbers show that Tesla sold 267,200 Model Y units globally in Q1, while 256,400 Corolla and 214,700 RAV4 units were sold during the same period.

To put that into perspective, Model Y sales increased almost 69% over the previous year. However, none of this is enough to make Tesla the best-selling company overall. Volkswagen, Toyota, General Motors, and Ford all sell more cars, although they also sell more models as well.

As for what comes next, Tesla will be hoping for similar success from its future electric vehicles, especially beyond the high-end Cybertruck and Roadster offerings. Cheaper EVs will no doubt drive sales yet further as and when they arrive.