Even before Tesla delivered the first Model Y CEO Elon Musk predicted the electric SUV would become the world’s best selling car, electric or otherwise. Less than three years later and the Model Y is on track to reach that milestone as it was the world’s fourth best selling car in 2022.
Tesla doesn’t officially release sales data by specific models, but instead groups the Model 3 and Model Y together in its press releases and quarterly shareholder decks. However based on data complied by focus2move, the Model Y ended 2022 with a total of 758,605 sales around the world, a massive 88% jump from 2021, enough to put it in fourth place for the year.
The Model Y finished just outside of a podium finish in 2022, outsold by less than 30,000 units by the Ford F-150, which accumulated 786,757 sales in 2022. Notably, sales of the F-150 declined 8.8% compared to the previous year.
The top two spots were claimed by Toyota, with the RAV4 SUV finishing in second with 869,955 sales, and the Corolla taking first place with 1.12 million units sold. Just like with the F-150, sales of both vehicles declined compared to 2021, with the RAV4 seeing the biggest drop of 13.8%, while sales of the Corolla dropped 2.2%. (h/t: @1stPrincipleInv)
Looking ahead to 2023 the Model Y is well positioned to move ahead of Corolla and become the world’s best selling car this year. To reach the top spot, sales of the Model Y would need to increase by about 60% in 2023 (assuming Corolla sales are stable), and there is a good chance that will happen. Giga Texas and Giga Berlin are continuing to ramp production, both of which currently only produce the Model Y.
At the end of 2022 both factories were producing the electric SUV at a rate of about 3,000 per week, indicating a run rate of about 150,000 cars per year. That number is expected to ramp significantly in 2023 however, with both factories aiming to produce 500,000 cars per year, or about 9,000 to 10,000 per week.
The Model Ys results in 2022 were made possible with it being the best selling EV in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia & the UK, and also the bestselling car overall in Iceland & Norway.
