While overall sales data for 2023 from around the world is not yet available, reports from individual countries have already begun to trickle in. According to the data, Tesla Model Y became the best-selling car in Switzerland in 2023.
The Swiss car market has always been favorable to VW Golf. Between 1975 and 2016, the vehicle was the best-selling vehicle in the country 41 times in a row. However, in 2017, Skoda Octavia dethroned it, marking the beginning of a shift in Swiss interest. Since 2021, Tesla cars have become the new favorites of the people.
At first, the compact Model 3 became the best-selling car in the country, beating out gasoline-powered competitors. This was the first time in the history of the country’s automobile market that an electric vehicle topped the chart. In 2022, Model Y changed leadership, receiving the love of Switzerland and taking first place.
In 2023, the electric crossover once again topped the car sales ranking in Switzerland, according to Blick. Tesla sold 6,173 Model Ys, a significant increase from the 4,928 units sold in 2022. The electric car took first place by a large margin over its competitors. In second place was the electric Skoda Enyaq with 5,159 units. Skoda Octavia is in third place with 4,943 units. Audi Q3 is in fourth place, and Volkswagen Tiguan is in fifth with 4,083 and 4,023 units sold, respectively. VW Golf barely cracked the top ten with 3,526 sales.
In 2023, Tesla sold only its four vehicles in Switzerland: Model Y, Model 3, Model S, and Model X. It is noteworthy that even with such a limited model range, the company was able to enter the top best-selling brands, finishing in 9th place with 8,757 units. The most popular brand in Switzerland was VW, followed by BMW.
According to the Swiss Automobile Importers Association, 252,214 passenger cars were registered in Switzerland last year. This represents an increase of 11.6 percent compared to 2022. However, the Swiss car market has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Sales are falling for petrol and diesel cars, while sales of electric vehicles continue to rise. In 2023, electric vehicles achieved a record market share of 30.1 percent, with 20.9 percent being fully electric.
