The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 were the two best selling vehicles in California in the first quarter of 2022, even when comparing their figures with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
According to data from the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), a total of 21,812 new Model Ys were registered in the state in the first three months of the year.
That was just more than enough to outpace its little brother, the Model 3, which accumulated 21,506 registrations in the same time period.
Those numbers placed the electric SUV and electric sedan in the #1 and #2 spots overall for new car registrations in the state, easily surpassing the sales of much more budget friendly vehicles.
The third most popular car in California last quarter was the Toyota RAV4, which had 15,990 registrations according to the CNCDA, nearly 6,000 less than the Model Y.
In fourth place was the Toyota Camry (12,257), with the perennial favourite Honda Civic coming in fifth with 11,057 registrations, almost half that of the Model Y and Model 3. (h/t: @TeslaPodcast)
| Tesla Model Y | 21,812 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 21,506 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 15,990 |
| Toyota Camry | 12,257 |
| Honda Civic | 11,057 |
These figures are when looking at the overall car market, but when you look at the individual segments, Tesla’s dominance is even more apparent.
In the Luxury Compact SUV segment, the Model Y outsold the Mercedes GLC by more than five-to-one.
The Model 3 holds an even more impressive lead in the Near Luxury segment, selling more than 8 times as many than the next closest competitor, the BMW 3-Series.
The Model S also topped the Luxury and High-End Sports Cars segment, selling more than double that of the Mercedes S-Class. Only the Model X was unable to come out on top, losing out to the Lexus RX in the Luxury Mid-Size SUV segment.
