Tesla Model Y overtakes Corolla to be world’s best-selling car in 2023

The Tesla Model Y electric crossover is now the best-selling car in the world, knocking the Toyota Corolla from the top of the podium. 

New data from JATO Dynamics has revealed that in the first quarter of 2023 the Tesla Model Y is the best-selling car in the world, selling 267,200 in the first three months of the year, eclipsing Toyota Corolla’s 256,400 sales.

This was predicted a few years ago by Tesla boss Elon Musk before the car was even launched and now it’s happened.

Here in Australia, Tesla Model Y has been a hugely popular model since its launch in June last year and is already the second best selling SUV of any type, just behind the Toyota RAV4.

It has sold more than 14,000 of these electric SUVs in Australia. This year, over 5,000 have been sold with this quarter looking to be its best so far. The start of it saw April’s sales coming up to 2,095 according to data from FCAI vFacts.

The sales continue to rise in Australia, despite the vehicle price not qualifying for many state and territory incentives due to its higher starting price when compared to the Tesla Model 3.

When comparing it to ICE vehicles, the Tesla Model Y is the best-selling Medium SUV in the over $60,000, in the country by a wide margin. 

With 5,264 sales, it far outpaces the next best-selling Medium SUV which is the Audi !5 with 1,618 sales.

Earlier this year, data compiled by Tesla and EV News enthusiast Sawyer Merritt on Twitter shows how Model Y has fared in total sales when compared to the world’s best-selling vehicles in 2022.

This is a huge milestone for the EV transition. 

It shows legacy automakers that the time to produce and sell more compelling EVs is now if they are to survive the automotive valley of death.