The Model Y can parade itself as the best-sold car in the world. It took the title in Q1 of 2023 from the Toyota Corolla, which has held the top spot for many years. It’s the first time an electric car has won the gold medal. The Model Y also surges in Europe.

Tesla’s price war delivers. According to Jato Dynamics, the brand sold 267 200 units of the Model Y. During the first quarter of 2023, a rise of almost 70 percent in a year-over-year comparison (+69%). The electric SUV dethrones the Corolla, of which Toyota sold 256 400 units. Nevertheless, Toyota is a stronghold, also claiming spot three (Hilux, 214 700 units), spot four (211 000 units), and spot five (Camry, 166 200 units).

Also in Europe

Whether the Model Y can stay ahead of the Corolla for the remainder of the year. The gap isn’t vast. However, with many parts of the world, still on the threshold of their electrification journey, the achievement is significant. The Model Y is built on three continents: the US (Texas), China (Shanghai), and Europe (Germany).

Europe, at the forefront of zero-emission mobility, confirms Tesla’s victorious trend. During Q1 of 2023, 71 683 units of the Model Y were registered, out-selling the Dacia Sandero (60 202 units), which, like the Corolla, traditionally secures the top spot. What’s striking is the growth rate per annum. In a year-over-year comparison, the Model Y gains 173%. Reaching an all-time high, the European market for EVs was at 13,4% in the first quarter of the year.

The explanation behind those jumping percentages is last year’s problems with supply chains and easing delivery bottlenecks, which are withering. Still, those deliveries for Europe depend on imports, as the Grünheide factory in Germany is ramping up. But the outlook is good for Tesla. Local factories producing at cruising speed will further strengthen the Model Y’s sales position.

Ford joins Tesla

Another win for Tesla is that it found a partner in Ford to standardize its propriety connector in the States. Unlike Europe, where freeing up the network to non-Tesla drivers was easy because of the standard CCS connector, Ford is joining Tesla on its home turf and will eventually equip its future EVs with the North American Charging Standard (NACS), which will allow its customers to use the Supercharger network without an adapter. NACS has a more narrow design than CCS. So in the first phase, Ford’s EV customer can access the Tesla network using an adapter.

For the integrated version, Ford customers need to wait until 2025. That’s the first year the zero-emission cars from the Dearbon-based brand will come equipped with an onboard NACS. This will eventually sharpen the connector competition in the United States with a network deployed along two different standards. Ford’s decision is a surprise, as it’s more efficient for carmakers to design and manufacture one global charging standard.