Doubts Surround Elon Musk's Claim of Tesla Model Y as World's Best-Selling Car in 2025

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate his team, claiming that the Model Y was the world’s best-selling car for the third consecutive year. While the statement serves as a powerful marketing message, emerging data suggests it may not hold true for 2025.

In 2023, the Model Y made history as the first electric vehicle to top global sales charts, a feat widely acknowledged by industry analysts and media outlets. In 2024, the claim was debatable, with the Model Y narrowly edging out the Toyota RAV4 by a margin of just 2,000 units, according to various reports.

However, for 2025, preliminary data indicates a different outcome. Although complete global registration figures are still being compiled, independent analysts tracking the first nine months and forecasting the final quarter suggest that Toyota has reclaimed the top spot.

The Toyota RAV4 is projected to lead with approximately 1.2 million units sold, reflecting a modest 0.6% year-on-year growth. The Toyota Corolla is expected to follow with around 1.08 million units, despite an 8.1% decline. The Tesla Model Y is estimated to finish third, with about 1.03 million units sold, marking a 12.7% drop compared to the previous year.

One of the challenges in verifying Tesla’s claim lies in data transparency. While traditional automakers like Toyota release detailed, model-specific sales figures, Tesla combines its delivery numbers for the Model 3 and Model Y, making it difficult to assess individual model performance. Analysts rely on registration data from various countries to estimate Tesla’s actual sales.

Despite the apparent dip, the Model Y’s presence in the top three globally remains a great achievement for an electric vehicle, especially when competing against more affordable petrol and hybrid models. 

Also read: 2026 Kia Seltos Launched In India, Prices Start At Rs 10.99 Lakh