Image: Tesla

Note: The sales figures reported by focus2move do not match the total number of Model 3/Y sold in 2022 as claimed by Tesla. At the moment, it is not known in the calculation of sales of which car the research firm was mistaken. We will update the information in the article as soon as we get clarification from focus2move.

Correction made on January 30: focus2move told Tesmanian that the Tesla Model 3 sales figures were incorrect. Unfortunately, the Model 3 is not in the top 10 best-selling cars in the world in 2022. The Tesmanian has changed the top 10 list published in the article, taking into account new information.

Tesla Model Y became the fourth best-selling car in the world in 2022. This year, the compact SUV has every chance of becoming the world's best-selling car, dethroning the longtime winner, Toyota Corolla.

2022 has brought some unexpected nasty surprises that have had a significant impact on the automotive industry. The COVID-19 lockdown in China has resulted in the closure of many factories in the country for three weeks, and reopening has been hampered by disrupted supply chains. Tesla has been one of the hardest hit as its China plant produces about half of all its vehicles and most of Model 3 and Model Y, the company's best-selling vehicles. Although this affected the overall growth rate, the Tesla models produced continued to be the top sellers in many countries, outperforming even the sales of gasoline competitors.

Last year, the global automotive market was still dominated by Toyota models, but now their position is much weaker than before because the time has come for new leaders. Tesla's cars have continued to gain momentum, displacing the gasoline dinosaurs and rising to prominence as the company's production capacity continues to grow.

focus2move published its report, which estimated car sales by collecting data for all 162 countries that it monitors on a monthly basis. The data provided is updated with the latest available registration data from local authorities, by country.

The research company notes that electric vehicles are gaining momentum in the automotive markets in all the countries they track. However, they still find it difficult to dislodge traditional models from the top 100. However, Tesla—which was a startup just a few years ago, and now has become the most successful car company in the world—burst not just into the top 100, but into the top 10, mercilessly crushing its gasoline rivals on the way.

As before, Toyota Corolla was the top seller worldwide with 1.12 million units sold. While the car still maintains a solid lead over the competition, it registered a 2.2% drop in sales from a year earlier. In second place is also Toyota with its RAV4, which became the best-selling SUV in the world. The hybrid version of the car contributed significantly to the success, with a total of 869,955 sales recorded. This model also lost 13.8% from a year earlier.

In third place is the world's best-selling pickup truck, Ford F-Series, which is also the best-selling vehicle in North America. In 2022, 786,757 were sold worldwide, down 8.8% from 2021. In general, all cars from the top 3 registered a drop in sales compared to a year earlier, which cannot be said about the Tesla cars.

Tesla Model Y became the fourth best-selling car in the world in 2022 and the second best-selling SUV. With 758,605 vehicles sold last year, Model Y is up 15 spots from the previous year and its sales were up a staggering 88.3%. Tesla Model 3 also registered a sales growth of 4.3% from a year earlier, and with 595,747 new registrations, it became the seventh best-selling car in the world in 2022.

Top 10 best-selling cars of 2022:

1. Toyota Corolla: 1.12 million (-2.2%)
2. Toyota RAV4: 869,955 (-13.8%)
3. Ford F-Series: 786,757 (-8.8%)
4. Tesla Model Y: 758,605 (+88%)
5. Toyota Camry: 675,272 (-3.0%)
6. Honda CR-V: 600,679 (-18.1%)
7. Chevrolet Silverado: 591,758 (+1.8%)
8. Hyundai Tucson: 565,100 (+1.2%)
9. Toyota Hillux:  564,759 (+2.7%)
10. Ram Pick-up: 545,423 (-15.4%).

© 2023, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.

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