Tesla Model Y Falls To Second Place
It seems like just the other day that the world was readjusting to the idea that an electric vehicle could be the best-selling car in the world, but that’s exactly what happened in 2023, when the Tesla Model Y outsold the Toyota RAV4 by almost 150,000 units, with over 1.2 million EVs sold that year. Since then, it’s been less than smooth sailing for Tesla, and despite strong sales numbers for the Model Y in 2024, Toyota’s crossover has reclaimed the crown, according to JATO Dynamics automotive analyst Felipe Munoz. It was a close battle, though, with the RAV4’s 1,187,000 sales only beating the Model Y’s numbers by roughly 2,000 units.
The RAV4 Wasn’t Toyota’s Only Big Winner
Toyota
The RAV4’s sales are especially impressive when you consider that the current generation is about to be replaced. The 2026 RAV4 has already been revealed, which might have caused some prospective buyers to hold out for more tech and fresh styling. On the other hand, some of that same buyer group might be disappointed by the new RAV4 only being available as a hybrid, particularly since the all-new Tacoma has been less than stellar in terms of reliability. Whatever the reason, strong demand for Toyota products is not limited to crossovers.
As noted by The Drive, Munoz’s analysis reveals that Toyota claimed five of the top 10 spots in the 2024 sales rankings, with the Corolla Cross (Frontlander in some markets) coming in third behind Tesla’s Model Y, the Corolla/Levin sedan snagging fifth place, the Hilux pickup managing sixth, and the Camry taking eighth position. The other positions were filled by the Honda CR-V (fourth), the Ford F-150 (seventh), and BYD’s Qin (10th), which has been a strong seller for over a decade.
Our Take
While we don’t want to take the shine off Toyota’s achievement, it must be noted that these results were achieved in an unusual year, one in which Tesla CEO Elon Musk became a more controversial figure than ever, drawing ire from both sides of the political aisle. Coupled with public protests and vandalism targeting the brand and some of its customers, it’s plain to see that these sales figures are atypical; many prospective buyers doubtless reconsidered buying a new Tesla, so the figures could easily have been higher. The automaker may need a new approach, so Musk has reportedly fired Tesla’s sales and manufacturing boss over the sales slump, which has now reached its fifth straight month in Europe, and new Model Y variants have been teased by other execs. We’ll have to see how things turn out when 2025’s numbers are crunched, but the battle for the sales crown could easily swing either way in a year from now. Or it could be usurped by the Chinese…
Related: 200,000 Buyers in 3 Minutes: Tesla Model Y Rival Is No Joke
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